The Midwest Healthcare Engineering Conference presented a virtual event where we heard from Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio Hospital Association Presidents about healthcare in 2020, the challenges we will be facing moving forward, as well as the impact of the election on healthcare in our states.
A recording of this event is now available to ISHE members. If you are not an ISHE member, join ISHE now and your membership will carry through 2021.
This event has been approved by ASHE for 1.5 Contact Hours (1.5 CEC). Thanks to our sponsor, BSA Lifestructures.
OUR SPEAKERS
Mike Abrams, President & CEO
Ohio Hospital Association
Mike Abrams, an experienced association executive with health care policy and government affairs expertise, joined OHA in 2012 as president and CEO. He leads a team of more than 50 associates, supports a 20-member Board of Trustees, serves on a variety of health care and hospital taskforces and committees and works with the 2,400 members of seven OHA-affiliated societies to guide the association toward its mission of collaborating with member hospitals and health systems to ensure a healthy Ohio.
Mike has been selected by his peers to chair the State Hospital Association Executive Forum, an organization of all 50 state hospital association presidents, in 2020. Additionally, he has been appointed to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s Executive Workforce Board, which advises the governor, lieutenant governor and the Office of Workforce Transformation about emerging workforce needs, solutions and best practices.
He has been named a Champion of Health Care by Columbus Business First and a member of the SMART 50 group by Smart Business Magazine for his leadership in health care education and advocacy.
Prior to OHA, Mike was the executive vice president and CEO of the Iowa Medical Society from 1996 to 2012. He previously led government relations for the Indiana State Medical Association for nine years and is a graduate of Indiana University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Public Administration.
Mike’s additional leadership experience includes service on the boards of the Midwest Medical Insurance Company and the Iowa Healthcare Collaborative, a joint effort between the Iowa Medical Society and the Iowa Hospital Association to promote a health care culture of continuous improvement in quality, patient safety and value in the state.
Mike previously served on the American Hospital Association’s Coalition to Protect America’s Healthcare and as the Region 5 representative to AHA’s State Issues Forum Steering Committee. He previously served on the Board of Directors for the Health Policy Institute of Ohio and the SmartMarket Board of the American Hospital Association.
He was born in Columbus and has extended family in the Cincinnati and Dayton areas. Mike’s wife, Mary Ann Sprauer Abrams, MD, MPH, is a pediatrician, originally from Dayton. His family is a member of St. Andrew Church in Upper Arlington.
Brian Tabor, President
Indiana Hospital Association
Brian Tabor serves as president of the Indiana Hospital Association, which represents the interests of approximately 170 Indiana hospitals. The association is the chief advocate for hospitals and their patients, representing their interests with the State of Indiana, the federal government, the business community, regulatory agencies, accrediting bodies, and other stakeholders.
Prior to joining IHA in 2008 as vice president, Mr. Tabor worked in various policy roles for the Indiana General Assembly and in government relations for the Indiana Association of REALTORS®. He currently serves on several governing boards, including Covering Kids & Families of Indiana, the Indiana Health Information Exchange, the Sycamore School, and the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute. Mr. Tabor graduated from Purdue University with a B.A. in political science and an M.S. in agricultural economics.
A.J. Wilhelmi, President & CEO
Illinois Health and Hospital Association
A.J. Wilhelmi became the President and CEO of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA) on January 1, 2016. With offices in Chicago, Naperville, Springfield, and Washington D.C., IHA represents more than 200 hospitals and health systems as they care for their patients and communities, advocating for a sustainable, patient-focused health care system that provides high-quality care and promotes healthy local communities.
Previously, Wilhelmi served as IHA’s Chief Government Relations Officer from 2012 to 2015. As Chief Government Relations Officer, Wilhelmi was responsible for directing IHA’s overall state and federal advocacy and policy agendas. During that period, IHA achieved major advocacy accomplishments, including enacting landmark legislation on hospital tax exemption, expanding Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act, obtaining new ACA access payments, and preserving Medicaid funding.
With his experience in both the public and private sectors, Wilhelmi is strengthening IHA’s ability to address the many needs of its more than 200 hospital and health system members. Wilhelmi and IHA collaborate with state leaders, legislators, and other key stakeholders to develop workable solutions to support patients, hospitals and the state’s health care delivery system.
Wilhelmi attended Loyola University Chicago, where he graduated cum laude in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. In June 1993, Wilhelmi graduated from Chicago-Kent College of Law.
From November 1993 to March 2008, Wilhelmi practiced law with the McKeown Law Firm, specializing in real estate and business law. In April 2008, Wilhelmi joined Murer Consultants, Inc., a healthcare consulting firm, where he served as Vice President before joining IHA.
In January 2005, Wilhelmi was appointed to the Illinois Senate to represent the communities of the 43rd Senate District, which includes most of Joliet and several surrounding towns. Wilhelmi was re-elected to the state Senate in 2006 and 2010. During his tenure in the state Senate, Wilhelmi served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Wilhelmi was born and raised in Joliet, IL as the youngest of six children. He currently resides in Joliet with his wife, Michelle, and their three daughters.
