Chopra named next Va. tech czar

Virginia Governor-elect Tim Kaine has named Aneesh Chopra, an expert in technology issues related to health care, to serve as the next secretary of technology for the state.

Chopra, a resident of Arlington, Va., is currently managing director of the Advisory Board Co., a firm providing best practices and research and analysis to the health care industry.

He also serves as co-president of the D.C. chapter of Indus Entrepreneurs, an organization focused on promoting entrepreneurship in the region.

Chopra was appointed in 2004 to the Board of Medical Assistance Services, where he initiated a pilot project to lower administrative costs for Virginia's Medicaid program by using technology. He also was appointed to the Governor's Electronic Health Records Task Force, where he worked to identify strategies for lowering costs, improving patient satisfaction and accelerating the adoption of patient safety measures using technology.

Chopra received a bachelor of arts in public health from Johns Hopkins University and a master of arts in public policy from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.

Chopra will replace Eugene Huang, who has served as secretary of technology under Gov. Mark Warner since Oct. 1, 2004.