• Michele Peden was named VP of corporate communications for IASIS Healthcare (Franklin, Tennessee). Previously, Peden was VP of marketing and communications for Spheris. IASIS is owner and operator of medium-sized acute-care hospitals in high-growth urban and suburban markets.

• Linda Birnbaum, PhD, was named director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Birnbaum, who is currently a senior advisor at the Environmental Protection Agency, where she served for 16 years as director of the Experimental Toxicology Division, will begin her appointment in January. NIEHS supports research to understand the effects of the environment on human health and is part of NIH.

• Don Yee has been named president of the Vision business of OptumHealth (Golden Valley, Minnesota). Previously, Yee was CEO of the VSP family of companies, including VSP Optical Labs, Altair Eyewear and Eyefinity. OptumHealth Specialty Benefits offers specialty benefits, including vision, dental, group and voluntary insurance, worksite individual insurance and non-insurance programs.