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The ���������� Association Grassroots Champion Award�� recognizes those hospital leaders who most effectively educate elected officials on how major issues affect the hospital’s vital role in the community, who have done an exemplary job in broadening the base of community support for the hospital and who are tireless advocates for hospitals and their patients.

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The 2017 Grassroots Champions are:

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Alabama – L. Keith Granger

President and Chief Executive Officer, Grandview Medical Center

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Alaska – Barbara Bigelow

Administrator, Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center

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Arizona – Brian Turney

Administrator and Chief Executive Officer, Kingman Regional Medical Center

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Arkansas – Gary L. Bebow, FACHE

President and Chief Executive Officer, White River Health System

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California – Elly Garner

Director, Government Affairs, Palomar Health

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Colorado – Sheri Trahern

Chief Executive Officer, St. Thomas More Hospital

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Connecticut – Kurt A. Barwis, FACHE

President and Chief Executive Officer, Bristol Hospital & Health Care Group

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District of Columbia – Kathleen Chavanu Gorman, MSN, RN, FAAN

Executive Vice President, Patient Care Services & Chief Operating Officer, Children’s National Health System

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Delaware – Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH

President and Chief Executive Officer, Christiana Care Health System

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Florida – Keri Eisenbeis

Director of Government Relations and Community Outreach, BayCare Health System

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Georgia – Candice Saunders

President and Chief Executive Officer, WellStar Health System

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Hawaii – Michael Robinson

Vice President, Government Relations & Community Affairs, Hawai’i Pacific Health

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Idaho – Dallas Clinger

President and Chief Executive Officer, Power County Hospital District

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Illinois – James Prister

President and Chief Executive Officer, RML Specialty Hospital

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Indiana – Matt Bailey

President, South Central Region Indiana University Health

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Iowa – Angela Mortoza

Chief Executive Officer, Dallas County Hospital

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Kansas – George M. Stover

Chief Executive Officer, Hospital District #1 of Rice County

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Kentucky – Kevin Halter, FACHE

Chief Executive Officer, Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital

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Louisiana – W.F. “Bud” Barrow, II

Chief Executive Officer, Beauregard Memorial Hospital

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Maryland – Dean A. Teague, FACHE

President and Chief Executive Officer, Calvert Health System

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Massachusetts – Christine C. Schuster, RN, MBA

President and Chief Executive Officer, Emerson Hospital

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Michigan – Edward Bruff��

President and Chief Executive Officer, Covenant HealthCare

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Minnesota – Carl P. Vaagenes

Chief Executive Officer, Douglas County Hospital

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Mississippi – Steve Vaughan

Chief Executive Officer, Pearl River County Hospital

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Missouri – Laureen Tanner, RN, MSN, FACHE

President and Chief Executive Officer, Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital

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Montana – Cherie Taylor

Chief Executive Officer, Northern Rockies Medical Center

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Nebraska – Fiona Libsack, FACHE, MPA, APR

Vice President Marketing and Support Services, Great Plains Health

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Nevada – Susan Davila

Chief Executive Officer, Desert View Hospital

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New Hampshire – John A. Marzinzik

President and Chief Executive Officer, Frisbie Memorial Hospital

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New Jersey – Douglas A. Struyk

President and Chief Executive Officer, Chirstian Health Care Center

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New Mexico – John Harris

Chief Executive Officer, Memorial Medical Center

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New York – Steven I. Goldstein

President and Chief Executive Officer, Strong Memorial Hospital President and Chief Executive Officer, Highland Hospital Vice President, University of Rochester Medical Center

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North Carolina – Kathy C. Bailey, FACHE

President and Chief Executive Officer, Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge

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North Dakota – Reed E. Reyman

President, CHI St. Alexius Health Dickson Medical Center

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Ohio – Kristen D.W. Morris

Chief Government and Community Relations Officer, Cleveland Clinic

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Oklahoma – Charles L. Spicer, Jr.

President and Chief Executive Officer, OU Medical System

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Oregon – Rick Yecny

Chief Administrative Officer/Chief Mission Officer, PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Medical Center

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Pennsylvania – Susan Croushore

President and Chief Executive Officer, Mercy Health System of Southeastern Pennsylvania

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Puerto Rico – Jorge L. Matta

Executive Director, Hospital Auxilio

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Rhode Island – Christopher Lehrach, M.D., MBA

President, L+M Medical Group and VP and Chief Transformation Officer, L+M Healthcare

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South Dakota – Nick Fosness

Chief Executive Officer, Marshall County Healthcare Center- Avera

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Tennessee – Paul Korth

Chief Executive Officer, Cookeville Regional Medical Center

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Texas – Brad Holland

Chief Executive Officer, Cedar Park Regional Medical Center

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Utah – Mark Holyoak

Administrator, Castleview Hospital

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Vermont – Claudio Fort

President and Chief Executive Officer, North Country Hospital and Health Center

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Virginia – E.W. Tibbs

President and Chief Executive Officer, Centra Health, Inc.

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Washington – Mike Glenn

Chief Executive Officer, Jefferson Healthcare

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West Virginia – Kevin Fowler

President and Chief Executive Officer, Cabell Huntington Hospital

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Wisconsin – Joan M. Coffman

President and Chief Executive Officer, Hospital Sister Health System (HSHS) St. Joseph’s Hospital

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Wyoming – B. Yvonne Wigington

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Wyoming Medical Center��