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Karen Huxtable
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Diane L. Wells
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Cooperstown, N.Y. – July 15, 2009 – Bertine C. McKenna, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO) of Bassett Healthcare in Cooperstown, has been awarded this year’s American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Senior Level Healthcare Executive Annual National Award. She was presented with the award June 24 at an awards dinner as part of HANYS’ (Healthcare Association of New York State) Annual Membership Conference, at the Sagamore Hotel, Bolton Landing.
Dr. McKenna has been a highly motivated leader at Bassett, significantly enhancing safety, service excellence, performance improvement, physician relations and financial management. As a result of her efforts, Bassett has received Magnet recognition, and many awards for quality and operational excellence. Dr. McKenna led Bassett to be the first hospital in the state chosen for the Institute for Healthcare Improvement 5 Million Lives Campaign "Boards on Board" initiative and was instrumental in the post-Katrina development of a sister relationship with West Jefferson Hospital in New Orleans. She has even extended her leadership to reach overseas, taking on a central role in the establishment of a women’s hospital in West Africa. In addition, Dr. McKenna participates in the HANYS COO Forum and the Empire State VHA COO group.
Dr. McKenna has served as executive vice president and COO at Bassett since 2002. Prior to this, she served as special advisor to the chief medical officer at Fletcher Allen Healthcare in Burlington, Vt., as the president of Vermont Managed Care and in other leadership positions throughout five states. She is also a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, demonstrating a commitment to professional excellence. Dr. McKenna is a board member of the Catskill Symphony Orchestra, The Brookwood School and The Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home. She is a member of the HANYS COO Forum, Voluntary Hospitals of America COO Forum and a past regent in the New York Empire District 1 for ACHE.
The American College of Healthcare Executives is an international professional society of 30,000 health care executives who lead our nation’s hospitals, health care systems and other health care organizations. ACHE is known for its credentialing and educational programs and its annual Congress on Healthcare Leadership, which draws more than 4,000 participants each year.
