Donald Rucker

Donald Rucker is an American physician and an influential figure in the field of health informatics. He served as the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) in the United States Department of Health and Human Services from 2017 to 2021.

Early Life and Education

Rucker was born and raised in the United States. He completed his undergraduate studies at Harvard University, where he earned a degree in computer science. He then pursued his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Following his medical studies, Rucker completed his residency in Emergency Medicine at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.

Career

Rucker started his career as an emergency physician, but his interest in technology and informatics led him to the field of health informatics. He has held various leadership roles in the healthcare industry, including serving as the Chief Medical Officer at Siemens Healthcare.

In 2017, Rucker was appointed as the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology by the Trump administration. In this role, he was responsible for coordinating efforts to implement and use the most advanced health information technology and the electronic exchange of health information.

Rucker's tenure at the ONC was marked by significant advancements in health IT policy, including the implementation of the 21st Century Cures Act's interoperability and information blocking provisions. He also played a key role in promoting the use of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) in healthcare, which allow different software applications to communicate and share data.

Contributions to Health Informatics

Rucker is widely recognized for his contributions to the field of health informatics. He has been instrumental in promoting the use of technology to improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. His work has focused on the development and implementation of health IT standards, promoting interoperability, and ensuring the secure exchange of health information.

Personal Life

Rucker is married and has two children. He is an avid supporter of the use of technology in healthcare and continues to advocate for advancements in health informatics.

See Also

• Health Information Technology
• 21st Century Cures Act
• Interoperability
• Application Programming Interfaces