Spectrum Health Appoints Associate General Counsel

Spectrum Health today announced the appointment of William R. Jewell as its new associate general counsel.

Jewell, who assumed his new role on December 31, is responsible for day-to-day legal affairs for Spectrum Health Grand Rapids and other system facilities. He will also be involved in contract management and negotiations, strategic transactions and initiatives, litigation, and the coordination of legal projects.

Jewell has more than 20 years of experience as an attorney at Smith Haughey Rice and Roegge, a Grand Rapids law firm. He has extensive expertise in health care law and medical malpractice defense. He also has taught health law and ethics classes at Grand Valley State University for several years.

Jewell holds a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Toledo College of Law in Ohio. He is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association, American Bar Association – Health Law Section, Grand Rapids Bar Association, the Michigan Society of Healthcare Risk Management and the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan that offers a full continuum of care through its seven hospitals, more than 140 service sites and 560,000-member health plan, Priority Health.’Spectrum Health’s 14,000 employees, 1,500 medical staff members and 2,000 volunteers are committed to delivering the highest quality care to those in medical need.’The organization provided $98.6 million in community benefit during its 2007 fiscal year. Spectrum Health has earned more than 50 national awards during the past 10 years.