GREENWOOD VILLAGE, COLO. – Sept. 24, 2021 – The Colorado Hospital Association (CHA) Board of Trustees has appointed Maryjane Wurth as Interim CEO. Wurth most recently served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the American Hospital Association (AHA). In her role at the AHA, Wurth was responsible for strategy and leadership advancing an agenda for advocacy and innovation of the health care field, by synthesizing public policy, field engagement, and extensive resources for the AHA’s national hospital membership. She also has served as the President and CEO of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association and as COO at the Healthcare Association of New York State.

“As CHA moves into its next phase and crucial work helping our hospitals continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, advocating for hospitals, and building collaboration across our system, it is essential to have an experienced leader to guide that work,” said Jamie Smith, immediate past chairman of the CHA Board of Trustees; president and CEO, Saint Joseph Hospital. “We are thrilled to have Maryjane offer her years of hospital association leadership to Colorado hospitals and health systems during this transition.”

As Interim CEO, Wurth will guide CHA through the next several months as it conducts a national search for a President and CEO, following the resignation last month of CHA President and CEO Chris Tholen. Tholen assumed the role in January 2020 and helped guide the Association and its member hospitals through the COVID-19 pandemic as well as working to improve affordability of health care for Coloradans.

CHA also elected new officers for the CHA Board of Trustees for the coming year. Rob Vissers, MD, president and CEO, Boulder Community Health (Boulder), will serve CHA Board of Trustees Chairman. Kevin Stansbury, CEO, Lincoln Community Hospital (Hugo), will serve in the role of Chair-Elect, and Kevin Unger, president and CEO, UCHealth North Region, was elected to serve as Secretary/Treasurer.

The following Board members were reappointed for an additional three-year term:

• Pia Dean, board chair, Denver Health (Denver)
• Konnie Martin, president and CEO, San Luis Valley Health (Alamosa)
• Dewane Pace, CEO, Haxtun Hospital District (Haxtun)
• Eddie Sim, executive vice president and COO, Centura Health

To assist CHA during its leadership transition, the CHA Board of Trustees also appointed two special advisors for a one-year term:

• Jason Cleckler, CEO, Middle Park Health (Kremmling)
• Konnie Martin, president and CEO, San Luis Valley Health (Alamosa)

About Colorado Hospital Association

Colorado Hospital Association (CHA) is the leading voice of Colorado’s hospital and health system community. Representing more than 100 member hospitals and health systems throughout the state, CHA serves as a trusted, credible, and reliable resource on health issues, hospital data and trends for its members, media, policymakers and the general public. Through CHA, Colorado’s hospitals and health systems work together in their shared commitment to improve health and health care in Colorado. Learn more at www.cha.com.

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