Healthcare Leadership Award

Nominations will be judged on the following criteria, based on a 100-point system. Responses must be submitted for all items under each section.

Organizational Contributions (50 Points)

• Explain how the nominee contributed to the continued viability of the organization through leadership in provider network integration, clinical integration
• Describe how the nominee has used creativity and innovation in leading the organization and/or in shaping a healthcare vision for the future
• Describe how the nominee created partnerships or collaboration to improve population health
• Describe how the nominee enhanced the overall quality of care, scope or access to healthcare services provided to the community

Leadership and Culture Contributions (50 Points)

• Explain how the nominee developed processes to reduce administrative burden, provided training and encouraged teamwork
• Describe how the nominee encouraged staff to focus on the individual needs of patients in a way that improved the overall patient care experience
• Describe how the nominee supported a just culture, transparency and accountability
• Describe how the nominee addressed physical and/or psychological safety for staff and what improvements were made to address employee burnout

To be eligible for an MHA Healthcare Leadership Award, the individual nominee must:

• Represent an MHA-member organization in good standing
• Have been actively involved with the healthcare organization within the last three years

• Nominations must be approved by the chief executive officer (board chair may approve the nomination of a CEO) and submitted via an electronic nomination form.
• All sections must be completed to be considered for this award.

An award workgroup comprised of representatives from several MHA-member organizations will evaluate nominees on the basis of the criteria listed in the “Nomination Criteria” section.

2023

Nancy Susick, MSN, RN, NE-BC, FACHE, chief operating officer, acute & post-acute care, Corewell Health East
Rudolph Valentini, MD, chief medical officer, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, and group chief medical officer, Detroit Medical Center

Read about 2023 Winners.

2022 
Charles Nelson, Chief Operations Officer, Marshfield Michigan/Chief Administrative Officer, Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson, Iron Mountain
Edwin A. Ness, President and Chief Executive Officer, Munson Healthcare, Traverse City

Read about 2022 Winners.

2021
Robert Crumb, CEO, Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital, Manistique
Darryl Elmouchi, MD, president, Spectrum Health West Michigan, Grand Rapids

2019
Matt Rush, president and CEO, Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital, Charlotte
Shannon Striebich, president, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, Pontiac

2018
Melany Gavulic, president and CEO, Hurley Medical Center, Flint (MM)
Helen Johnson, RN, MSN, NEA-BC, FACHE, chief nursing officer, Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital (WC)

2017
Veronica Hall, RN, MSM, MBA, chief nursing officer, Henry Ford Health System, and chief operating officer, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit (SE)
Tom Mee, RN, BSN, MBA, president and CEO, McLaren Greater Lansing (MM)

2016
Chuck Holmquist, Spectrum Health Big Rapids and Reed City Hospitals (WC)
William Schramm, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit (SE)
Ginger Williams, MD, Oaklawn Hospital, Marshall (SW)

2015
Marc Augsburger, Caro Community Hospital (EC)
John Mosley, Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids, (WC)
Kent Riddle, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, Grand Rapids (WC)

2014
Loren B. Hamel, MD, Lakeland HealthCare, St. Joseph (WC)
Alice Gerard, RN, MSN McLaren Bay Region, Bay City (EC)
Al Deering, Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital (WC)

2013
Tim Zwickey, Baraga County Memorial Hospital L’Anse (UP)
Spencer Maidlow, Covenant HealthCare Saginaw (EC)
William Cunningham, DO Metro Health Hospital Wyoming (WC)

2012
Michael Faas, Metro Health, Wyoming (WC)
Bill Lawrence, McLaren Central Michigan, Mt. Pleasant (EC)
Mark Vipperman, Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan Ludington (WC)

2011
David T. Buzzelli Northern Michigan Regional Health System, Petoskey (NC)
Kathleen Griffiths Chelsea Community Hospital (SE)

2010
Chris Christ, Battle Creek Health System Community Partners (SW)
Duane Mezwa, MD Beaumont Hospitals Royal Oak (SE)
Patricia Maryland, Dr.PH St. John Providence Health System, Warren (SE)
A. Gary Muller, Marquette General Hospital (UP)

2009
David Blair, MD Advantage Health Physician Network, Grand Rapids (WC)
Edward Bruun, Clinton Memorial Hospital, St. Johns (MM)

2008
Jack L. Denton, Eaton Rapids Medical Center, Eaton Rapids (MM)
Herman B. Gray Jr., MD, MBA Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Detroit (SE)

2007
Terence F. Moore, MidMichigan Health, Midland (EC)
John E. Tower, DO, FACOI Beaumont Hospital, Troy (SE)

2006
Robert W. Bleyaert, Northern Michigan Regional Health System and Northern Michigan Hospital Foundation, Petoskey (NC)
Barbara Cliff, Cheboygan Memorial Hospital (NC)
Frederick Jaecklein, MD Marquette General Health System (UP)
Cathy V. Maxwell, RN, BSN, MS St. Joseph Health System Tawas City (EC)
Eugene F. Michalski, Beaumont Hospitals Royal Oak (SE)

2005
Kathleen Ryan, Providence Hospital & Medical Centers Southfield (SE)
Nancy M. Schlichting Henry Ford Health System, Detroit (SE)
Ted B. Wahby Mount Clemens General Hospital (SE)

2004
James D. Austin, Kalkaska Memorial Health Center (NC)
Terry Reiley, Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, Detroit (SE)

2003
William Johnson, Lakeland Regional Health System, St. Joseph (SW)
Thomas F. Russell, St. John Health Warren (SE)

2002
Edwin H. Gullekson, MD McLaren Regional Medical Center, Flint (GF)

2001
Allan Gilmour, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit (SE)
Jeffrey M. Zaks, MD Providence Hospital and Medical Centers, Southfield (SE)
Francis Wilson, MD St. John Health System, Detroit (SE)

2000
Lawrence Bass, Sparrow Health System, Lansing (MM)
Yvonne Gelisse, RSM Trinity Health, Novi (SE)
John Sullivan Portage, Health System, Hancock (UP)
Stephen R. Guertin, MD Sparrow Health System, Lansing (MM)
Charles A. Main, MD William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak (SE)

1999
Clara Saari, West Shore Hospital, Manistee (WC)
Dr. Jeffrey Devries, Oakwood Healthcare System, Dearborn (SE)
Dr. Tom M. Johnson, Northern Michigan Regional Health System, Petoskey (NC)

1998
Charles Lentz, Trillium Hospital, Albion (SW)
Dr. Floyd Westendorp Pine Rest Christian Hospital & Ottawa County Community Mental Health, Grand Rapids (WC)
Dr. Max T. McKinney, Botsford General Hospital, Farmington Hills (SE)

1997
Marylee Davis, PhD, Sparrow Health System, Lansing (MM)
Thomas Gleason, Genesys Health System, Grand Blanc (GF)
Henry J. Barsch, MD, FACS, Marquette General Hospital (UP)
Michael H. Wood, MD Detroit Riverview Hospital (SE)

1996
John Anhut Botsford, General Hospital Farmington Hills (SE)
Elwood Matson, Marquette General Hospital (UP)

1995
Charles Randall, Lake View Community Hospital, Paw Paw (SW)
Stanley Jurrens, McLaren Regional Medical Center, Flint (GF)

1994
Thomas Fairbairn, Northern Michigan Hospitals, Petoskey (NC)
Norman Beauchamp, Port Huron Hospital (SE)
Harry Kotsis, MD, Bon Secours Hospital, Grosse Pointe (SE)

1993
James Coleman, Pennock Hospital, Hastings (SW)
Alan Ryan St. Mary’s Health Services, Grand Rapids (W)

1992
James Duff, Detroit Macomb Hospital Corporation (SE)
Charles Anderson, W.A. Foote Hospital, Jackson (SC)

1991
Betty Rohac, Munising Memorial Hospital (UP)
John Stout, Flint Osteopathic Hospital (GF)
J. Daniel Thill, Mercy Hospital, Muskegon (W)
John Waller, Dr. PH Detroit Receiving Hospital and University Health Center (SE)

1990
Mark Schlussel, Monsignor Clement Kern Hospital, Detroit (SE)

1989
Edward Hodges, III, Botsford General Hospital, Farmington Hills (SE)
Harlan Larson, Marquette General Hospital (UP)
John Wismer, Port Huron Hospital (SE)

1988
Edward Matix, Berrien General Hospital, Berrien Springs (SW)

1987
Lorraine Lauzon, Grand View Hospital, Ironwood (UP)

1985
Lester Tiscornia, Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo (SW)
David Germain, Kelsey Memorial Hospital, Greenville (W)

1984
Howard Hickok, Flint Osteopathic Hospital (GF) Clarence Omans, DO Battle Creek Adventist Hospital (SW)

1983
Donald Pizzimenti, Peoples Community Hospital Authority, Detroit (SE)