med fusion, an integrated, advanced laboratory and clinical trials service organization, has appointed Jon L. Hart CEO, effective March 31. This appointment is the next step in the organization’s continued drive towards becoming the clear leader in providing lab and clinical trial support to healthcare providers and biotech/pharmaceutical companies through a patient-centric support model.

Hart will lead the company’s efforts to introduce more targeted diagnostics, reduce episode of care costs and enhance system efficiencies. He also will spearhead the company’s recent collaboration with U.S. Oncology Network. In 2013, physicians in the Network selected med fusion as one of their preferred diagnostic laboratories. The relationship’s aim is to advance the delivery of high-quality, precision medicine—the tailoring of medical treatment to the genetic characteristics found in each patient’s tumor—and the appropriate use of molecular diagnostics. Additionally, Hart will lead med fusion and the Network’s recent pilot program on genomic testing for non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. For the pilot, physicians in the Network will test their ability to adopt a standard molecular testing approach for all NSCLC patients. The standard is a targeted biomarker panel developed by med fusion and physicians in the Network, and the pilot’s success will demonstrate the Network’s ability to lead community oncology in precision medicine.

“There are a lot of exciting initiatives happening right now at med fusion and within the healthcare industry as a whole that could benefit the delivery of high-quality patient care,” said Hart. “Precision medicine is one of them. I am pleased to announce that the company recently raised a second round of funding of 71 million dollars designed to expand our capabilities in this area. I am honored to join med fusion’s top notch team and move its precision medicine initiatives forward.”

Previously, Hart was president and CEO of Aurora Diagnostics, a national anatomic pathology provider based in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Prior, Hart led a business turnaround when he was in charge of Genzyme Genetics, the esoteric laboratory division of Genzyme in Cambridge, Mass. Hart has held several leadership roles throughout his career for organizations such as Arthur Young & Company in Atlanta, Ga. and Quest Diagnostics in Madison, N.J.