Chairperson's File

2024 AHA Board Chair Joanne M. Conroy, M.D., headshot.

Blog posts from 2024 AHA Board Chair Joanne M. Conroy, M.D., CEO and president of Dartmouth Health, and past chairs.

No one can deny that health care is changing. Our field is rapidly becoming more personalized, collaborative and digitally focused.
Today I had the opportunity to welcome more than 1,000 people to the AHA Rural Health Care Leadership Conference.
This year, I look forward to continuing AHA’s leadership dialogues on trending topics with health care, business and community leaders from around the country.
For the past two years, our hospital and health system teams have shown compassion and courage as they’ve worked tirelessly to care for our communities during the greatest public health challenge of our lifetime. To all of those on the front lines, we express our sincere gratitude for your…
Wright L. Lassiter III is president and CEO of Henry Ford Health System. Lassiter has more than 30 years of experience working in large, complex health systems, including Alameda Health System in Oakland, Calif., Dallas Methodist Health System and JPS Health Network in Fort Worth, Texas.
Whether it’s responding to a pandemic, natural disasters or other medical emergencies, hospitals are ready when our communities need us. Through nearly two years of the COVID-19 pandemic the challenges have been many, but I’ve often said this marathon we’re running is our finest hour. 
Although the COVID-19 marathon is not yet over, it’s a good time to pause and consider the health care landscape ahead. 
The AHA has released its 2022 Health Care Talent Scan, a review of reports, studies and other data sources from leading organizations. It provides workforce insights and information you can use to guide your organization forward during this time of uncertainty and continued transformation.
On Thursday, many families and friends will gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, reflect on our blessings and remember loved ones. During this holiday season, far too many tables will have empty seats — a painful reminder of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This Thursday, Nov. 18, is National Rural Health Day. It’s an opportunity to show support for our rural hospitals and health systems, and also raise awareness about their resiliency, resolve, relationships and readiness — this year’s themes for the recognition day.