Press Release

Jim Skogsbergh to Lead AHA's Section for Health Care Systems

Contact:
Matthew Fenwick - (312) 422-2820
Elizabeth Lietz - (202) 626-2284

Washington D.C.

Jim Skogsbergh, president and chief executive officer of Advocate Health Care in Oak Brook, Ill., is the 2010 chair of the American Hospital Association's (AHA) Section for Health Care Systems, a constituency section representing health systems across the country that assist the Association in further defining and focusing advocacy, public policy issues and member service strategies with regard to health care systems.  Skogsbergh will lead a 20-person governing council of executives during the year, as the AHA and health care field navigate a course of historic reforms to improve America's health care delivery system.

Advocate Health Care, a faith-based health system affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Church of Christ, is the largest integrated health care delivery system in the Midwest.  The organization has more than 200 sites of care including 12 hospitals, the region's largest employed medical group and the largest private home care company in the state.

Before joining Advocate in 2001, Skogsbergh served as executive vice president of the Iowa Health System in Des Moines, Iowa, as well as the president and chief executive officer of Iowa Methodist, Iowa Lutheran and Blank Children's hospitals.  His 25-year health care career was launched in 1982 when he took the role of administrative resident with Memorial Health System in South Bend, Ind.

Skogsbergh is a Fellow with the American College of Healthcare Executives and has served as Chairman of the Illinois Hospital Association's board of directors and on the board of the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council. Additionally, Skogsbergh has served on the boards of Chicago United, World Business Chicago, and the American Cancer Society's CEOs Against Cancer, and is a member of the Young Presidents Organization.

After earning his Baccalaureate Degree from Iowa State University, he went on to earn his Masters in Health Administration from the University of Iowa.

Anthony (Tony) L. Spezia, president and CEO, Covenant Health, Knoxville, Tenn, is the chairman-elect and will assume the role of chairman in 2011.  David R. Lincoln, president and CEO, Covenant Health Systems, Inc., Lexington, Mass., is the immediate past chairman.  Current Board member Glenn Steele, M.D., president and CEO, Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pa., will continue in 2010 as liaison from the AHA Board of Trustees to the governing council.

New appointees elected to serve on the council for three-year terms beginning January 1, 2010 are:

• Michael Tarwater, President and CEO, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, N.C.
• William Murray, President, Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System, Lenexa, Kan.
• John Porter, President and CEO, Avera Health, Yankton, S.D.
• Maura Walsh, President, Gulf Coast Division, HCA, Houston, Texas
• Rhonda Forsyth, President and CEO, John C. Lincoln Health Network, Phoenix, Ariz.
• John G. Stobo, M.D., Sr. Vice President, Health Sciences and Services, University of California Systemwide Administration, Oakland, Calif.
  

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.