FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON — New member leaders for America’s Essential Hospitals and its research, education, and dissemination arm, Essential Hospitals Institute, today officially began their roles guiding the organizations’ work.
“In this turbulent time for hospitals, our board members’ front-line experience is more important than ever as we navigate the response to COVID-19, inequity and racism, and other challenges,” said Bruce Siegel, MD, MPH, president and CEO of America’s Essential Hospitals. “Their insights on disparities, as leaders of mission-driven hospitals, will be particularly valuable as we work together to ensure high-quality, equitable care.”
Susan Ehrlich, MD, MPP, CEO of Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, in San Francisco, becomes America’s Essential Hospitals’ board chair. She succeeds Wright Lassiter III, president and CEO of Henry Ford Health System, in Detroit, who becomes past-chair.
“Essential hospitals face unprecedented challenges to their mission of making high-quality care available to the most vulnerable people and communities,” Ehrlich said. “I’m honored to chair our board, and I look forward to working with my board colleagues to ensure our hospitals have the support they need to succeed.”
Steve Purves, president and CEO of Valleywise Health, in Phoenix, becomes the association’s new chair-elect. Charlie Shields, president and CEO of Truman Medical Centers, in Kansas City, Mo., becomes the board’s secretary. Eric Dickson, MD, MHCM, president and CEO of UMass Memorial Health Care, in Worcester, Mass., becomes the board’s treasurer.
Christine Neuhoff, JD, MBA, system vice president and chief legal officer of St. Luke’s Health System in Boise, Idaho, becomes chair of the Institute’s board. She succeeds Delvecchio Finley, MPP, CEO of Alameda Health System, in Oakland, Calif., who becomes past-chair.
“I am proud to chair the Institute board and help lead this dynamic organization. The Institute’s work to disseminate innovative practices, particularly for population health, is incredibly important as we work to break down barriers to care and improve health equity,” Neuhoff said. “With its Essential Women’s Leadership Academy and Fellows Program, the Institute also provides a pipeline of strategic leadership for essential hospitals and develops champions of care for all.”
The Institute’s chair-elect and secretary is Parveen Chand, MHA, chief operating officer of Academic Health Center — Adult Hospitals at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis. Roy Gilbreath, MD, senior vice president and chief system of care integration officer at Navicent Health, in Macon, Ga., continues as treasurer. Siegel continues as recording secretary (ex officio).
New and Continuing Directors
America’s Essential Hospitals’ board welcomes these new at-large member directors:
- Jacob Cintron, MBA, CEO, University Medical Center of El Paso, El Paso, Texas
- Sheldon McLeod, CEO, NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County, Brooklyn, N.Y.
- Kate Walsh MPH, president and CEO, Boston Medical Center, Boston
These member leaders continue as at-large association board directors:
- Akram Boutros, MD, president and CEO, The MetroHealth System, Cleveland
- David Brenner, MD, vice chancellor for health sciences, UC San Diego Health System, San Diego
- Patrick Cawley, MD, MHM, executive director and CEO, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Charleston, S.C.
- Barry Freedman, president and CEO, Einstein Healthcare Network, Philadelphia
- Carlos Migoya, president and CEO, Jackson Health System, Miami
- Janice Nevin, MD, MPH, president and CEO, ChristianaCare, Wilmington, Del.
- Thomas Quatroche, PhD, president and CEO, Erie County Medical Center, Buffalo, N.Y
- Florence Spyrow, JD, MHA, MPA, MSN, president and CEO, Northern Arizona Healthcare, Flagstaff, Ariz.
- Karen Teitelbaum, MA, MM, president and CEO, Sinai Health System, Chicago
- Joseph Webb, DSc, MSHA, CEO, Nashville General Hospital at Meharry, Nashville
The Institute board added these new member directors:
- Brenda Battle, MBA, vice president, Urban Health Initiative; chief diversity, inclusion, and equity officer, UChicago Medicine, Chicago
- Shannon Sale, MHA, chief strategy officer, Grady Health, Atlanta
These member leaders continue as Institute board directors:
- Rohit Bhalla, MD, MPH, vice president of quality and patient safety, Stamford Hospital, Stamford, Conn.
- Susan Cooper, MSN, chief integration officer and senior vice president, Regional One Health, Memphis, Tenn.
- Melany Gavulic, RN, MBA, president and CEO, Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Mich.
- Kim Hollon, MSHHA, president and CEO, Signature Healthcare Brockton, Brockton, Mass.
The Institute also named one new outside, at-large director:
- Anand Shah, MD, MS, vice president of social health, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, Calif.
These leaders continue as outside, at-large Institute directors:
- Melinda Abrams, MS, vice president, director of delivery system reform, The Commonwealth Fund, New York
- Stuart Guterman, MA, independent consultant, Silver Spring, Md.
- Dale Shaller, MPA, principal, Shaller Consulting Group, Stillwater, Minn.
- Kevin Weiss, MD, MPH, MHSA, chief sponsoring institution and clinical learning environment officer, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, Chicago
# # #
About America’s Essential Hospitals
America’s Essential Hospitals is the leading champion for hospitals and health systems dedicated to high-quality care for all, including the most vulnerable. We support our 300 members with advocacy, policy development, research, and education. Communities depend on essential hospitals to provide specialized, lifesaving services; train the health care workforce; advance public health and health equity; and coordinate care. Essential hospitals innovate and adapt to lead the way to more effective and efficient care. Learn more at essentialhospitals.org.
About Essential Hospitals Institute
Essential Hospitals Institute is the research, education, dissemination, and leadership development arm of America’s Essential Hospitals. The Institute supports the nation’s essential hospitals as they provide high-quality, equitable, and affordable care to their communities. Working with members of America’s Essential Hospitals, we identify promising practices from the field, conduct research, disseminate innovative strategies, and help our members improve their organizational performance. We do all of this with an eye toward improving individual and population health, especially for vulnerable people.
Contact:
Carl Graziano
cgraziano@essentialhospitals.org
202.585.0102
