ACHE Final Message from Your Regent
Massachusetts – Winter 2012

Dear Colleagues,

This is my final message as your Massachusetts ACHE Regent. Next month, I complete my three-year Regent term and transition the position to Jack W. Bailey, FACHE. Jack was elected by the affiliates here in Massachusetts and has done a terrific job this past year organizing a telephonic FACHE Study Group that will help several members advance to Fellow status in ACHE. I am sure he will be an effective Regent and represent your interests well in Chicago.

In my final message, I wanted to summarize some of the many changes that have been implemented over the past three years in an effort to provide you greater value for your ACHE membership.

• Our local chapter changed its name from Health Care Management Association to ACHE of Massachusetts, bringing with it greater brand recognition and significantly increased membership (up 35% over the past three years). More members give you more opportunity to connect, network and learn.
• We also have a new committee structure, and with that, increased member engagement and a pipeline of talent for future leadership positions on our chapter board or in ACHE. Serving on a chapter committee is a great way to network with other healthcare executives in the Commonwealth – consider getting involved if you haven’t already.  
• The chapter has started offering ACHE Face-to-Face (formerly Category I) continuing education credits, so you can now earn credits for advancing to or maintaining FACHE status close to home. The chapter has also increased the number of educational programs offered each year – the new Breakfast with Healthcare Champions series has been a big hit, and we’re very grateful to our hospital CEOs that have hosted them to date.
• It’s hard to believe that our thriving Early Careerist Network and Mentorship Program started just three years ago. Those programs, along with regular contact with our local healthcare management graduate programs and chapter support for student travel to the Congress on Healthcare Leadership, have significantly enhanced our ability to service the future of our field.
• We’ve advanced an increasing number of qualified members to FACHE status and have many more people in the pipeline. If you haven’t started the FACHE process, now is the time to take that step to become board certified in healthcare management.

As you can tell, ACHE and ACHE of Massachusetts are stronger now than ever, and it has been a pleasure to support the chapter during this time of change and growth. As I transition out of my role, there are five people I would specifically like to thank:

• I will be forever grateful to Winfield S. Brown, FACHE, past Regent, for supporting me and my growth in the chapter and ACHE. Those of you who know Win will likely agree that he is a rare gem in his support for others’ growth and development, particularly early careerists.
• William P. Fleming, FACHE, current chapter president, and the entire ACHE of Massachusetts Board have been great partners to work with and learn from. Having heard from fellow Regents and chapters in other states, their commitment to our organization is unmatched.
• Our members are our heart and soul, but Donna Powell, our chapter administrator, is our arms and legs. She does a fabulous job keeping us running, managing the many details and logistics of our busy and growing organization.
• Gerry Berish, Thom Freyer, FACHE, and the other staff at ACHE are terrific. They fly under the radar to the average member, but I can tell you that they work steadfastly to make sure that ACHE, its chapters, and its elected officials are constantly meeting and exceeding members’ needs.
• Lynn B. Nicholas, FACHE, President and CEO of the Massachusetts Hospital Association, has a wonderful story about receiving a men’s tie tack as her prize from ACHE many years ago. She’s since converted that prize into a ring and proudly wears that ACHE symbol as a commitment to our profession. She has been a terrific advocate of ACHE and understands that MHA and ACHE can partner together in ways that advance value for both our individual and institutional members.

The highlight of this role is having met so many of you and having the opportunity to support and watch your careers as they have grown and evolved. Please stay in touch and know that I will continue to be a trusted colleague and resource. Thank you for the privilege of serving as your Regent.

Best wishes for professional success and satisfaction,

Andrea Paciello, FACHE
Regent, Massachusetts