Kathleen Becker to Chair AHA's Section for Metropolitan Hospitals Council in 2018

WASHINGTON (January 16, 2018) – Today, the American Hospital Association (AHA) announced that Kathleen Becker, JD, FACHE, President, SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital in St. Louis will lead the AHA’s Section for Metropolitan Hospitals as chair of its 26-member council for 2018. The section is a forum for suburban and urban hospitals to discuss common interests and concerns and to participate in the AHA policy process. The Section council advises AHA on behalf of metro hospitals on key advocacy, policy and regulatory issues.

As President of SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, Becker has been responsible for continuing to improve quality, safety and the growth of exceptional medical services, deepening alignment and relationships with physicians, and strengthening patient, physician and employee satisfaction.

Becker returned to Saint Louis University Hospital after serving at SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital for four years and as Interim President of SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital for one year. She was previously CEO for SLUCare, the University’s multispecialty medical practice with more than 380 faculty physicians and 800 staff members in multiple inpatient and ambulatory locations. With extensive experience in operations, program development and strategic planning, Becker has also served as Associate General Counsel for Saint Louis University and has held key positions in a variety of law firms.

Becker holds a master’s degree in public health and health policy from Saint Louis University, a JD degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law and a bachelor of arts degree in English from Saint Louis University.

Dennis Pullin, President and CEO of Virtua Health in Marlton, New Jersey, is this year’s chair-elect and will assume the role of chairperson in 2019. Elaine Couture, RN, Executive VP/Chief Executive, Washington/Montana, Chief Executive Providence Health Care, is immediate past chair.

The Metropolitan council advises the AHA on federal policy issues. Newly elected members serving for three-year terms beginning January 1, 2018, include: John DiAngelo, President and CEO, Inspira Health Network in Mullica Hill, New Jersey; Jacky Schultz, President, Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland; E.W. Tibbs, President and CEO, Centra in Lynchburg, Virginia; Tod Augsburger, CEO, Lexington Medical Center in West Columbia, South Carolina; Stephen Robinson, Jr., CEO, Ochsner Medical Center in Kenner, Louisiana; Mark Adams, CEO, Ogden Regional Medical Center in Ogden, Utah; and Teresa Conley, CEO, St. Rose Dominican Hospital – Rose de Lima Campus in Henderson, Nevada.

The new council members join the following current members: Bo Boulenger, CEO, Baptist Hospital of Miami; Darin Goss, FACHE, Administrator, Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix; Michael P. Halter, CEO, Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia; Kim N. Hollon, FACHE, President and CEO, Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital in Brockton, Massachusetts; Charles Lucore, M.D., President and CEO, St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Illinois; Donald McKenna, President and CEO, Jupiter Medical Center in Jupiter, Florida; Akram Boutros, MD, President & CEO, MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio; Delvecchio Finley, CEO, Highland Hospital in Oakland, California; Jennifer Nolan, President, Flaget Memorial Hospital in Bardstown, Kentucky and President, Our Lady of Peace in Louisville, Kentucky; L. Reuven Pasternak, MD, MPH, MBA, CEO, Stony Brook University Hospital, Vice President for Health Systems, Stony Brook Medicine in Stony Brook, New York; Cristina Rivera, CEO, Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen, Texas; Lynn Torossian, President and CEO, Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, West Bloomfield, Michigan; and Paulette Davidson, FACHE, COO and President, Rapid City Regional Hospital, Regional Health Center in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Melinda Estes, MD, President and CEO, Saint Luke’s Health System in Kansas City, Missouri, serves as the AHA board liaison to the section’s council.

For more information please go to https://www.aha.org/advocacy/metropolitan-hospitals.

Contact:  Marie Johnson, (202) 626-2351
                 Colin Milligan, (202) 638-5491

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About the AHA’s Section for Metropolitan Hospitals

The AHA's Section for Metropolitan Hospitals provides representation, advocacy and educational opportunities to help the nation's suburban and urban hospitals better serve the health needs of patients and communities.

About the American Hospital Association

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 include nearly 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks and other providers of care. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit www.aha.org.