Stephen C. Hanson to Chair AHA's Health Care Systems Governing Council

CHICAGO, Jan. 10 -- The American Hospital Association issued the following news release:

Stephen Hanson, FACHE, executive vice president and operations leader for Texas Health Resources' North Zone in Arlington, Texas, is the 2013 chair of the American Hospital Association's (AHA) Section for Health Care Systems, a constituency section representing health systems across the country that provide guidance in AHA's policy development and governance. Hanson will lead a 21-person governing council of health leaders during the year, as the AHA continues to address key legislative and regulatory challenges on the horizon and support hospitals as they strive to work for the health and well-being of their communities.

Hanson is a health care veteran with more than 30 years of leadership experience. He joined Texas Health as executive vice president of operations in 2005 and prior to his current role served as senior executive vice president, growth and integration. Texas Health Resources is one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health systems in the United States. The system includes Texas Health Presbyterian, Texas Health Arlington Memorial and Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospitals of North Texas, an 800 member physician group, outpatient facilities and home health, preventative and fitness services. Texas Health has 25 acute care, transitional, rehabilitation and short-stay hospitals that are owned, operated, joint-ventured or affiliated with Texas Health Resources for a combined total of more than 4000 licensed beds, 5500 physicians with active staff privileges and 23,500 employees.

Previously, Hanson served for six years as president and chief executive officer of Appalachian Regional Healthcare in Lexington, KY, a multi-hospital system with more than 1,100 beds in Kentucky and West Virginia. He has also served in leadership positions in hospitals and systems in Chicago, Buffalo, Iowa and Indianapolis.

Hanson holds a master of public health degree in health administration from the University of Oklahoma and earned his bachelor of science degree from Iowa State University. He is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives; a member of the Delta Omega Society, a national public health fraternity; and serves as chair of the Texas Association of Voluntary Hospitals, which includes virtually all the not-for-profit health systems and hospitals in the state.

Joseph R. Swedish, president and chief executive officer of Trinity Health in Livonia, Michigan, is the chairman-elect and will assume the role of chairman in 2014. Warner Thomas, president and chief executive officer of Ochsner Health in New Orleans, is the immediate past chairman. Jim Skogsbergh, president and chief executive officer, Advocate Health Care in Oak Brook, Illinois, will serve as the liaison to the governing council from the AHA Board of Trustees.

Returning governing council members are: Nancy Howell Agee, president and CEO, Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Va.; David L. Bronson, M.D., president and CEO, Cleveland Clinic Regional Hospitals, Cleveland; Sandra Bruce, president and CEO, Presence Health, Chicago; Margaret DeNarvaez, president and CEO, Wellmont Health System, Kingsport, Tenn.; David Dill, president and COO, LifePoint Hospitals, Brentwood, Tenn.; M. Joy Drass, M.D., executive vice president, MedStar Health, Columbia, Md.; Patrick Fry, president and CEO, Sutter Health, Sacramento; M. Michelle Hood, president and CEO, Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, Brewer, Me.; James Horrar, president and CEO, Quorum Health Resources, LLC, Brentwood, Tenn.; Richard Miller, chief executive officer, Virtua, Marlton, NJ; Judith Persichilli, president and CEO, Catholic Health East, Newton Square, Pa.; William P. Thompson, president and CEO, SSM Health Care, St. Louis; Nick Turkal, M.D., president and CEO, Aurora Health Care, Milwaukee; Arthur Ushijima, president and CEO, The Queen's Health System, Honolulu; and Michael Weber, president and CEO, Health Quest, Lagrangeville, NY.

New appointees elected to serve on the council for three-year terms are: Reynold Jennings, FACHE, president and CEO, WellStar Health System, Marietta, Ga.; Rulon Stacey, Ph.D., FACHE, president, University of Colorado Health, Aurora, CO; and Jeffrey K. Winter, executive vice president, Kindred Healthcare & President, Hospital Division, Louisville, KY.

TNS CT21CT-130111-4164642 61ChengTacorda