Meritorious Service Award

2025

Bob Riney, president and CEO, Henry Ford Health, Detroit

2024

Loren Hamel, MD, president, Corewell Health in Southwest Michigan (retired)

2023

2022

Wright Lassiter, III, Henry Ford Health System

2021

James “Chip” Falahee, senior vice president, Legal & Legislative Affairs, Bronson Healthcare, Grand Rapids
David Jahn, president and CEO, Chippewa County War Memorial Hospital, Sault Ste. Marie
Bill Jackson, former senior vice president and chief financial officer, MHA

2020

Robert Connors, MD, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Grand Rapids

2019
Paul E. LaCasse, DO, MPH

2018
Richard Breon, president and CEO, Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids
Rob Casalou, president and CEO, Mercy Health in western Michigan and Saint Joseph Mercy Health System in southeast Michigan
David Seaman, executive vice president and chief operating officer, MHA

2017
Dennis Swan, president and CEO, Sparrow Health System
James Bogan, UP Health System (retired)

2016
David Finkbeiner, Michigan Health & Hospital Association
Rodney M. Nelson, Mackinac Straits Health System
Douglas L. Strong, University of Michigan Health System

2015
Georgia Fojtasek, Allegiance Health, Jackson

2014
Garry C. Faja, Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, Ann Arbor
John MacLeod, Mercy Hospital Cadillac
Spencer Maidlow, Covenant HealthCare, Saginaw

2013
James Austin, Kalkaska Memorial Health Center and Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital, Frankfort
Brian Connolly, Oakwood Healthcare Inc., Dearborn
Philip H. McCorkle Jr., Saint Mary’s Health Care, Grand Rapids

2012
Rob Covert, Oaklawn Hospital, Marshall
Nancy Schlichting, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit
Anthony R. Tersigni, EdD, Ascension Health Alliance, St. Louis, MO

2011
Burton O. Parks, West Shore Medical Center, Manistee
Bruce L. Traverse, Carson City Hospital

2010
Kenneth Matzick, Beaumont Hospitals, Royal Oak
Tom Mroczkowski, Northern Michigan Regional Health System, Petoskey (posthumously)

2009
Wayne Hellerstedt, Helen Newberry Joy Hospital and Healthcare Center, Newberry

2008
Ned Hughes, Jr., Gerber Memorial Health Services, Fremont
Joe Wasserman, Lakeland Regional Health System, St. Joseph

2007
Gerald Fitzgerald, Oakwood Healthcare, Inc., Dearborn
Marlene Hulteen, Michigan Health & Hospital Association

2006
Richard Davidson, American Hospital Association
Frank Sardone, Bronson Healthcare Group, Kalamazoo

2005
Ted Wasson, William Beaumont Hospitals, Royal Oak

2004
Henry Veenstra, Zeeland Community Hospital

2003
Donald Fletcher, Port Huron Hospital
Donald Potter, Southeast Michigan Health & Hospital Council

2002
Fritz Kellermann, MHA Service Corporation, Lansing

2001
James Gardner, Huron Memorial Hospital, Bad Axe

2000
Charles Ellstein, Michigan Health & Hospital Association (posthumously)

1999
Hans Jeppesen, Bay Health System, Bay City (posthumously)

1998
Dean Stuart, MHA Hospital Purchasing Service, Middleville

1997
Kenneth Myers, William Beaumont Hospital Corp., Royal Oak

1996
Glenn Wesselmann, St. John Health System, Detroit

1995
Sandra Bennett Bruce, Muskegon Mercy Community Healthcare System

1994
Edward Thomas, Detroit Receiving Hospital & University Health Center .

1993
Spencer Johnson, Michigan Hospital Association
Edward McRee, Ingham Medical Center, Lansing

1992
Terence Moore, MidMichigan Regional Health System, Midland

1991
Robert Asmussen, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Michigan

1990
Jacque Sammet, MHA Insurance Company, Lansing

1989
Arthur Knueppel, St. Lawrence Hospital, Lansing

1988
Richard Hiltz, Mercy-Memorial Hospital, Monroe

1987
H. Allan Barth, past president, MHA

1986
Jack Ryan, MD, Detroit-Macomb Hospital Corporation

1985
Patric E. Ludwig, past president, MHA

1984
Gerson I. Cooper, Botsford General Hospital, Farmington Hills

1983
Edward Connors, Sisters of Mercy Health Corp., Farmington Hills
Henry Irwin, Reed City Hospital

1982
James T. Farley, St. Clair Health Services Corp., Detroit
Ronald O. Warner, Hurley Medical Center, Flint

1981
John C. Bay, Munson Medical Center, Traverse City
Robert A. Bradburn, Southwest Michigan Healthcare Assn., St. Joseph

1980
Joseph W. Schaeffer, MD, Rehabilitation Institute, Detroit
Richard L. Sejnost, Harper-Grace Hospitals, Detroit

1979
F. Karl Neumann, Sparrow Hospital, Lansing

1978
Frank A. Drazkowski, Grand View Hospital, Ironwood

1977
Karl S. Klicka, MD, Peoples Community Hospital Authority, Wayne
Kathleen Putnam, RN, Leelanau Memorial Hospital, Northport

1976
Lucy Grenzke, past president, MAHA

1975
Howard A. Hewitt, Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital, Manistique
Daniel N. Finch, Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo

1974
Ralph F. Lindberg, DO, Detroit Osteopathic Hospital Corporation
Donald J. Pizzimenti, Peoples Community Hospital Authority, Wayne

1973
Charles H. Yeates, Allegan Health Center

1972
Mrs. Jane S. Davis, FACHA, Pawating Hospital, Niles
D. Bonta Hiscoe, MD, Community Health Services, Lansing

1971
Robin C. Buerke, MD, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit
W. Anson Hedgecock, Hospital Research & Educational Reserve, Jackson

1970
John J. Freysinger, Peoples Community Hospital Authority, Wayne
Marion J. Wright, RN, Jennings Memorial Hospital, Detroit

1969
Andrew Pattullo, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Battle Creek
Lee W. Yothers, Ferguson-Droste-Ferguson Hospital, Grand Rapids

1968
C. Tiffany Loftus, Mercy Hospital, Benton Harbor
Vergil N. Slee, MD, Pennock Hospital, Hastings

1967
Franklin D. Carr, Detroit Memorial Hospital
D. Eugene Sibery, Crittenton General Hospital, Detroit

1966
George E. Cartmill, Harper-Grace Hospitals, Detroit

1965
Jacques Cousin, Detroit Medical Center Corporation
Mother Mary Maurita Sengelaub, Sisters of Mercy, Detroit

1964
Albert Carl Kerlikowski, MD, University Hospitals, Ann Arbor

1963
Albert E. Heustis, MD, Michigan Department of Public Health, Lansing
Vernon Thompson Root, Community Hospital, Battle Creek Meritorious Service – Page 4

1962
B.D. Dann, Hackley Hospital, Muskegon
Bennett J. McCarthy, Michigan Hospital Service, Detroit

1961
E. Dwight Barnett, MD, Harper Hospital, Detroit
Ronald D. Yaw, Blodgett Memorial Hospital, Grand Rapids

1960
Jordan Joseph Popkin, Michigan Department of Public Health, Lansing

1959
Charles E. Findlay, Alpena General Hospital

1958
Arthur Furstenberg, MD, College of Medicine, University of Michigan
Joseph R. Homminga, MI Office of Hospital Survey & Construction

1955
Howard Robert Estes, Former State Representative; Oakland County Hospital & Infirmary

1954
Augustus Confield Ledyard, Dickinson, Wright, et al., Detroit

1953
Mother Carmelita Manning, Mt. Carmel Mercy Hospital Detroit
I.R. Peters, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit

1952
Mrs. Ronald (Elrose) Yaw, MAHA Pioneer and past MAHA president

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.

2024

Jawad Shah, MD, founder, president and CEO, Insight, Flint
Harmony Gould, vice president of hospital & residential services, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, Grand Rapids

Read about 2024 Winners.

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)