Executive News

ACHE Member Update

Finley Installed as 2023–2024 ACHE Chair  

Delvecchio S. Finley, FACHE, president, Atrium Health Navicent, Macon, Ga., assumed the office of Chair of the American College of Healthcare Executives March 18 at the Council of Regents Meeting preceding ACHE’s 66th Congress on Healthcare Leadership. He received the gavel from outgoing Chair Anthony A. Armada, FACHE, executive vice president and chief transformation officer, Generations Healthcare Network, Lincolnwood, Ill. 

As Chair, Finley 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, Finley served as an ACHE Governor from 2018 to 2021; as an ACHE Regent for California—Northern & Central, 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 2020; CEO, LA County/Harbor–UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, Calif., from 2011 to 2015; vice president, Operations–Support and Professional Services, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, from 2010 to 2011; interim COO, Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, San Francisco, in 2009; and hospital associate administrator, Diagnostic and Support Services, Zuckerberg 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 (2003 to 2005). 

In addition to his service to ACHE, Finley serves as a board member for the Central Georgia Health Network, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Hospital Association, Georgia Research Alliance, Navicent Health Foundation, NewTown Macon, Secure Health, Vizient Southern States and on the Executive Committee of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals. He also serves as a member of the Council on Healthcare Spending and Value for Health Affairs. His prior board experience includes the American Hospital Association, California Hospital Association, California Association of Public Hospitals and the Essential Hospitals Institute. 

He is the recipient of numerous awards and commendations. In 2015, Modern Healthcare recognized him through its “Up & Comers” program, and in 2016, named him one of its “Diversity Leaders to Watch.” He was also named in 2015 to Becker’s Hospital Review’s “Top 25 Healthcare Leaders Under 40” list, and in 2021, Modern Healthcare recognized him again, naming Finley one of the “Top 25 Diversity Leaders in Healthcare.” In 2022, he was included on Georgia Trend magazine’s “GEORGIA 500” list of the state’s most influential leaders. Additionally, Finley has received ACHE’s Service Award (2008), Distinguished Service Award (2011) and 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.; a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Emory University, Atlanta; and a graduate certificate in Health Policy, Law and Management from Duke University. In 2008, he was a fellow of the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems, and from 2009 to 2012, Finley was a fellow of the Change Agent Program for the UCSF Center for Health Professions. 

Santulli Elected 2023–2024 ACHE Chair-Elect 

William P. Santulli, FACHE, president, Advocate Health–Midwest Region, Downers Grove, Ill., has been elected the 2023–2024 ACHE Chair-Elect. Santulli took office March 18. 

As Chair-Elect, Santulli 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, Santulli served as an ACHE Governor from 2020 to 2023 and has served, and continues to serve, on several ACHE committees. 

A leader with an Advocate Health predecessor organization for 21 years, Santulli previously served as COO of Advocate Aurora Health, Downers Grove, Ill., from 2018 to 2022; executive vice president and COO, Advocate Health Care, Oak Brook, Ill., from 2003 to 2018; and CEO, Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, Downers Grove, Ill., from 2001 to 2003. Prior to joining Advocate Health, he was COO of the New England Medical Center’s Academic Medical Center, Boston, from 1999 to 2001; COO (1996 to 1999) and senior vice president (1992 to 1996), Central Iowa Health System, Des Moines; vice president, Valley Hospital Medical Center (UniHealth America), Van Nuys, Calif., from 1989 to 1992; and assistant vice president, Good Samaritan Community Healthcare, Puyallup, Wash., from 1985 to 1988. Earlier in his career, he was an administrative fellow, Healthwest Foundation, Chatsworth, Calif., from 1984 to 1985, and an administrative resident, Metropolitan Medical Center, Minneapolis, from 1983 to 1984.

In addition to his service to ACHE, Santulli serves on the boards of Moving Analytics and Renovo Solutions. Previously, he served as chair of the Illinois Hospital Association and on the boards of Chicago United, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, the Des Moines and Los Angeles chapters of the American Red Cross, and the YMCA of Boston, Des Moines and Los Angeles. In 2022, Santulli received the Service Award through ACHE’s Recognition Program. 

Santulli received a master’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in sociology and health services research from the University of Florida. He also received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Notre Dame.

Lanni, Larson-Pollock, Roesch and Torres Elected ACHE Governors

Four ACHE Fellows were elected to serve three-year terms on ACHE’s Board of Governors. Each took office March 18. 

Thomas B. Lanni Jr., FACHE, president, Corewell Health Beaumont Hospital, Troy (Mich.),  served as the ACHE Regent for Michigan & Northwest Ohio from 2020 to 2023 and on numerous committees. 

Prior to his current position, he served as COO, Beaumont Hospital, Dearborn (Mich.), from 2018 to 2023. Earlier, Lanni was vice president of oncology, medicine, imaging, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and respiratory therapy (2012 to 2018); administrative director (2010 to 2012); and business manager for the radiation oncology department (2007 to 2010) at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak (Mich.) and Beaumont Health, Troy (Mich.). 

In addition to his service to ACHE, Lanni serves on the board of directors for the Leaders Advancing and Helping Communities and on the finance committee of Leadership Oakland. He also is an adjunct professor at the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. 

In 2012, Lanni received Beaumont’s “Rising Star Leader Award,” and in 2014, he was recognized as an “L. Brooks Patterson Elite 40 Under 40” awardee. He also received a Service Award through ACHE’s Recognition Program in 2021. 

Board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow, Lanni earned a Master of Business Administration from Walsh College and a bachelor’s in chemistry from the University of Michigan. 

Karin Larson-Pollock, MD, FACHE, chief, outcomes analytics, and chief quality officer, North Division (Western Washington and Alaska), Providence, Seattle, served as the ACHE Regent for Washington from 2020 to 2023 and on various committees. 

Previously, Larson-Pollock served as chief quality officer, Providence–Puget Sound Region, Seattle, from 2022 to 2023, and chief quality and analytics officer (2017 to 2022), senior director of value analytics and care systems (2015 to 2017) and as an independent consultant (2012 to 2015) for Providence Regional Medical Center Everett (Wash.). Earlier, she held various leadership roles with Houston Methodist Hospital, including vice president, operations (2007 to 2011), executive director, Strategic Planning and Women’s Services (2006 to 2007), project director for the executive vice president (2006), vice president, operations (2004 to 2007) and administrative fellow (2004 to 2005).  

She has received several awards over the years, including the Exemplary Service Award (2022), the Distinguished Service Award (2018) and the Service Award (2013) through the ACHE Recognition Program, and the ACHE Senior-Level Regent Award (2015). 

Board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow, Larson-Pollock earned a medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School, a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and a bachelor’s degree in business administration/marketing with a minor in German from the University of Montana. Between pursuing her graduate and undergraduate studies, Larson-Pollock served as a small business adviser with the U.S. Peace Corps in Kenya. In 2020, she received a certificate in business analytics from Harvard University’s Business Analytics Program, graduating with distinction. She is also an alumna of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Chief Quality Officer Forum. 

Frances C. Roesch, FACHE, director, Administration, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and business manager, Hamilton Obstetrics and Gynecology Associates, served as the ACHE Regent for Canada from 2020 to 2023 and has served on numerous committees. She was also the Stuart A. Wesbury Jr. Postgraduate Fellow at ACHE from 1998 to 1999. 

Before joining McMaster University in 2019, she was executive director and privacy officer, Queen Square Doctors, Brampton, Ontario, from 2016 to 2018, and senior program associate, The Change Foundation, Toronto, from 2015 to 2016. From 2011 to 2014, Roesch was director, Medical Affairs, at Joseph Brant Hospital, Burlington, Ontario. She held the position of director, Medical Affairs and Medical Recruitment, Chatham-Kent (Ontario) Health Alliance, from 2007 to 2011, and medical recruiter, Brant Community Healthcare System, Brantford, Ontario, from 2002 to 2007. Earlier in her career, she was editor/assistant editor, Illinois State Medical Society, Chicago, from 2000 to 2002. 

In addition to her service to ACHE, Roesch serves as the treasurer of the board of directors of the De dwa da dhes nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre, and she is a member of the Capital Committee. She is also a member of the Canadian College of Health Leaders and was a founding member and treasurer of the board of directors of the Canadian Association of Staff Physician Recruiters. Through ACHE’s Recognition Program, she has received the Service Award (2013), Distinguished Service Award (2018) and the Exemplary Service Award (2021).

Board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow, Roesch earned a master’s degree in health administration from the University of Memphis, Memphis, Tenn., and a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. She also holds a certificate in health law from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Toronto.

Solomon A. Torres, FACHE, deputy executive director/COO, Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, New York City, served as the ACHE Regent for New York—Metropolitan New York, from 2016 to 2019 and on several committees. 

Before he joined Brookdale Hospital Medical Center in 2021, Torres served as interim COO, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, from 2019 to 2021. Earlier in his career, he held various senior leadership roles at several major academic medical centers in New York including NewYork-Presbyterian, New York University Winthrop Hospital (now called NYU Langone Hospital), Mount Sinai Beth Israel and Northwell Health Long Island Jewish Medical Center. He launched his career at the Jacobi Medical Center and also held a leadership position at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

In addition to his service to ACHE, Torres is an assistant professor in the School of Population Studies at Hofstra University, where he teaches healthcare leadership in the graduate program. 
He is also a member of the New York-based Healthcare Executives Club, where he serves on the executive committee as a member-at-large. 

Torres has received several awards from ACHE during his career: the Early Careerist Regent Award (1998), the Senior Careerist Regent Award (2007) and the Service Award (2017) through ACHE’s Recognition Program.  

Board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow, Torres earned his MPA from the Wagner School of New York University and his bachelor’s from Rutgers University, where he was named the Outstanding Male Graduate of his class. He also holds a valid long-term care license. 

ACHE Welcomes New Regents
Twenty-eight healthcare executives have been elected to serve three-year terms as Regents and four have been appointed to serve as Regents-at-Large for Districts 1, 4, 5 and 6. The Regents took office March 18 at the Council of Regents Meeting preceding ACHE’s 66th Congress on Healthcare Leadership. In addition, four Regents were appointed to represent members on an interim basis in Alabama, Canada, Illinois—Central & Southern, and Vermont. 

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: 

Alabama: Robert E. Leech, FACHE (Interim Regent) 

Arizona: E. Janie Oakley, FACHE 

Army: COL Donald W. Sexton, PhD, FACHE 

California—Southern: Tricia S. Kassab, EdD, RN, FACHE 

Canada: Kareen A. Hall, FACHE (Interim Regent) 

Colorado: Nicole L. Schell, FACHE 

Florida—Northern and Western: Wesley Marsh, FACHE

Georgia: John Kueven, FACHE

Illinois—Central & Southern: Lexie Schwartz, FACHE (Interim Regent) 

Maryland: Conan Dickson, PhD, FACHE 

Michigan & Northwest Ohio: Kira M. Carter-Robertson, FACHE 

Minnesota: David F. Walz, RN, FACHE 

Mississippi: Kina L. White, DrPH, FACHE

Missouri: Mariellena Sudak, DHA, FACHE 

Navy: LCDR Richard J. Bly, FACHE 

Nebraska & Western Iowa: Karen Kliment Thompson, FACHE 

New Jersey—Northern: Ceu Cirne-Neves, FACHE

New York—Northern and Western: Meghan E. Finneran, FACHE 

North Carolina: Vi-Anne Antrum, DNP, RN, FACHE 

North Dakota: Daniel R. Kelly, DHA, FACHE

Ohio: Krista C. Maxey-Kohn, FACHE

Pennsylvania: Mona E. Miliner, FACHE 

Pennsylvania—Southeast & Southern New Jersey: Danielle J. Werner, FACHE 

Puerto Rico: Rafael S. Alvarado Noriega, FACHE 

Rhode Island: Crista F. Durand, FACHE

South Carolina: Karen G. Schwartz, FACHE

Tennessee: Timothy A. Slocum, FACHE 

Texas—Southeast: Frank R. Tortorella, FACHE

Vermont: Kelly O. Watson, DNP, FACHE (Interim Regent)

Virginia—Central: Joanne M. Inman, FACHE 

Washington: Andrea Z. Turner, FACHE

Wyoming: Robin A. Roling, FACHE

Regent-at-Large, District 1: Astrid Gonzalez Parilla, OTD, FACHE

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

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

Regent-at-Large, District 6: John W. Sharpe, FACHE 

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

ACHE Call for Nominations for the 2024 Slate
ACHE’s 2023–2024 Nominating Committee is calling for applications for service beginning in 2024. 

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 1 (two-year term ending in 2026).
• Nominating Committee Member, District 4 (two-year term ending in 2026).
• Nominating Committee Member, District 5 (two-year term ending in 2026).
• Four Governors (three-year terms ending in 2027).
• Chair-Elect.

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

• District 1: Canada, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont.
• District 4: Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas.
• District 5: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

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 krock@ache.org and must be received by July 28. All correspondence should be addressed to Carrie Owen Plietz, FACHE, chair, Nominating Committee, c/o Kim Rock, American College of Healthcare Executives, 300 S. Riverside Plaza, Ste. 1900, Chicago, IL 60606-6698.

The first meeting of ACHE’s 2023–2024 Nominating Committee was held March 21 during the 2023 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 28 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 no later than Sept. 29, and candidates for Chair-Elect and Governor will be interviewed in person Oct. 19.

To review the Candidate Guidelines, visit ache.org/CandidateGuidelines. If you have any questions, please contact Kim Rock at (312) 424-9375 or krock@ache.org.

People

Modern Healthcare Recognizes Bowen Among ‘Top Women Leaders’ for 2023
ACHE is proud to announce that its President/CEO Deborah J. Bowen, FACHE, CAE, has been recognized by Modern Healthcare magazine as one of the “Top Women Leaders” for 2023. This prestigious recognition program acknowledges and honors women from all sectors of the healthcare field for their contributions to care delivery improvement, health equity, policy and gender equity in healthcare leadership. Bowen was one of several honorees who also received Modern Healthcare’s “Top 25 Women Leaders’ Luminary Award,” created to honor women who have made outstanding, sustained contributions to healthcare. They are perennial members of the “Top 25” list and have a proven track record of advancing the careers of other prospective leaders. 

All of the honorees are featured in the Feb. 20 issue of Modern Healthcare magazine and online at ModernHealthcare.com/topwomenexecs. 

Two ACHE Members Receive Baldrige Foundation National Leadership Awards
The Baldrige Foundation presented two members with National Leadership Awards during the 34th annual Quest for Excellence Conference near Washington, D.C., April 4. Janet A. Wagner, CEO, Sutter Health Mill-Peninsula Medical Center, Burlingame, Calif., was one of 11 recipients of the 2023 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. Lewis W. Marshall Jr., MD, JD, FACHE, CMO, NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln Hospital, New York City/affiliate dean and assistant clinical professor of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine at Lincoln, New York City, was one of two recipients of the 2023 Dr. Curt Reimann Baldrige Scholarship, which is given to assist graduate students or recent graduates in attending Baldrige examiner training. 

To learn more about the Baldrige Foundation National Leadership Awards, visit baldrigefoundation.org. 

ACHE Member Receives AHA Rural Hospital Leadership Team Award 
Ruby Kirby, CEO, West Tennessee Healthcare Bolivar (Tenn.) General Hospital, was awarded the American Hospital Association’s 2022 Rural Hospital Leadership Team 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 AHA’s 36th annual Rural Health Care Leadership Conference held Feb. 19–22 in San Antonio. 

ACHE Staff News

ACHE Announces New Hires and Promotions 
Cristina Cuevas promoted to events coordinator, Professional Development, Department of Learning, from senior customer service representative, Customer Service Center, Department of Executive Engagement. 

Matthew M. Fernandez welcomed as marketing specialist, Department of Communications and Marketing. 

Steven M. Harris promoted to director, information technology, Department of Information Technology, from assistant director, applications.

Caitlin E. Stine promoted to communications editor, Department of Communications and Marketing, from content marketing specialist.

Lori A. Trusiak welcomed as senior project manager, Executive Office. 

Elizabeth Villagomez promoted to data analyst, Research, Executive Office, from research coordinator.