David J. Tkach has joined Southern Illinois University School of Medicine as chief executive officer for SIU Physicians & Surgeons. He will be responsible for management and administration of the medical school's 160-member faculty practice plan which began November 1997.

Tkach has 17 years of health care experience, most recently as executive director of Children's Community Care, a subsidiary owned by Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (CHP). Previously, he held appointments at several health care organizations, all affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh -- administrator of University Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine Foundation (1989-96), executive director of University Physicians Practice Association (1994-96), director of fiscal services for Presbyterian University Hospital and chief financial officer of the Eye & Ear Hospital of Pittsburgh (1987-89). He also was president of Health Center Communicorp of Pittsburgh and treasurer of H.C. Pharmacy Central Inc. of Pittsburgh (1987-89), vice president of finance at CHP (1982-87) and a senior accountant with Coopers & Lybrand (1980-82).

Tkach earned his bachelor's in accounting at Gannon University in Erie, PA (1980) and his master's in business administration at the University of Pittsburgh (1986). He has been an instructor in the graduate health administration program at St. Francis College in Joliet, Ill.

He is a member of the Medical Group Management Association, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Healthcare Financial Management Association. He is a member of Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity and a past chapter president and district director.

A native of Pittsburgh, Tkach and his wife, Kathy, and have three sons -- Christopher, Ryan and Kevin.

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