• Jackie Rowles has been elected 2007-08 president-elect of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA; Park Ridge, Illinois). Rowles will serve a one-year term. Rowles is a certified registered nurse anesthetist.

• Tim Harkness was named as senior VP and CFO of Nektar Therapeutics (San Carlos, California). Previously, Harkness served as CFO of Molecular Devices. Nektar makes products using its pulmonary and PEGylation technology.

• Jagi Gill was named an entrepreneur-in-residence of Split Rock Partners (Minneapolis). Gill most recently was the CEO of Sage Medical. Prior to joining Sage, Gill held executive positions in business development and marketing at Boston Scientific. Split Rock Partners seeks emerging opportunities in healthcare, software and Internet services primarily in the Upper Midwest and West Coast.

• Tenet’s Central Region (Dallas) reported the appointment of three new CEOs at its three acute care hospitals that are part of the Sierra Providence Health Network (SPHN) in El Paso, Texas. Irene Chavez, a 13-year veteran of SPHN, was promoted from COO to lead the Providence Memorial Hospital; Edmundo Castaneda will lead the Sierra Medical Center; and Sally Steffen will oversee the continued construction of the new Sierra Providence Eastside Hospital. Tenet Central Region, part of Tenet Healthcare, comprises 16 acute care hospitals in Missouri, Tennessee and Texas.

• Urologix (Minneapolis, Minnesota) said that Kirsten Doerfert has rejoined the company as senior VP and general manager. Prior to joining Urologix, Doerfert served as a VP of marketing for Gyrus ACMI surgical division. Urologix makes minimally invasive medical products for the treatment of urological disorders.