Dr. Michael Wagner named head of Tufts physician group

By Chelsea Conaboy, Globe Staff

Dr. Michael Wagner/Courtesy photo

Dr. Michael Wagner has been named president and chief executive of the 550-member Tufts Medical Center Physician Organization. Wagner will assume the role on Sept. 1, succeeding Eric Beyer, who last year became chief executive of the hospital.

Wagner has been Tufts’ chief of internal medicine and adult primary care since 2008 and was named chief medical officer in 2011.

“Dr. Wagner possesses significant executive experience in health care organizations and has proven to be an exceptional leader for physicians, management and staff,” Beyer said in a press release. “His impressive track record of creating clinical relationships and building mutual respect will prove to be critical as we push towards furthering clinical integration with our community partners.”

Dr. Paul Summergrad, chairman of the physician group board of trustees, cited Wagner’s “natural leadership skills.”

“It was clear to the board members and his physician colleagues that Dr. Wagner has the experience, creativity and vision to lead our physicians organization through a new era of health care challenges,” Summergrad said.

Wagner first worked at Tufts as a general internist between 1990 and 1992 and returned to the hospital in 1999 as chief of general medicine. He was in that role until 2003. He also has served in various clinical and administrative roles at the University of Rochester, Fidelis Care, and Cove HealthCare, all in New York.

He attended Connecticut College as an undergraduate and earned a medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1986.

Chelsea Conaboy can be reached at cconaboy@boston.com. Follow her on Twitter @cconaboy.