Obituary: Sister Mary Roch Rocklage

Aug 24, 2022 - 03:56 PM
AHA Board of Trustees 900x400

Former AHA Chair and Distinguished Service Award recipient Sister Mary Roch Rocklage passed away yesterday. She was 87.  
  
Rocklage was considered the “modern day foundress” of the Mercy health care system, serving the ministry for 65 years, including as Mercy’s first president and CEO and later its board chair. She served on the AHA board, executive committee, and committee on nominations, and as AHA’s board chair in 2002. She also was a member of AHA’s Regional Policy Board 6, as well as the governing council for the Section for Health Care Systems.  
  
In addition to AHA’s Distinguished Service Award, which she received in 2006, Rocklage was the recipient of the Missouri Hospital Association Career Achievement Award and the Catholic Health Association Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2011, she was inducted into Modern Healthcare’s Healthcare Hall of Fame.  
  
See the Mercy obituary for more information. In addition, see a video and transcript of an interview with Rocklage from AHA’s Oral History Collection.

Related News Articles

Headline
AHA files amicus brief in appeals court supporting dismissal of online tracking case
The AHA May 27 filed an amicus brief in the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals supporting the dismissal of an online tracking lawsuit against a member hospital…
Chairperson's File
Chair File: Leadership Dialogue — The Role of Advocacy in Advancing Health Care with AHA Executive Vice President Stacey Hughes
Public
We’re at a watershed moment in health care, which gives us opportunities to strengthen how we serve patients and communities. Health care leaders must help…
Perspective
Hospitals Are Leading the Way to a Healthier America
Public
This week, more than 1,000 hospital and health system leaders came to Washington, D.C., united by a shared responsibility: to ensure every community has access…
Chairperson's File
Chair File: Supporting and Sharing the Healing Work of Hospitals and Their Care Teams
Public
More than 1,000 leaders from hospitals and health systems across the country will gather in Washington, D.C., early next week at the 2026 AHA Annual…
Headline
Webinar to share strategies on workforce relief 
The AHA will host a webinar April 16 at 1 p.m. ET featuring leaders from CHRISTUS Health and The Urology Group to share how nurse-first triage and smarter…
Headline
Mississippi 340B law upheld by appeals court in two cases
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit April 9 affirmed rulings by a Mississippi district court that rejected requests by Novartis and PhRMA to enjoin…