Global interoperability organization HL7 has appointed Prof. Rachel Dunscombe as its new CEO, succeeding Charles Jaffe, M.D., Ph.D., who concludes his tenure this month following nearly two decades leading the organization. Under Jaffe’s leadership, the nonprofit HL7 expanded adoption of standards such as FHIR and saw its standards embedded in health IT policy and regulation worldwide.
 
Dunscombe’s career spans senior leadership roles across healthcare delivery, national digital strategy, executive education, and global standards organizations. Most recently, she served as CEO of openEHR International, where she led global adoption of open health data standards and strengthened partnerships with governments, standards bodies, and healthcare organizations worldwide. OpenEHR is a nonprofit organization that publishes technical standards for an EHR platform, along with domain‑developed clinical models to define content.
 
“I am honored to join HL7 International and build on its legacy of standards that I have personally used and valued in health systems, to advance data connectivity and interoperability,” said Dunscombe, in a statement. “I look forward to working with the community to advance open standards that support better care, responsible AI adoption, and meaningful global collaboration.”
 
Prior to her role at openEHR, Prof. Dunscombe served as CEO of the NHS Digital Academy, where she helped shape the UK’s digital health leadership strategy. In addition, she has provided advisory services to the UK Secretary of State for Health and served on the UK Government AI Council, demonstrating her expertise in health technology and the integration of AI into healthcare systems.

Her academic contributions earned her a Visiting Professorship at Imperial College London, and she currently serves as an ambassador on the Digital Health Society's Board of Directors, shaping digital health strategies and innovations worldwide.

“Rachel’s appointment marks an exciting new chapter for HL7,” said Carol Macumber, Chair of the HL7 International Board of Directors, in a statement. “A recognized champion of partnership across standards communities, she has consistently promoted collaboration to achieve shared global goals. Her vision and experience will help HL7 strengthen its role as a trusted convener and standards development organization at a time of rapid change in healthcare.”