Railroad Retirement Board names Bonson chief medical officer

The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has tapped Dr. Elizabeth Bonson to serve as chief medical officer.

Bonson will provide medical guidance to the board's Office of Programs, which adjudicates claims for disability annuities and sickness insurance benefits. She also will train examiners on medical issues, serve as a consultant on medical contract solicitations, and act as the board's medical liaison to other federal agencies and the public, RRB officials said in a press release.

Bonson is double board-certified in preventive medicine and occupation/environmental medicine. Most recently, she provided utilization review and management for health-care services.

During five years in clinical practice, Bonson specialized in occupational health. Additionally, she served as associate medical director at the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, where she was responsible for provider education and best-practice program development for worker-related health care.

Bonson also has experience as an independent contractor implementing a quality improvement program for medical exams in workers' compensation claims.