The 2019 Annual Meeting, held last month in New Orleans, drew a record-breaking attendance of 397
individuals. Members and guests arrived in The Big Easy to learn, listen, network, and explore. The meeting kicked off on Wednesday, June 12, with a lunch preceding the opening Pattullo Lecture, presented by Jeanie Donovan, MPA, MPH, Policy Director at the Louisiana Department of Health. Ms. Donovan shared local Louisiana issues and priorities as well as their global implications, followed by a robust period of Q&A. The day closed with an inspirational presentation by the 2019 William B. Graham Prize for Health Services Research recipient, Peter J. Pronovost, MD, PhD.
The gavel was passed to the new AUPHA Board Chair, Leigh Cellucci, PhD, at AUPHA’s Business Meeting on Thursday, June 13. Outgoing Board members Keith Benson, PhD, MBA; Brooke Hollis, MBA; Michael Meacham, JD, MPH; and Jessie Tucker, MBA, PhD, were recognized and thanked for their service to the association. Dean Smith, PhD, was also recognized as the outgoing editor of the Journal of Health Administration Education. Newly elected Board members Steven Bateman, MHA, Shoou-Yih (Daniel) Lee, PhD, and Jason Turner, PhD, were welcomed. The AUPHA Awards were presented for the following categories: Faculty of the Year: Leonard H. Friedman, PhD; New Program of the Year: Northcentral University; Established Program of the Year: Saint Louis University. Nir Menachemi, PhD, received the only AUPHA Presidential Citation issued this year.
An early evening reception for all afforded attendees the opportunity to enjoy New Orleans nightlife.
The last day of the meeting began with a Practitioners Panel/Breakfast, moderated by 2019 Annual Meeting Program Chair Leigh Cellucci, PhD, and included Takeisha Davis, MD, MPH, Chief Executive Officer at New Orleans East Hospital and Michael Hulefeld, MHSA, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Ochsner Health System. AUPHA member Dick Culbertson, PhD, rounded out the panel with a local member’s perspective.
The afternoon luncheon featured the 2019 Filerman and Thompson Prize winners, Sandra Potthoff, PhD, and Marian Jarlenski, PhD, respectively, and recognized this year’s poster winners: Nalin Johri, Amy Dore, and Devrim Ozdemir, Rachel Reimer, and Darren Liu.
Charles N. (Chip) Kahn closed the formal portion of the meeting with an intimate conversation with Mark Diana, PhD. A special thank you to Tulane University for sponsoring Chip’s appearance.
Later that evening, attendees headed over to Big Mama’s Lounge in the House of Blues in the French Quarter to enjoy AUPHA’s No-Talent Talent Show. Emceed by Christy Harris Lemak, PhD, and Dan Gentry, PhD, the evening highlighted the AUPHA jam band featuring Brenda Freshman, Jeff Helton, Tracy Farnsworth, Cindy Watts, Jessie Tucker, and Brooke Hollis. A good time was had by all! Special thanks to Brenda Freshman, PhD, for sponsoring in part this event.