Mary Pizzino, healthcare informatics manager and Michael Murphy, modernization project manager/environment of care manager of Effingham Hospital and Care Center, recently graduated from Leadership GHA, a prestigious health care leadership program of the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA).
Pizzino and Murphy were among only 20 hospital employees from around the state to receive a diploma from Leadership GHA during the association’s annual membership meeting recently.
“This is a significant accomplishment for the 20 people who are already making a difference in the Georgia hospital community today and are committed to continued professional growth and achievement,” said GHA President Joseph A. Parker. “Their investment of time in this rigorous leadership development course will pay major dividends as they continue to advance in their health care careers.”
“We are extremely proud of Mary and Michael,” said Norma J. Morgan, CEO of Effingham Hospital and Care Center. “As respected members of the hospital’s system leadership team, they exhibit, on a daily basis, the valued principles that we hold, share and practice. Effingham Hospital is a Critical Access Hospital accredited by The Joint Commission, and our vision is that every patient will experience compassionate, quality care and service at a level of excellence which will make Effingham Hospital the healthcare provider of choice.”
Responding to the need to develop new leaders to take the reins of tomorrow’s hospitals and health care systems in Georgia, the GHA Board of Trustees unanimously endorsed the creation of Leadership GHA in the fall of 2003. The six-month program, which begins each fall, utilizes a variety of techniques to educate participants on the unique and diverse issues that characterize Georgia’s health care system. The program includes workshops, conferences, panel discussions and field trips to a variety of hospitals and health systems throughout the state.
As the leadership skills of the participants are developed and expanded, they are encouraged to use these skills to transform and improve Georgia’s health care system and their individual communities. To qualify for participation in the Leadership GHA program, individuals from Georgia hospitals and health systems must be nominated by GHA-member CEOs. An impartial selection committee reviews the nomination applications and selects a limited number of participants for the program.
Established in 1929, GHA is the leading trade organization of hospitals and health systems in the state providing education, research and risk management services to its more than 180 hospitals and health system members. Additionally, it represents and advocates health policy issues benefiting Georgia’s citizens before the state legislature and U.S. Congress as well as before regulatory bodies.
