FAIRFAX, VA – John Loonsk, MD, who until recently served as director of interoperability and standards in the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC), will join CGI Federal, Inc., as vice president.

Loonsk will lead the healthcare strategy direction as the company expands its healthcare practice.

CGI Federal is a wholly owned, U.S.-operating subsidiary of CGI Group, Inc. CGI is a healthcare systems integrator experienced in working with complex, large-scale, multi-stakeholder health information projects. Its practice spans all levels of government as well as commercial payers and providers.

Loonsk served at the ONC, which is under the umbrella of the Department of Health and Human Services, since 2005. While there he worked with leadership in both the government and commercial healthcare sectors to help create a standards-based, deployable healthcare IT strategy. Prior to HHS, he served as the associate director for informatics and director of the Information Resources Management office for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Dr. Loonsk has been at the forefront of innovation in healthcare and information technology," said Cheryl Campbell, vice president of CGI's national health industry business. "Dr. Loonsk's strong background and invaluable experience will help CGI clients make the best use of new technologies for improved healthcare delivery to citizens."

As federal agencies, states and localities gear up to use funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, healthcare IT will figure prominently with more than $20 billion set aside to expand health information exchanges, electronic health records and other projects, Campbell noted.