Robert D. Martin, Ph.D., interim chief executive officer and chief operating officer of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, has been named to the CEO position on a permanent basis.

President Judith Rodin announced the appointment May 14.

During Martin’s tenure as interim CEO, the Health System returned to profitability after several years of losses. For the first half of fiscal year 2001, the system posted an $18.5 million operating profit, and indicators point to a profitable year overall.

Rodin cited Martin’s role in the turnaround as a key reason for his appointment as permanent CEO. “Since becoming interim CEO last July, Robert has been leading the financial turnaround of the Health System, but he has been making invaluable contributions as chief operating officer and chief financial officer for more than two years,” Rodin wrote in a May 14 memo.

Martin joined the Health System in August 1997 as executive director of the Clinical Care Associates primary-care physician network. He was named chief financial officer of the Health System in March 1999.