Dr. Howard Graman, CEO of 700-provider PeaceHealth Medical Group, Bellevue, Wash., has been named chairman-elect of the American Medical Group Association.

He will take office in January, and at that time, Michael Bukosky, CEO of the University of Louisville (Ky.) Physicians, will take over as chairman. Bukosky will be only the fifth nonphysician to lead the AMGA in the organization's 62-year history.

Other officer appointments include Dr. Don Wreden, president and CEO of Sutter Medical Group, as secretary; Donn Sorensen, Eastern Communities regional president of Chesterfield, Mo.-based Mercy, as treasurer; and Dr. Norman Chenven, founder and CEO of the Austin (Texas) Regional Clinic, as the board's at-large member, according to a news release.

In January, Mayo Clinic Health System CEO Dr. Robert Nesse will step down as AMGA chairman. He will remain on the board as immediate past chair. Also on the board is Donald Fisher, president and CEO of the Alexandria, Va.-based AMGA.

The AMGA comprises some 400 member medical organizations in which more than 125,000 physicians practice.