Health Learning Systems, CommonHealth's founding medical-education company, has announced the appointment of David M. Kutzner to the position of vice president, professional relations. CommonHealth, a healthcare-communications network, is a unit of WPP Group, an international advertising company.

Kutzner joins Health Learning Systems (HLS) from Pharmacia Oncology, a unit of Pharmacia Corporation, Peapack, N.J., where he held the position of senior marketing communications manager, Oncology.

Having participated in the formation of Pharmacia Oncology, Kutzner was most recently responsible for development of the communications programs that supported the launch and growth of an injectable drug for metastatic colon or rectal cancer. Kutzner's previous therapeutic experience includes cardiovascular, diabetes, anti-inflammatory and transplantation products.

"David's experience in some extremely technical therapeutic areas will add significant value to our program development at HLS, where we are becoming increasingly immersed in complex therapies," said Wendy Nielsen-Fry, president of Health Learning Systems.

"I'm pleased to have the opportunity to work with the exceptional strategic team at Health Learning Systems," said Kutzner. "I'm looking forward to applying my U.S. and global marketing experience to the development of innovative and effective healthcare-education programs," he added.

CommonHealth comprises Health Learning Systems, Thomas Ferguson Associates, Adient, The Quantum Group, Noesis Healthcare Interactions, The Xchange Group, ProCom International, The Conectics Group, Enterprise IG Health, EinsonHealth, MD&A/Salud, MBS/Vox, CommonHealth Europe, CommonHealth Australia and CommonHealth Kyowa.

CommonHealth also has partnerships with the following companies: CIA Medianetwork, Medical Broadcasting Company (MBC), Pedagogue Solutions and SoftWatch.