NAPERVILLE, Il. — July 20 — The Board of Trustees of the Illinois Hospital Association (IHA) announced today that Maryjane A. Wurth, 53, Chief Operating Officer, Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS), has been selected as the new president of IHA. Wurth succeeds Ken Robbins, who has served as IHA president since 1983 and will retire later this year. She will assume her duties as IHA’s president in October.
“Maryjane Wurth has exceptional qualifications to lead IHA during this challenging time for Illinois hospitals,” said Harry Wolin, IHA’s Board Chair and Administrator and CEO of Mason District Hospital, Havana. “After conducting a nationwide search, the IHA Board agreed that Wurth’s leadership skills and extensive experience make her the ideal executive to lead one of the largest hospital associations in the country.”
Wurth has served in her current position since 1998, responsible for strategic direction and integrated management of a wide range of organizational operations at the New York association. In 2001, she was named President and CEO of HANYS Solutions, Inc., HANYS’ for-profit subsidiary. She began her career at HANYS in 1990 as Vice President for Continuing Care and Community Health. The New York state association has more than 500 member hospitals, health care systems and other providers.
“With national health care reform on the horizon and many critical issues and challenges in Illinois, I look forward to working with IHA’s members and staff to continue IHA’s role as a premier advocate for hospitals,” said Wurth. “I salute Ken Robbins for his outstanding leadership, and I’m excited about leading the organization and working on behalf of Illinois’ 200 hospitals and health systems.”
Wurth received her Master of Science degree from Cornell University in human service studies, with a focus on health policy, planning, evaluation and administration. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York College at Cortland. She is a member of the American Society of Association Executives and the Rensselaer County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and is a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Helen Ptochia Foundation for African Fistula Hospital.
Wurth’s husband Chris Wurth is the Senior Vice President at Seton Health in Troy, NY. He is responsible for its physician practice network and hospitalist, home care and long-term care services.
IHA, with offices in Naperville and Springfield, is an advocate for 200 Illinois hospitals and health systems and the patients and communities they serve. IHA members range from academic medical centers and community hospitals to rural facilities and specialty institutions that care for those in need of behavioral health, long term care or rehabilitation services. Additional information about IHA is available online at www.ihatoday.org.
SOURCE Illinois Hospital Association
