People on the Move: Sept. 20

People on the Move is a rundown of recent hirings, promotions, appointments and other notable movements by professionals in the state. If you’re interested in submitting an entry, please contact news@delawarebusinesstimes.com.

Dustin McFarland has been appointed CEO of Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Middletown. McFarland oversees daily operations of the 50-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital, located at 250 East Hampton Road.

McFarland joined Encompass Health of Middletown in 2018 as a nursing manager. He transitioned to the role of director of quality and risk management in 2022 prior to assuming the CEO role in August. Prior to joining Encompass Health of Middletown, he served as a registered nurse and assistant nurse manager at ChristianaCare.

McFarland earned his associate’s degree in nursing from Delaware Technical Community College, bachelor’s degree in nursing from Immaculata University and master degree in nursing leadership at Wilmington University.

“Dustin’s background in nursing and quality management makes him uniquely qualified to lead our Middletown hospital,” Pat Tuer, president of Encompass Health’s Northeast region said. “Throughout his career, his commitment to providing high-quality patient care has been evident. I am confident in his vision for the hospital and look forward to seeing it flourish under his leadership.”

Thomas Schwaab, M.D., Ph.D., has been named the new Bank of America Endowed Medical Director of ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute and leader of the Cancer Service Line.

Thomas Schwaab | PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTIANACARE

Schwaab comes to ChristianaCare from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in upstate New York where he served for over 15 years as a highly accomplished urologic surgeon. While at Roswell Park, he served in a number of physician leadership roles, most recently as chief of strategy, business development and outreach. He was also associate professor of urologic oncology and The William and Nancy Gacioch Family Endowed Chair in Translational Research.

Schwaab succeeds Nicholas Petrelli, M.D., who announced last year that he is retiring from his leadership position after 23 years at the Graham Cancer Center. Petrelli will remain as director of the Cawley Center for Translational Cancer Research.

Schwaab will provide overall direction and leadership for the Graham Cancer Center and cancer care activities. He will direct community outreach and research and work to reduce the incidence, prevalence and mortality of cancer in the state of Delaware and the region. He will oversee quality and safety, value-based outcomes, workforce stability, financial vitality and strategic direction of cancer services.

Schwaab earned his medical degree and doctorate from Medizinische Hochschule in Hannover, Germany. He completed his residency and fellowship program at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and is board certified in urology. He has published nearly 50 manuscripts in peer-reviewed publications.

Taylor Sewell, community health program assistant, has received the Christiana Care ROSE Award. ROSE stands for Raising Our Standard of Excellence, recognizing outstanding partners in nursing who help deliver compassionate, excellent care to patients and families.

Taylor Sewell (center) | PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTANACARE

Sewell was nominated by a patient’s family member who cited her exceptional patient care and positive attitude during an Emergency Department visit.

“Taylor went above and beyond to help my 85-year-old father with his nosebleed in a very busy ED,” her nominator wrote. “She ensured my father was okay throughout his entire visit. She assisted the doctor and offered alternatives for blood clots. She held his hand, made jokes to comfort him, and even offered me food, drinks and a break.”

The nominator appreciated how attentive Sewell was during their emergency room visit.

“At the end of our visit, she wheeled my dad out, helped him into the car, buckled him in and wished us ‘happy holidays,’” he wrote. “If everyone embraced the positive attitude that Taylor exemplified, the world would be such a wonderful place. We are grateful for the few hours we were fortunate enough to spend with her.”

The Professional Nurse Council at ChristianaCare selects ROSE Award recipients using an anonymous process based on nominations from patients, families and ChristianaCare caregivers. Nursing partners in caregiving — behavioral health specialists, clerks, home health aides, homemakers, medical assistants, monitor technicians, office assistants, patient care technicians, perioperative care technicians, procedural area technologists and surgical technologists — are eligible.

CorriXR Therapeutics, Inc. (CorriXR), a biotherapeutics company, announced the appointment of Jill Castilla to its Board of Directors.

Jill Castilla | PHOTO COURTESY OF CORRIXR

“We are very pleased to welcome Jill to our Board and believe she will be an invaluable asset with her vision and strong leadership skills,” Deborah Moorad, CEO of CorriXR, said. “We trust that Jill’s proven record of success and extensive experience will help drive strategic growth, expand opportunities, and deliver value to the company.”

Castilla is currently President & CEO of Citizens Bank of Edmond and founder of its digital military bank ROGER. She serves on the Federal Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors representing the 10th District. She is a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army and chairs the SW Graduate School of Banking at SMU. Ms. Castilla received national acclaim for projects with billionaire Mark Cuban during the COVID-19 crisis, helping thousands of small businesses and families.

Previously, Castilla served in the U.S. Army and Oklahoma Army National Guard and in management roles at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. She holds a master’s in economics from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor’s in finance from Hawaii Pacific University, where she serves on its Board of Trustees. She attended post-graduate programs at the University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Banking and The Wharton School.