Leadership

Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization (FEHRM) office leadership shares a passion for the FEHRM’s mission to implement a single, common federal electronic health record (EHR) to enhance patient care and provider effectiveness, wherever care is provided. The FEHRM's Director and Deputy Director report to the Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The FEHRM Charter and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 give the FEHRM decision-making authority within the joint space.

FEHRM staff are recognized by the health industry for their leadership and innovation, earning awards like the Defense Health Agency’s Positive Spirit Award; Federal Computer Week’s Federal 100 Award; FedHealthIT 100 Award; Program Executive Office, Defense Health Management Systems (PEO DHMS) Employee of the Quarter Award; Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal; and General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated National Military Award.

Learn more about the FEHRM’s dedicated leaders below.

Mr. Bill Tinston, Director

As Director, Mr. Bill Tinston oversees the FEHRM’s efforts to implement a single, common federal EHR with the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). Mr. Tinston ensures the FEHRM enables joint decision-making and drives federal solutions for optimizing EHR implementation and operation. Previously, he served as Program Executive Officer for PEO DHMS. While there, he led the deployment of the federal EHR within DOD and supported the VA and USCG transition to the same EHR as DOD. Mr. Tinston has 30 years of experience in defense acquisition program management, portfolio and investment management and enterprise information technology (IT).

Mr. John Windom, Deputy Director

As Deputy Director, Mr. John Windom drives the FEHRM’s mission to implement a single, common federal EHR forward with DOD, VA and USCG. He ensures the FEHRM works closely with the Departments to provide common capabilities for effective and efficient health care delivery to 28 million eligible beneficiaries, including Service members, Veterans and their families. Previously, Mr. Windom served as Executive Director for VA’s Office of Electronic Health Record Modernization. He is a Navy Veteran with extensive IT acquisition experience.

Mr. Tony Poulin, Chief of Staff

As Chief of Staff, Mr. Tony Poulin directs all administrative, financial and operational activities for the FEHRM’s Director and Deputy Director. He prioritizes critical issues and required information, facilitating efficient decision-making to support the implementation a single, common federal EHR with DOD, VA and USCG.

Mr. John Short, Interoperability Director

As Interoperability Director, Mr. John Short is responsible for interoperability strategy and planning; health interoperability standards; and engagement with federal and industry partners, ensuring the highest levels of interoperability among DOD, VA, USCG, NOAA and other federal agencies and the private sector. Since 2010, Mr. Short has served in eight VA positions focusing on health information technology (IT). Mr. Short served in the U.S. Army as a Signal Corps Officer in the 35th Airborne Signal Brigade, an Airborne Infantry Officer in 2/504th PIR, 82nd Airborne Division, and an Army Combat Medic.

Dr. Francisco Rhein, Chief Health Informatics Officer

As Chief Health Informatics Officer, Dr. Francisco Rhein provides executive oversight of all functional aspects of the implementation of the federal EHR and advancement of interoperability across federal and private-sector partners to enhance patient care and provider effectiveness. He oversees joint clinical decision making, design and delivery of configuration and content changes to the federal EHR, management of clinical data and integration of EHR deployment and sustainment activities at DOD/VA joint sharing sites. Dr. Rhein has decades of experience in clinical practice as a hospitalist and providing health system and informatics leadership.

Mr. Lance Scott, Chief Technology Officer

As Chief Technology Officer, Mr. Lance Scott focuses on the FEHRM’s joint efforts, maximizing resources and improving collaboration on the joint health information exchange, HealtheIntent, Joint Legacy Viewer and other priorities. He manages joint requirements to create joint architecture and use cases, while synchronizing change requests, service requests and releases. Mr. Scott also oversees the adoption of information models and standards while tracking joint decisions. He manages the technical orchestration of all engineering and cybersecurity activities impacting the federal EHR and the exchange of health data between the federal EHR and private sector partners. Previously, Mr. Scott served as a Project Manager for the DOD Defense Medical Information Exchange.

Ms. Cori Hughes, Program Integration Director

As Program Integration Director, Ms. Cori Hughes oversees the FEHRM’s cross-organizational functions, including leading communications and government affairs activities; addressing risks, issues and opportunities; maintaining integrated master schedules; and optimizing performance. Ms. Hughes is also the Program Integration Director for PEO DHMS, where she oversees media and public engagements as well as congressional and audit activities. Related in mission, PEO DHMS aims to transform the delivery of health care and advance data sharing through a modernized EHR for Service members, Veterans and their families.

Mr. Clifford Wilborn, Program Manager, Joint Sharing Sites—FHCC

As Program Manager, Mr. Clifford Wilborn supports DOD and VA joint sharing sites and the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) EHR implementation efforts. He oversees the FEHRM Joint Sharing Sites—FHCC Workstream’s identification and mitigation of issues associated with asynchronous EHR deployments at VA/DOD joint sharing sites. He also advances the FEHRM’s primary mission and role as the single point of accountability in the delivery of a single, common federal EHR system to FHCC. Mr. Wilborn serves as Principal Lead for FHCC EHR implementation activities for a multi-agency team orchestrated by the FEHRM in collaboration with DHMSM and the VA’s Electronic Health Record Modernization Integration Office.