American College of Healthcare Executives Bestows Its Highest Honor on Scripps CEO

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Scripps Health President and CEO Chris Van Gorder will be honored by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) with a Gold Medal Award at the opening session of the ACHE's 57th Congress on Healthcare Leadership in Chicago on March 24. Van Gorder, a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), will be recognized for his significant contributions to the health care field on behalf of a health care delivery organization.

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"ACHE is delighted to honor Chris Van Gorder in this way," said Deborah J. Bowen, FACHE and Certified Association Executive, president and CEO of the American College of Healthcare Executives. "He is a role model to all, exemplifying the principles of outstanding leadership while providing exceptional service to his patients, organization, community and the profession."

Van Gorder was selected for the award based on the strength of his nomination and his active leadership role with ACHE, as well as his contributions and achievements in leadership and executive performance; health services and patient care delivery; professional development; management and organizational development; and health services activities.

The Gold Medal Award is ACHE's highest honor bestowed on outstanding leaders. The purpose of this award is to identify Fellows of the American College of Healthcare Executives who best exemplify leadership at the organizational, local, state/provincial and national levels. The Gold Medal Award recognizes individuals who go beyond the confines of their own organization to continually contribute to the improvement of health care services and community health.

"To be recognized with the Gold Medal Award from an organization as prestigious as the American College of Healthcare Executives is truly an honor," said Van Gorder. "This outstanding group of leaders has made great strides to further the goals of health care institutions across the United States, and I am proud to be a part of that mission."

Van Gorder served on the ACHE Board of Governors from 2006 to 2008 and as chairman-elect, chairman and immediate past chairman of the Board of Governors from 2009 to 2012. Currently, he is a member of ACHE's Counselors Committee. In addition, Van Gorder continues to serve the public as a reserve commander in the San Diego County Sheriff's Department Search and Rescue Unit, where he is the Search and Rescue commander. He is also a licensed emergency medical technician and instructor for the American Red Cross. In March 2006, California's governor appointed Van Gorder to the California Commission on Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA), where he served two terms.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVES
The American College of Healthcare Executives is an international professional society of more than 40,000 health care executives who lead hospitals, health care systems and other health care organizations. ACHE offers its prestigious FACHE^® credential, signifying board certification in health care management. ACHE's established network of more than 80 chapters provides access to networking, education and career development at the local level. In addition, ACHE is known for its magazine, Healthcare Executive, and its career development and public policy programs. Through such efforts, ACHE works toward its goal of being the premier professional society for health care executives dedicated to improving health care delivery. The Foundation of the American College of Healthcare Executives was established to further advance health care management excellence through education and research. The Foundation of ACHE is known for its educational programs—including the annual Congress on Healthcare Leadership, which draws more than 4,000 participants—and groundbreaking research. Its publishing division, Health Administration Press, is one of the largest publishers of books and journals on health services management including textbooks for college and university courses.

ABOUT SCRIPPS HEALTH
Founded in 1924 by philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, Scripps Health is a nonprofit integrated health system based in San Diego, Calif. Scripps treats a half-million patients annually through the dedication of 2,600 affiliated physicians and 13,500 employees among its five acute-care hospital campuses, hospice and home health care services, and an ambulatory care network of physician offices and 26 outpatient centers and clinics.

Recognized as a leader in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, Scripps is also at the forefront of clinical research, genomic medicine, wireless health care and graduate medical education. With three highly respected graduate medical education programs, Scripps is a longstanding member of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Truven Health Analytics (formerly Thomson Reuters) has named Scripps one of the top five large health systems in the nation. Scripps is nationally recognized in six specialties by U.S. News & World Report, which places Scripps cardiovascular program among the top 20 in the country. Scripps has been consistently recognized by Fortune, Working Mother magazine and AARP as one of the best places in the nation to work. More information can be found at www.scripps.org.

SOURCE Scripps Health