America’s Essential Hospitals Names New Board Leaders

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON - Katrina Keefer, MPA, will serve as 2026-2027 chair of America's Essential Hospitals' board of directors. Keefer is president and CEO of DCH Health System, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

"The work of America's Essential Hospitals has never been more important," Keefer said. "I am honored and humbled to serve as the chair of a board dedicated to advancing policies and partnerships for the benefit of hospitals caring for the most vulnerable populations. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the board and within the association, who share a commitment to advancing health equity, strengthening the nation's health care safety net through innovation, and improving outcomes for the patients and communities we serve."

Keefer succeeds Thomas Quatroche Jr., PhD, who recently departed as president and CEO of ECMC, in Buffalo, N.Y.

The board also welcomes the following leaders:

• Chair-Elect: Albert Wright Jr., PharmD, MHA, president and CEO, WVU Medicine, Morgantown, W.Va.
• Treasurer: Sheldon McLeod, CEO, NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Dixie James, MBA, president, Central Region of Jefferson Health, Philadelphia, continues as secretary, and Jacob Cintron, MAcc, MBA, president and CEO, University Medical Center of El Paso, El Paso, Texas, continues as past chair.

America's Essential Hospitals' board welcomes these new at-large directors:

• Carol Gomes, MS, CEO and chief operating officer, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, N.Y.
• Michael Wagner, MD, president and CEO, Care New England Health System, Providence, R.I.

"Essential hospitals have mission-focused leaders who serve their communities with purpose and compassion," said Jennifer DeCubellis, president and CEO of America's Essential Hospitals. "We are grateful for these leaders stepping up to ensure that we benefit nationally and drive health care quality and access forward together as essential health systems. At such a critical time, we have the very best leading the way!"

Essential Hospitals Institute, America's Essential Hospitals' research, education, and leadership development arm, also welcomed new leadership.

Shannon Sale, MHA, executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Grady Health System, in Atlanta, is the Institute's new board chair. She succeeds Rohit Bhalla, MD, MPH, senior vice president, chief clinical and quality officer at Stamford Hospital, in Stamford, Conn., who becomes past chair.

"At a time when health care organizations are being called on to do more than ever, Essential Hospitals Institute plays a critical role in helping essential hospitals develop solutions, share expertise, and improve outcomes for the people and communities we serve," said Sale. "As board chair, I look forward to partnering with my colleagues to shape and advance initiatives that foster innovation, cultivate future leaders, and generate the knowledge to strengthen the health care safety net for years to come."

The Institute board also welcomes the following leaders:

• Chair-Elect and Secretary: Deborah Visconi, MS, president and CEO, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, Paramus, N.J.
• Treasurer: Michelle O'Keefe, MA, chief communications officer, Eskenazi Health, Indianapolis

Jennifer DeCubellis continues to serve as recording secretary (ex officio).

The Institute board welcomes new at-large member director Carolynn Jones, JD, executive vice president and chief compliance and risk officer of Harris Health, in Houston. Two at-large outside directors also joined the board:

• Katherine Browne, MBA, MHA, principal, Constellation Consulting, Washington, D.C.

• Sarita Mohanty, MD, MBA, MPH, president and CEO, The SCAN Foundation, Long Beach, Calif.

For a full list of board members, visit the America's Essential Hospitals website.

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About America's Essential Hospitals
America's Essential Hospitals is the leading association and champion for hospitals dedicated to high-quality care for all, including those who face social and financial barriers to care. Since 1981, America's Essential Hospitals has advanced policies and programs that promote health and access to health care. We support our more than 400 members with advocacy, policy development, research, education, and leadership development. Communities depend on essential hospitals for care across the continuum, health care workforce training, research, public health, and other services. Supported by Essential Hospitals Institute, the association's research and education arm, essential hospitals innovate and adapt to lead all of health care toward better outcomes and value. 

About Essential Hospitals Institute
Essential Hospitals Institute leads research, education, dissemination, and leadership development for America's Essential Hospitals. To advance the quality, safety, and affordability of care at essential hospitals, the Institute identifies promising practices in the field, provides professional development training, promotes practice improvements, and disseminates innovative approaches to care. It does this with an eye toward improving individual and population health through community-integrated health care.

Contact:
James Swann
Director of Communications
[email protected]
202.585.0102