Four Retiring State Hospital Association Executives To Receive 2026 AHA Board of Trustees Award

WASHINGTON (April 13, 2026) - The American Hospital Association (AHA) today announced that four retiring state hospital association executives will be awarded its 2026 Board of Trustees Award. The Board of Trustees Award is presented to individuals or groups who have made substantial and noteworthy contributions to the work of the AHA on behalf of the hospital field. Receiving the award during an April 19 ceremony at the AHA Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, D.C. will be:

· Carmela Coyle, president and CEO of the California Hospital Association

· Mike Abrams, president and CEO of the Ohio Hospital Association

· M. Bea Grause, R.N., president and CEO of the Healthcare Association of New York State

· Steven Michaud, immediate past president of the Maine Hospital Association

More information on each winner is below.

Carmela Coyle

Carmela Coyle has spent more than 40 years leading and advocating for the hospital field at the national and state levels. As president and CEO of the California Hospital Association, Coyle led California's hospitals through the COVID-19 pandemic and built coalitions to advance behavioral health care, promote health care and health insurance coverage for all, and resist regulatory overreach. Previously, as president and CEO of the Maryland Hospital Association, she played a leading role in reframing the state's hospital payment system and helped make Maryland a national leader in health care policy and innovation.

Coyle previously spent two decades in senior positions at the AHA, leading the Association's policy development process, engaging with federal officials and serving as an effective media spokesperson on behalf of the field. Her commitment to AHA continued throughout her time as a state hospital association executive, and her collaborative approach and political acumen were invaluable as she served on the AHA Board of Trustees, several committees and regional policy boards, and the board of the Coalition to Strengthen America's Health Care.

"Carmela's career reflects extraordinary leadership and an unwavering commitment to hospitals, caregivers and the communities they serve," said AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack. "From her national policy leadership at the American Hospital Association to her tenure most recently leading the California Hospital Association and before that the Maryland Hospital Association, she brought integrity, clarity and vision to every challenge. She has also been a wonderful colleague and friend to me and many others, and her influence - both professional and personal - will be felt for years to come."

Mike Abrams

Mike Abrams has been president and CEO of the Ohio Hospital Association (OHA) since 2012. Under Abrams' leadership, OHA has served as a trusted voice for its members, fostering collaboration, policy engagement and professional development to ensure hospitals can deliver high-quality, accessible and affordable care. OHA has championed Abrams' deep commitment to both economic sustainability and patient safety, making a lasting impact on the field and the communities it serves.

Through his service on the AHA board from 2022-2024 and his countless other commitments, Abrams never failed to answer the AHA's call and extend his impact nationally, helping to shape policy, strategy and priorities that affect hospitals and health systems across the country. He brings a thoughtful, collaborative approach to governance, ensuring that the voices of providers and the needs of patients remain at the center of decision-making.

"As the president and CEO of the Ohio Hospital Association, Mike has not only been a champion for Ohio hospitals, but has also been a great partner, terrific colleague and good friend," said AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack. "Mike has truly dedicated his career to strengthening health systems and advancing leadership across the field. This is clear by the deep respect he has enjoyed from his counterparts across the country and colleagues on the AHA Board of Trustees."

M. Bea Grause, R.N.

Bea Grause has been president and CEO of the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) since 2016, after 14 years as president and CEO of the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems. At the helm of HANYS, Grause has led hospitals and health systems through some of the most demanding and transformative periods in modern health care, including the COVID-19 pandemic, fighting Medicaid cuts, and championing workforce and financial stability for the field. In Vermont, she led hospitals through a variety of reform initiatives, including the state's single-payer debate.

Grause's commitment to the AHA's mission is reflected in her leadership on the AHA Board of Trustees from 2012 to 2015 and her contributions to numerous committees and special initiatives. She brought a grounded, experience-driven perspective to national conversations, elevating the realities of frontline care and state-level leadership with candor, insight and an unwavering focus on what truly matters.

"Bea has made innumerable contributions to the hospital field and the patients and communities we care for," said AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack. "For over 40 years, Bea has worn a variety of hats - as the leader of two state hospital associations and a senior member of several others, as a staffer on Capitol Hill and a registered nurse, and as a member of the AHA Board of Trustees and its Executive Committee - all in service of advancing health in America. Her leadership, skill and passion have helped increase access to high-quality care for countless communities, and her impact will be felt for years to come."

Steven Michaud

Steven Michaud recently retired after serving as president of the Maine Hospital Association since 1999. Under his leadership, Michaud guided Maine's hospitals through evolving regulatory, financial and operational challenges, bringing innovative approaches to policy, collaboration and professional development. He is widely recognized for his commitment to rural health care, advocating for hospitals facing financial challenges, staff shortages and the closure of critical services, while pushing for solutions like economic growth, affordable housing and policy changes to ensure access to care.

Michaud made a lasting impact on the national health care landscape, including as plaintiff in the AHA's landmark 340B Drug Pricing Program litigation, championing equitable policy, advocating for the interests of providers and patients at the highest levels, and helping shape the legal and strategic framework that protects critical resources for hospitals across the country.

"Steve was a close partner and great leader during his decades-long career with the Maine Hospital Association," said AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack. "No one understands the politics of Maine better than Steve, and he was always willing to step up to help the hospital field and our patients and communities, most recently as a litigant in our successful 340B rebate case. His contributions to the field will be felt for years to come."

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About the AHA

The AHA is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals committed to the health improvement of their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which include nearly 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks, other providers of care and 43,000 individual members. 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 the AHA website at https://www.aha.org.