Early in his career an AHA staff member and later president and CEO of Providence Services and an AHA chair officer, Rich Umbdenstock became AHA's chief executive officer in 2007. Under his leadership, the AHA supported the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and helped the nation address the Ebola scare. As AHA president and CEO, he forged consensus on difficult challenges; heightened focus on quality improvement, health care coverage and health disparities; and made transformation and value a driving force for the hospital field.