Executive News

ACHE Member Update

Armada Installed as 2022–2023 ACHE Chair

Anthony A. “Tony” Armada, FACHE, executive vice president and chief transformation officer, Generations Healthcare Network, Lincolnwood, Ill., assumed the office of Chair of the American College of Healthcare Executives March 26 at the Council of Regents Meeting preceding ACHE’s 65th Congress on Healthcare Leadership. He received the gavel from outgoing Chair Carrie Owen Plietz, FACHE, regional president, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc. and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Oakland, Calif. 

As Chair, Armada will serve the second part of a three-year term preceded by serving as Chair-Elect and followed by serving as Immediate Past Chair. 

Board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow, Armada served as an ACHE Governor from 2017 to 2020, as an ACHE Regent-at-Large for District 3 in 2013, and on many ACHE committees. 

Before joining Generations Healthcare Network in 2021, he worked for AHMC Health System, Alhambra, Calif., as president/CEO, Seton Medical Center, Daly City, Calif., and Seton Medical Center Coastside, Moss Beach, Calif., from 2020 to 2021; as well as system COO, Verity Health System, Los Angeles, from 2018 to 2020; and X-CO expert partner, Strategy Advantage, Los Angeles, and managing partner/CEO, AA Armada Associates, Seattle, from 2017 to 2018. Between 2013 and 2017, he held the following leadership positions with Providence Saint Joseph Health, Renton, Wash.: executive vice president/CEO, PSJH—Western Washington Market (2015 to 2017), and senior vice president/system CEO, Swedish Health Services (2013 to 2015).

Previously, he was president, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital and Children’s Hospital, Advocate Health Care, Park Ridge, Ill., from 2009 to 2013; president/CEO, Henry Ford Hospital and Health Network, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, from 2004 to 2009; senior vice president/area manager, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals, Kaiser Permanente, Los Angeles, from 2000 to 2004; and senior vice president/COO, Northridge (Calif.) Hospital Medical Centers, Catholic Healthcare West, Northridge, Calif., from 1998 to 2000. 

Earlier in his career, Armada was president/CEO, Columbia Chino (Calif.) Valley Medical Center, from 1995 to 1998; vice president, Torrance (Calif.) Memorial Medical Center, from 1991 to 1995; COO, Coastal Communities Hospital, Republic Health Care, Santa Ana, Calif., from 1990 to 1991; assistant administrator, Charter Suburban Hospital, Paramount, Calif., and Charter Oak Hospital, West Covina, Calif., from 1988 to 1990; an administrative resident, Saint Joseph Hospital, Elgin, Ill., from 1987 to 1988; and a medical technologist, Saint Lawrence Hospital, Lansing, Mich., from 1982 to 1985.

In addition to his service to ACHE, Armada is a member of the Healthcare Executive Study Society; the Standards Council for the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education; the Beaumont Society at Michigan State University; and the Alumni Association, Xavier University. 

He has received numerous awards, including the Technology and Innovation Visionary Leader award from Asian Weekly Pacific Northwest; the Business Leaders of Color Award from Chicago United; and the Chicago Filipino-American Hall of Fame Leadership Award from Via Times and CPR-TV. Modern Healthcare recognized him as one of its “Top 25 Minority Executives in Healthcare” three times, and in 2011, he received the Dean Conley Award from ACHE for his article “Diversity in Healthcare: Time to Get REAL!” published in Frontiers of Health Services Management. Armada also received the Service Award (2008), the Distinguished Service Award (2010) and the Exemplary Service Award (2012) through ACHE’s Recognition Program.

He received dual master’s degrees in hospital and health administration and business administration from Xavier University, Cincinnati, and a bachelor’s degree in human medicine from Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich. 

Finley Elected 2022–2023 ACHE Chair-Elect

Delvecchio S. Finley, FACHE, CEO, Atrium Health Navicent, Macon, Ga., has been elected the 2022–2023 ACHE Chair-Elect. Finley took office March 26. 

As Chair-Elect, Finley will serve the first part of a three-year term followed by serving as Chair and Immediate Past Chair. 

Board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow, Finley served as an ACHE Governor from 2018 to 2021, as an ACHE Regent for Northern and Central California from 2007 to 2010, and on many ACHE committees. In 2014, he received the Robert S. Hudgens Memorial Award for Young Healthcare Executive of the Year. 

Before Finley assumed his current role in 2021, he was CEO, Alameda Health System, Oakland, Calif., from 2015 to 2021; CEO, LA County/Harbor–UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, Calif., from 2011 to 2015; vice president, Operations–Support and Professional Services, California Pacific Medical Center, a Sutter Health affiliate, from 2010 to 2011; interim COO, Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, San Francisco, in 2009; and hospital associate administrator, Diagnostic and Support Services, San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, from 2006 to 2009. From 2003 to 2006, he worked for the University of California, San Francisco, in various positions: administrative director, HIV/AIDS Division (2005 to 2006); division administrator, Occupational and Environmental Medicine (2004 to 2005); and division administrator, Hematology/Oncology Division (2003 to 2005). 

In addition to his service to ACHE, Finley serves as a board member for the Georgia Hospital Association, the Georgia Association of Community Hospitals, and the Council on Healthcare Spending and Value for Health Affairs. His prior board experience includes the American Hospital Association, California Hospital Association and the California Association of Public Hospitals. 

He has received numerous awards during his career, including being named to Modern Healthcare’s “Top 25 Diversity Leaders in Healthcare” list in 2021 and the magazine’s “Watch List” and “Top 25 Minorities in Healthcare” list in 2016, and in 2015, he received Modern Healthcare’s “Up and Comers Award” and was named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s “Top Healthcare Executives Under 40” list. He also received the Service Award (2008), the Distinguished Service Award (2011) and the Exemplary Service Award (2014) through ACHE’s Recognition Program and a Senior-Level Healthcare Executive Regent Award from ACHE in 2007. 

Finley earned a Master of Public Policy from Duke University’s Sanford Institute of Public Policy, Durham, N.C., and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Emory University, Atlanta. He also received a graduate certificate in Health Policy, Law and Management from Duke University, and he was a fellow of the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems in 2008 and a fellow of the Change Agent Program for the UCSF Center for Health Professions from 2009 to 2012. 

Cardenas, Givens, Martz and McElmurray Elected ACHE Governors
Four ACHE Fellows were elected to serve three-year terms on ACHE’s Board of Governors. Each took office March 26. 

Noel J. Cardenas, FACHE, senior vice president/CEO, Memorial Hermann Southeast and Pearland Hospitals, Houston, served as the ACHE Regent for Army from 2013 to 2015, and as president of the ACHE-SouthEast Texas Chapter from 2020 to 2021. He has also served on several ACHE committees.  

Before assuming his current role in 2020, he was vice president, operations/COO, Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital, Humble, Texas, from 2015 to 2020. Prior to that, Cardenas served in the U.S. Army and Texas National Guard in the following roles: CEO/hospital commander, Reynolds Army Community Hospital, Fort Sill, Okla., from 2013 to 2015; COO, Brooke Army Medical Center/Healthcare System, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, from 2010 to 2013; CEO/commander, 421st Multifunctional Medical Battalion, Wiesbaden, Germany, from 2008 to 2010; CEO/commander, Medical Task Force 421st Multifunctional Medical Balad, Iraq, from 2008 to 2009; COO, Evans Army Community Hospital, Fort Carson, Colo., from 2006 to 2008; and COO, Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center, Fort Huachuca, Ariz., from 2004 to 2006. 

In addition to his service to ACHE, Cardenas is a board member of the Pearland Chamber of Commerce, the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership and Texas A&M University School of Public Health External Advisory Council. 

He received the Senior-Level Healthcare Executive Regent Award from ACHE in 2008 as well as the Distinguished Service Award (2014) and the Exemplary Service Award (2016) through the ACHE Recognition Program, and an ACHE Governors Award in 2016.

Board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow, Cardenas earned a Master of Healthcare Administration degree from Baylor University, Waco, Texas, and a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Texas, Austin. In 2017, he participated in the Memorial Hermann Physician Network and Rice University Executive Education Program. 

Michael K. Givens, FACHE, COO/administrator, St. Bernard’s Medical Center, Jonesboro, Ark., served as the ACHE Regent for Arkansas from 2019 to 2022 and on various ACHE committees. He was also president of the Arkansas Health Executives Forum, an ACHE chapter, from 2014 to 2016, in addition to serving as the chair of various chapter committees. 

Givens joined St. Bernard’s Medical Center in 2001 as director, patient care financial operations, before moving into the role of assistant vice president of patient care services that same year. In 2006, he was promoted to the position of vice president of patient care services—a role he held until 2010 before assuming his current title. Previously, he was a graduate teaching assistant at Harding University, Searcy, Ark., from 1999 to 2001, and an administrator with HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospitals in Arkansas from 1995 to 1999. 

In addition to his service to ACHE, Givens is a member of the Arkansas Health Executives Forum and a Northeast Arkansas district member of the Arkansas Hospital Association. He is also a volunteer with El Centro Hispano, the Hispanic Center of Jonesboro; a member of the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce; a preceptor for MHA administrative fellows at the University of Alabama, Birmingham; and an International Missions team leader. 

He has received various accolades during his career, including the Arkansas Hospital Association C.E. Melville Young Administrator of the Year in 2011 award.” Arkansas Business recognized Givens as an “Outstanding Young Executive” in 2007 and named him to its “40 Under 40” list in 2009. Additionally, he received the Service Award (2011), the Distinguished Service Award (2015) and the Exemplary Service Award (2021) through ACHE’s Recognition Program, as well as an Early Careerist Healthcare Executive Regent Award from ACHE in 2006.

Board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow, Givens earned his MBA from Harding University, Searcy, Ark., and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. 

Michele R. Martz, CPA, FACHE, president, UPMC Western Maryland, Cumberland, has served on various ACHE committees. 

Prior to assuming her current role in 2021, Martz was senior vice president/CFO, UPMC Western Maryland and Western Maryland Health System, from 2019 to 2020, and before that, she worked at Western Maryland Health System in various capacities: vice president, Physician Enterprise (2012 to 2019); vice president, Financial Services (2002 to 2012); and director, budget and reimbursement (1992 to 2002). Earlier, she was budget and reimbursement specialist with Western Maryland Health System/Memorial Hospital from 1989 to 1992 and adjunct faculty, Business Administration, Allegany College, both in Cumberland, Md., as well as an accountant with Deloitte, Haskins & Sells in Pittsburgh from 1987 to 1989. 

In addition to her service to ACHE, Martz is a member of the board of directors for Maryland Physician Care, the Allegany College of Maryland and the Cumberland Economic Development Corp. She is also a member of the Maryland Hospital Association Council on Financial Policy and the West Virginia Society of CPAs, and she serves as treasurer for the United Way of the Potomac Highlands.

Board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow, Martz is also a fellow of the Healthcare Financial Management Association. She earned her master’s degree in professional accountancy and her bachelor’s degree in business administration, with honors, from West Virginia University, Morgantown. In addition, she completed the Baldrige Executive Fellows Program with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce, from 2018 to 2019, and ACHE’s Senior Executive Program in 2014. 

Dodie McElmurray, FACHE, CEO, Community Hospitals, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, served as the ACHE Regent for Mississippi from 2014 to 2017, on various ACHE committees and as president-elect for the Mississippi Healthcare Executives, an ACHE chapter, from 2013 to 2014. 

Before joining the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2020, McElmurray was COO, West Jefferson Medical Center, Marrero, La., from 2017 to 2020, and COO, Greenwood (Miss.) Leflore Hospital, from 2014 to 2017. Between 2003 and 2014, she worked at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, in various capacities: administrator, Clinical Support Services (2006 to 2014); assistant administrator (2005 to 2006); clinical director, Neurosciences and Orthopedics (2004 to 2005); and assistant director, Nursing (2003 to 2004). Earlier, she was a professional consultant, Beverly Enterprises, Fort Smith, Ark., from 2002 to 2003; director, Nursing, Beverly Healthcare, Searcy, Ark., from 2001 to 2002; director, Nursing/administrator-in-training, Walter B. Crook Nursing Facility, Ruleville, Miss., from 2000 to 2001; unit manager, Ruleville (Miss.) Healthcare, from 1998 to 2000; staff nurse, North Sunflower County Hospital, Ruleville, Miss., from 1999 to 2001; and staff nurse, Continue Care Home Health, Indianola, Miss., from 1997 to 1998. 

In addition to her service to ACHE, McElmurray is a member of the Grenada Rotary Club and the Mississippi Hospital Association Board of Governors. Additionally, she serves as chair of the Mississippi Hospital Association’s Delta Council and its Committee on Quality. 

She has received several awards during her career. In 2012, the Mississippi Business Journal named McElmurray as a finalist for “Business Woman of the Year,” and in 2011, included her on its “Top 50 Business Women” list. She also received the Service Award (2017) through ACHE’s Recognition Program and an Early Careerist Healthcare Executive Regent Award from ACHE in 2013. 

Board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow, McElmurray earned her MBA and a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Phoenix and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Delta State University, Cleveland, Miss.

ACHE Welcomes New Regents
Seventeen healthcare executives have been elected to serve three-year terms as Regents, and one has been appointed to serve as a Regent-at-Large for District 3. The Regents took office March 26 at the Council of Regents Meeting preceding ACHE’s 65th Congress on Healthcare Leadership. In addition, three Regents were appointed to represent members on an interim basis in Colorado, Mississippi and Wyoming, and two were appointed on an interim basis as Regents-at-Large for Districts 4 and 5. 

The elected Regents will represent ACHE members in their respective jurisdictions; Interim Regents and Regents-at-Large will serve until the next election can be held. All individuals are board certified in healthcare management as ACHE Fellows. 

Following are the new Regents and Regents-at-Large listed by the jurisdictions they represent: 

Air Force: Lt Col Amanda M. Phlegar, FACHE

Alaska: William E. Sorrells, FACHE

Arkansas: Greg Crain, FACHE 

California—Northern & Central: Philip Chuang, PhD, FACHE

Colorado: John Polikandriotis, PhD, FACHE (Interim Regent) 

Connecticut: Kimberly A. Lumia, RN, FACHE

Florida—Eastern: Neil A. Mangus, FACHE

Illinois—Central & Southern: Nicole Radford, FACHE

Illinois—Metropolitan Chicago: Georgia Casciato, FACHE

Indiana: Chad Dilley, FACHE

Iowa: Samuel T. Schone, FACHE

Kentucky: John J. Murrell, FACHE

Maine: Tyson J. Thornton, PharmD, FACHE

Mississippi: April L. LaFontaine, FACHE (Interim Regent) 

New York—Metropolitan New York: Paul D. Vitale, FACHE

South Dakota: Mark Longacre, FACHE

Texas—Central & South: Cristian H. Lieneck, PhD, FACHE

Veterans Affairs: Alfred A. Montoya Jr., FACHE

West Virginia & Western Virginia: Kristi M. Snyder, FACHE

Wyoming: Maureen K. Cadwell, FACHE (Interim Regent)

Regent-at-Large, District 3: Kris Drake, FACHE

Regent-at-Large, District 4: James R. Allard, DNP, RN, FACHE (Interim Regent-at-Large)

Regent-at-Large, District 5: Bonnie J. Panlasigui, FACHE (Interim Regent-at-Large)

For additional information about these representatives, visit ache.org/Regents. 

ACHE Call for Nominations for the 2023 Slate 
ACHE’s 2022–2023 Nominating Committee is calling for applications for service beginning in 2023. ACHE Fellows are eligible for the Chair-Elect and Governor vacancies and are eligible for the Nominating Committee vacancies within their districts. Those interested in pursuing applications should review the candidate guidelines for the competencies and qualifications required for these important roles. Open positions on the slate include:

• Nominating Committee Member, District 2 (two-year term ending in 2025)
• Nominating Committee Member, District 3 (two-year term ending in 2025)
• Nominating Committee Member, District 6 (two-year term ending in 2025)
• Four Governors (three-year terms ending in 2026)
• Chair-Elect

Please refer to the following district designations for the open positions:

• District 2: District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia
• District 3: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin
• District 6: Air Force, Army, Navy, Veterans Affairs

Candidates for Chair-Elect and Governor should submit an application to serve that includes a copy of their resume and up to 10 letters of support. For details, please review the Candidate Guidelines, including guidance from the Board of Governors to the Nominating Committee regarding the personal competencies of Chair-Elect and Governor candidates and the composition of the Board of Governors.

Candidates for the Nominating Committee should only submit a letter of self-nomination and a copy of their resume.

Applications to serve and self-nominations must be submitted electronically to jnolan@ache.org and must be received by July 15. All correspondence should be addressed to Michael J. Fosina, FACHE, chair, Nominating Committee, c/o Julie Nolan, American College of Healthcare Executives, 300 S. Riverside Plaza, Ste. 1900, Chicago, IL 60606-6698.

The first meeting of ACHE’s 2022–2023 Nominating Committee was held March 29 during the 2022 Congress on Healthcare Leadership in Chicago. During the meeting, the Nominating Committee conducted an orientation session for potential candidates regarding the nominating process. Immediately following the orientation, an open forum was held for ACHE members to present and discuss their views of ACHE leadership needs.

Following the July 15 submission deadline, the committee may meet to determine which candidates for Chair-Elect and Governor will be interviewed. All candidates will be notified of the committee’s decision by Sept. 30, and candidates for Chair-Elect and Governor will be interviewed in person Oct. 27.

To review the Candidate Guidelines, visit ache.org/CandidateGuidelines. If you have any questions, please contact Julie Nolan at (312) 424-9367 or jnolan@ache.org.

People

Two ACHE Fellows Receive Baldrige Foundation National Leadership Awards
The Baldrige Foundation presented two Fellows with National Leadership Awards during the 33rd Quest for Excellence Conference in Washington, D.C., April 5, 2022. John B. Chessare, MD, FACHE, president/CEO, GBMC HealthCare, Baltimore, received the Harry S. Hertz Leadership Award. This award recognizes role-model leaders from across the United States who challenge, encourage and empower others to achieve performance excellence. John Kueven, RN, FACHE, senior vice president/hospital president, Wellstar Paulding Hospital, Hiram, Ga., and interim president, Wellstar Cobb Hospital, Austell, Ga., was one of 11 recipients of the 2022 Foundation Awards for Leadership Excellence. These awards recognize leaders in the business, nonprofit, government, healthcare, education and cybersecurity sectors who provide exceptionally outstanding support to Baldrige and the foundation’s mission. 

GBMC HealthCare and Wellstar Paulding Hospital were two of five organizations to earn the 2020 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which is the nation’s highest presidential honor for performance excellence through innovation, improvement and visionary leadership. 

ACHE Member Receives AHA Rural Hospital Leadership Award 
David Cauble, president/CEO, Sky Lakes Medical Center, Klamath Falls, Ore., was awarded the 2021 American Hospital Association Rural Hospital Leadership Award. The award recognizes small or rural hospital leaders who guide their hospital and community through change and innovation. The awardees display outstanding leadership, responsiveness to their community’s health needs and a collaborative process that has led to measurable outcomes. The award was presented during the AHA’s 35th Rural Health Care Leadership Conference held Feb. 6–9, 2022, in Phoenix. 

ACHE Staff News

ACHE Announces New Hires 
Following are new hire announcements.

Randy F. Liss welcomed as director, communications/editor-in-chief, Healthcare Executive, Department of Marketing. 

Jon N. Mau welcomed as manager, digital marketing, Department of Marketing.
 
Sandra R. McGarry welcomed as learning specialist, Department of Professional Development. 

Nate R. Muckley welcomed as District Services assistant, Regional Services, Department of Executive Engagement.  

Naomi D. Tolbert welcomed as Diversity & Inclusion program specialist, Department of Executive Engagement. 

Komari C. Walls welcomed as coordinator, Department of Executive Engagement.