As Jerry Glandon leaves the position of President and CEO of AUPHA, I want to extend our utmost appreciation and respect for his service on behalf of the AUPHA Board. His retirement becomes effective on 1 November, and the search committee (comprised of a representative group of AUPHA members) has been working diligently to find the next President and CEO. To ensure a smooth transition as we prepare for change in leadership, the Board has put in place two actions.
The first is to follow AUPHA’s established succession plan. Ms. Jaime Stephens, Vice-President and COO, will assume the position of Interim CEO. We anticipate that this added duty to her work will be no less than three months, and we have asked her to assume full responsibilities as President and CEO. These include budgeting, staffing, and board and membership relations. In addition, as the board is currently developing the strategic plan, we have asked for her attention to this process as well as meeting planning. Jaime has worked for many years with Jerry and before his tenure, she worked with Lydia Middleton (the past President and CEO). She has also served in the role of President and CEO at another association, similar in scope to AUPHA. We have full faith and confidence in her ability.
The second is to address effectively some operational duties normally assigned to the President and CEO as well as continue important strategic actions. We have asked Dr. Jerry Glandon to work one day a week to complete the 2019 staff evaluations, assist with the Winston Scholarship work, continue to support the revision and update of the AUPHA Body of Knowledge, and to support the undergraduate program exit assessment. These are important actions that need attention--even in changing times. Moreover, we have asked Jerry to be available to offer support to the new President and CEO as he or she transitions into this important role.
The overall goal is to continue to deliver and improve actions for increased member value. Some actions to meet this goal are expected (continuing work on meeting planning, etc); others are innovative (reaching out to Jerry to serve—not as President and CEO, but as an adjunct senior staff consultant on a temporary, part-time basis).
We have members who take the time to invest in innovative ways to improve our work. The Innovative Teaching Faculty Forum focuses on ways to improve students’ mastery of key competencies and skill sets. Take a moment to peruse their discussions.
This Forum has close to 750 postings that address innovative teaching. The most recent concern is the encouragement of instructors to consider their own vulnerability. The posts offer poignant examples to illustrate the potential impact of our willingness to show vulnerability on students’ professional and leadership development. And, to quote Patrick Shay, Chair of the Innovative Faculty Forum, the information shared in the forum “ . . . illustrates the power of empathy as we engage with our students and as we encourage them to engage in the classroom, and certainly empathy is something we hope for each of our students to grow in as they develop as future health care leaders!”
If so inclined, join the Forum, ask questions, and post descriptions about effective assignments and activities from your campus. Consider submitting an article to the Journal of Health Administration Education on your health administration programs’ experience with innovative teaching.
If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Best,
Leigh