Dr. Mark Chassin was named president of the The Joint Commission (formerly the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations) in an announcement by the Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.-based organization this morning. His term in the leadership role will begin on January 1 next year.

Chassin is the Edmond A. Guggenheim Professor of Health Policy and chairman of the department of health policy at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, and executive vice president for excellence in patient care at The Mount Sinai Medical Center. Prior to joining Mount Sinai, he served as Commissioner of the New York State Department of Health. His background also includes service in the federal government and many years of health services and health policy research.

Dr. Dennis O'Leary, who has led The Joint Commission for the past 21 years, will become president emeritus of the organization.