Eric Dishman, manager of Intel's digital health group, leaving for federal initiative

Eric Dishman, an Intel vice president and leader of its much-touted health and life sciences organization, is leaving to join a federal project called the Precision Medicine Initiative Cohort Program. Dishman is one of Intel's top Oregon executives and had been among its most visible leaders of an effort to incorporate computing technology into medicine.

In his new role at the National Institutes for Health, Dishman will lead an effort to study more than 1 million volunteers to study the impact of "precision medicine" – the practice of studying an individual's specific genetic makeup and lifestyle to produce targeted treatments. It had been a key focus of Dishman's work at Intel, and he had helped design the study he will now oversee.

Dishman's exit is the latest in a string of executive turnover within Intel's top ranks. Just last week the chipmaker announced two of its top vice president, Doug Davis and Kirk Skaugen, are both leaving the company.

Their exits followed a report in Bloomberg that a top vice president in Intel's mobile technology group, Aicha Evans, is leaving the company. However,Bloomberg reported Monday that chief executive Brian Krzanich is working to convince Evans to stay.

Dishman ranks below those executives but he had been a prominent member of Intel's efforts to make headway in the life sciences. He is a cancer survivor himself, having overcome a rare form of kidney cancer. Dishman credited precision medicine with a treatment plan that left him cancer free. 

In a note to employees Monday, Intel data center chief Diane Bryant – who oversees the company's digital health efforts – wrote that a Hillsboro executive named Steve Agritelley will take over as general manager of Intel's health and life sciences business on an interim basis while the company seeks a new vice president for the role. Agritelley is already a leader in the organization.

Dishman's last day at Intel is April 29, according to Bryant.

"He tells me he will be eager to get back to his Oregon farm and his family once the mission is done!" she wrote.