Board of Directors

The board of directors oversees the affairs of America's Essential Hospitals and sets its strategic direction. Members of the board's executive committee include the chair, immediate past-chair, chair-elect, secretary, and treasurer. The board also includes 10 at-large members. Each at-large member is elected by the executive committee; holds office for a two-year term and until his or her successor is elected and qualified; and may serve on the board for a maximum of three consecutive terms as an at-large member.

Executive Committee

Chair
Thomas P. Traylor, MBA
Vice President, Federal, State and Local Programs
Boston Medical Center

Chair-Elect
William B. Walker, MD
Director and Health Officer
Contra Costa Health Services

Secretary
Johnese M. Spisso, MPA, RN
Chief Health System Officer, UW Medicine and VP for Medical Affairs, UW
UW Medicine

Treasurer
David S. Lopez
President and CEO
Harris Health System

Past-Chair
Stephen W. McKernan
CEO, UNM Hospitals
UNM Hospitals

At-Large Members
Alan D. Aviles, President and CEO, New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation
Betsey Bayless, President and CEO, Maricopa Integrated Health System (MIHS)
Michael B. Belzer, MD, Medical Director and Chief Medical Officer, Hennepin County Medical Center
Reginald W. Coopwood, MD, President and CEO, Regional Medical Center at Memphis (The MED)
Steven G. Gabbe, MD, Senior Vice President for Health Sciences, CEO, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Arthur A. Gianelli, MA, MBA, MPH, President and CEO, NuHealth
Timothy M. Goldfarb, CEO, Shands HealthCare
George B. Hernandez, Jr., JD, President and CEO, University Health System
Michael Karpf, MD, Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, UK HealthCare
Santiago Muñoz, Chief Strategy Officer, UCLA Health System
Jorge Ramon Orozco, MS, CEO, Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center
Sheldon Retchin, MD, MS, MSP, Vice President, Health Sciences and CEO, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System

Ex Officio
Irene M. Thompson, President and CEO, UHC

Resources for this section

  • Past Chairs 1981- Present*

    The business and affairs of America's Essential Hospitals have been managed by an executive committee. The chair and officers of the executive committee are elected by the membership. The listed individuals are the chairs of the executive committee since the organization’s founding. Many of the organization’s accomplishments can be linked to the distinguished leaders of the executive committee.

Upcoming Events

  • Vital2014
    06/25/2014-06/27/2014
    San Antonio, Texas

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