During the past few months, ACHE chapters have acknowledged leaders for various efforts, as well as focused on the professional development they need in 2023. Following are examples of chapter initiatives and events that provided value for and recognition of members.
Resiliency, Recovery and Reigniting the Passion for Healthcare Leadership
Health Care Management Association of Central New York covers a wide swath of the state—a total of 41 counties are included in the chapter’s reach.
The chapter serves a diverse group of healthcare leaders from various settings, including academic medical centers, integrated health systems, post-acute settings and small community hospitals, rural health providers, governmental and regulatory leaders. To address the diverse interests and backgrounds of the membership, the chapter provides a variety of educational offerings:
- Each year, an annual conference is offered with ACHE Face-to-Face Education and ACHE Qualified Education credits to support advancement to Fellow status. Also, the chapter recently concluded a two-year offering of a Board of Governors Exam Prep Series aimed at providing best-practice education and experience from industry leaders to prospective members advancing to Fellow.
- Local program councils are offered in various markets throughout the state, including Rochester, Albany and Syracuse, to bring educational and networking opportunities to local markets to mitigate geographic challenges posed with such a large chapter reach.
- In 2023, the chapter will be evolving with a renewed focus on in-person educational and networking opportunities.
The chapter’s focus is not only on the resiliency of healthcare leaders facing accelerating rates of burnout and departure from the industry but also on reigniting the spirit of caring for patients and employees. Resiliency is only the first step toward sustainability. It will focus on recovery from the pandemic’s operational, financial and psychological impact, as well as reengage and reignite the passion of its leaders so they gain a deeper understanding of why they chose to work in healthcare.
The chapter also plans to collaborate with local educational institutions and other affiliated organizations, provide networking events throughout the state to reconnect with colleagues and contacts within the field, and reestablish itself as a leading resource in New York for healthcare leaders and students.
In 2023, Health Care Management Association of Central New York will be evolving with a renewed focus on in-person educational and networking opportunities.
ACHE of South Florida 2022 Fellow Celebration and Networking Event
This Fellow-only event celebrates a key constituent of ACHE, recognizing the attainment of the gold standard in healthcare management certification. The occasion is also an opportunity to applaud Fellows’ commitment to lifelong learning and contributions to the field, ACHE and the chapter.
“It was an honor to recognize and celebrate our chapter Fellows and Life Fellows, share the great offerings and assets that ACHE has to offer, and make a call to action to Fellows to give back to the chapter as committee and board members, Regents, speakers and mentors to members, especially prospective Fellows,” says Oyinkansola “Bukky” Ogunrinde, the chapter’s 2022 president.
In addition, the chapter’s 170 Fellows and Life Fellows were recognized along with a special acknowledgement of the 2022 Fellows on the chapter’s LinkedIn page.
The inaugural Fellow event was held in 2021 virtually and featured keynote speaker Matthew A. Love, president/CEO of Nicklaus Children’s Health System. In 2022, the first in-person event, which was sponsored by Memorial Healthcare System, was held and the chapter presented its inaugural Chapter Fellow Service Award.
David Smith, FACHE, executive vice president/CFO, Memorial Health System, has served on the chapter’s finance committee during the past two years as a speaker and is a mentor to many ACHE members and Fellows. Given his service and commitment to the chapter, he became the first recipient of the prestigious 2022 Chapter Fellow Service award.
“I am humbled to receive the ACHE of South Florida chapter’s first Chapter Fellow Service Award. As a CFO, I felt that becoming a Fellow was important to deepen my connection to our patients and our mission. ACHE offers so many opportunities to learn and grow and advance your career, and giving back through volunteering helps me keep that connection. Thank you, South Florida Chapter, for this great honor,” said Smith.
“This event reflects the appreciation of ACHE of South Florida for its Fellows, who show the deepest commitment and dedication,” says Jenna Merlucci, FACHE, who serves as the 2022 president-elect and oversaw the production of this successful event.
DEI Recognition in Michigan
At its annual meeting in November, the Great Lakes Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives honored one individual and two organizations who exemplify its values around diversity, equity, belonging and inclusion with its DEBI Awards:
- Kimberly L. McVicar, DHA, an associate professor at Ferris State University, was selected for expanding her personal knowledge of these values, promoting them in her classroom, and for authoring chapters, books and published articles on DEI.
- MyMichigan Health was selected for its explicit focus on diversity and inclusion in its Vision 2025, DEI Advisory Committee, and a dedicated team within human resources to improve hiring and promotion from a DEI perspective.
- Sparrow Health System was selected for its ongoing commitment to DEI, including its adoption of eight key DEI principles for improvement, Women in Leadership program, DEI Leadership Development Program and development of implicit bias training.
The chapter congratulates them for their extraordinary accomplishments and inspiration.
To find your chapter or search the chapter directory, go to ache.org/Chapters. To discuss your ideas for chapters, contact Stacey A. Kidd, CAE, director, Chapter Relations, Department of Executive Engagement, at (312) 424-9323 or skidd@ache.org.