MADISON, N.J., Oct. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services, today announced that Franklin R. Cockerill, III, M.D., has joined the company as vice president and chief laboratory officer, effective October 1, 2014.

Dr. Cockerill will oversee quality, regulatory, technology, standardization and medical operations across Quest's network of laboratories and will play a major role in advancing Quest's medical affairs, academic and government strategies and collaborations. Dr. Cockerill succeeds Stephen C. Suffin, M.D., who previously announced plans to retire at the end of 2014. Dr. Suffin will remain in a consulting role through 2015 to assist the transition.

"Few individuals in health care possess Frank's impressive record of successful leadership in business, clinical and academic roles," said Steve H. Rusckowski, president and chief executive officer, Quest Diagnostics. "At Mayo Medical Laboratories and Mayo Clinic, he led strategies that spurred remarkable accomplishments in diagnostic innovation, service and quality, generating meaningful benefits for patients as well as business growth. We will benefit greatly from his tremendous talents as we pursue our goals to build value, create an inspiring workplace and make this a healthier world."

Commenting on Dr. Suffin, Mr. Rusckowski added: "Steve's passion for serving our patients and commanding expertise in laboratory medicine largely drove the creation of Quest's clinical operation, which provides quality testing to nearly half a million patients every day. We are deeply indebted to him for his many contributions to Quest, and wish him the very best as he enters a well-earned retirement."

Dr. Cockerill was most recently president and chief executive officer of Mayo Medical Laboratories, a global reference laboratory operating within Mayo Clinic and the third largest provider of esoteric laboratory services in the United States. In this role since 2006, Dr. Cockerill was responsible for driving substantial revenue growth for Mayo Medical Laboratories while also enhancing clinical testing standardization, efficiencies and quality across dozens of laboratories. In addition, he broadened the organization's research and development program and clinical test menu, and implemented bioinformatics and population-health services to enable health systems to identify gaps in care, quality and appropriate utilization.

In addition, between 2006 and 2014, Dr. Cockerill also served as chair of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology for Mayo Clinic, one of the largest academic departments in the United States. In this role, he managed more than 3,200 medical professionals to promote quality laboratory testing for Mayo Clinic and Mayo Health System. Since 2003, Dr. Cockerill was also the Ann and Leo Markin Professor of Microbiology and Medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.

Dr. Cockerill is a sought-after expert on diagnostic innovation, quality and regulations. In addition to his Mayo administrative assignments, Dr. Cockerill currently holds several high-profile extramural leadership positions, including chair of the Subcommittee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing, Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI); member, Board of Scientific Counselors, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and director, Board of Directors of the American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA). He also recently served as chair, Microbiology Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as editor of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Program Chair and Board member of the Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP)

Most recently, he emphasized the importance of government funding to encourage medical research and innovation at the 21st Century Cures Roundtable on Personalized Medicine, hosted by the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee, in July 2014.

Dr. Cockerill is author or co-author of more than 150 medical publications and holds dozens of patents and licenses for clinical discoveries. In 2009, he received the Laboratory Public Service National Leadership Award from Washington G-2 Reports (now G2 Intelligence), a leading industry research and market analysis company.

Dr. Cockerill is board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases by the American Board of Internal Medicine and in Medical Microbiology by the American Board of Pathology. He received his medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical School and completed residencies in clinical microbiology at the University of Toronto and in infectious diseases at the Mayo Clinic Collect of Medicine. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, American College of Physicians American College of Chest Physicians and Infectious Diseases Society of America.

About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics is the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services that patients and doctors need to make better healthcare decisions. The company offers the broadest access to diagnostic information services through its network of laboratories and patient service centers, and provides interpretive consultation through its extensive medical and scientific staff.  Quest Diagnostics is a pioneer in developing innovative diagnostic tests and advanced healthcare information technology solutions that help improve patient care.  Additional information is available at QuestDiagnostics.com.  Follow us at Facebook.com/QuestDiagnostics and Twitter.com/QuestDX.

Quest, Quest Diagnostics, the associated logo, and all associated Quest Diagnostics marks are the registered trademarks of Quest Diagnostics. All third party marks — ®' and ™' — are the property of their respective owners.

Contacts:
Wendy Bost, Quest Diagnostics (Media): 973-520-2800
Dan Haemmerle, Quest Diagnostics (Investors): 973-520-2900

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SOURCE Quest Diagnostics Incorporated