Since the public announcement of my planned resignation went out on Friday I have received so many wonderful calls and emails from members and colleagues wishing me luck and expressing their appreciation for my leadership of AUPHA over the years. It has been tremendously heartwarming to know that my work has been recognized and valued. I have never doubted that the work I do is important and that I’ve made a difference, but it is indescribably meaningful to hear from so many of you about my contributions.
Many of you have asked why I am leaving AUPHA at a time when things appear to be going so well. And I am happy to confirm that things are going very well for AUPHA. We’ve seen tremendous growth and innovation over the last several years. I’ve played a role in that, but so has the dedicated and talented staff I am lucky to call my colleagues.
It is because of our outstanding staff, our strong financial position and upward momentum that I decided that it is the right time to hand AUPHA over to a new leader who can take us to the next level. I have given 17 wonderful years to the Association, 9 as the CEO. While in academe this may not seem like a long time, in the Association world it is a very long tenure with one organization. And while I could happily spend my entire career at AUPHA, I believe I still have one or two more jobs left in me.
So I am ready to explore new horizons. While I have no concrete plans yet, I am hoping to take all that I have learned at AUPHA and apply it independently. This might involve some program consulting in support of accreditation or certification. It might involve some association consulting around virtual transformations and small staff leadership. I am open to new opportunities but definitely hope to remain engaged with AUPHA and the field in some capacity.
And it is important to understand that this is a great opportunity for AUPHA as well. While I have worked hard to transform AUPHA into a forward-thinking, collaborative, and engaging association, I have also had my limitations. I probably know as much as any non-faculty could know about healthcare management education. But at the end of the day I am not a subject matter expert in the field. And I believe AUPHA needs such a person to really take us to the next level of relevance to our members. A leader with this sort of understanding would enable AUPHA to be even more proactive in reading the field and meeting member needs in a timely fashion.
It will, of course, be up to the Board to decide what competencies the new CEO should have and I will support the Board in whatever they decide. And the Board very much wants to hear from the membership about what you think they should be looking for in a new CEO. I encourage you to communicate with Sharon Schweikhart to share your thoughts on the future of AUPHA.
So thank you again to all of you who have been so generous with your well wishes and comments. It is so much appreciated. I look forward to continuing to serve as your CEO until a new leader is named.