Press Release

James R. Castle to Receive AHA Board of Trustees Award

Contact:
AHA Press Room - (202) 797-4840

After April 9th:
David Allen - (202) 626-2313
Elizabeth Lietz - (202) 626-2284

Washington D.C.

The American Hospital Association (AHA) today presented James R. Castle with its 2008 Board of Trustees Award.  The award is presented to individuals or groups who have made substantial and noteworthy contributions to the work of the AHA.   

Castle is president and CEO of the Ohio Hospital Association (OHA), located in Columbus, Ohio.  The association serves as a common voice for Ohio's 170 community hospitals, advocating their interests in the state General Assembly and in Congress, as well as other governmental entities and outside organizations.  Since coming to OHA in 1989, Jim has positioned the association as a leading authority in health policy issues at both the state and national levels. He regularly travels across the state speaking to community and business groups and spreading Ohio hospitals' reform message of reducing health care costs by creating healthy communities.

"Jim continues to play an important role in advancing the health of individuals and communities in Ohio and beyond," said AHA President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock.  "Nationally, Jim Castle has led efforts to ensure quality standards are meaningful and effective and in keeping with the needs of hospitals and the people and communities they serve." 

Castle has served on many boards and committees for the AHA and was appointed an AHA Commissioner to The Joint Commission in January 1999. He is a member of the board of the Coalition to Protect America's Health Care, an ex-officio member of the OHA Board of Trustees and serves on various community and state boards including The Ohio State University's Professional Advisory Board and the Ohio Medical Quality Foundation Board. Castle is active in several professional organizations, including the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Ohio and American Societies of Association Executives. 

A native of Ludington, Mich., Castle graduated from the University of Michigan's School of Business Administration with a bachelor's degree in finance and Michigan State University with a master's degree in labor and industrial relations.

About AHA

The AHA is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the improvement of health in their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which includes more than 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations, and 38,000 individual members. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends.