The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) elected St. Bernards Medical Center Administrator Michael Givens to its Board of Governors on March 26.
ACHE, an international professional society of more than 48,000 healthcare executives who lead hospitals, healthcare systems and other healthcare organizations, provides programs in credentialing, education, career counseling, publications and research. Givens, a Fellow with ACHE, will serve a three-year term effectively immediately, overseeing ACHE operations and member services.
Givens has previously served as ACHE Regent for Arkansas from 2019 to 2022 and was president of the Arkansas Health Executives Forum, an ACHE chapter, from 2014 to 2016. He said he looks forward to further volunteer work with the society, spotlighting healthcare services in eastern Arkansas.
“St. Bernards fosters service opportunities on the local, state and national levels with the goal of building healthier communities,” Givens said. “As a Governor for ACHE, I look forward to investing in healthcare leadership across our nation and improving healthcare delivery throughout our region.”
Givens recently celebrated his 20th anniversary at St. Bernards, including more than 11 years in his ongoing role as Administrator of St. Bernards Medical Center.
St. Bernards President and CEO Chris Barber, also a Fellow with ACHE with extensive service within the organization, welcomed Givens’ election as a Governor.
“Michael has a proven track record of leading St. Bernards Medical Center through significant changes, growth and challenges,” Barber said. “He’s a talented leader at St. Bernards, and he’s well equipped for this expanded role with ACHE.”
Givens joined St. Bernards Medical Center in 2001 as Director of Patient Care Financial Operations before moving into the role of Assistant Vice President of Patient Care Services that same year. In 2006, he was promoted to the position of Vice President of Patient Care Services—a role he held until 2010 before assuming his current title.
Board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow, Givens earned his master’s of business administration from Harding University in Searcy, Ark. and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
Givens joins the elections of three other healthcare leaders to the ACHE Board of Governors, including Noel Cárdenas, Senior Vice President/CEO of Memorial Hermann Southeast and Pearland Hospitals in Houston; Michele Martz, President of UPMC Western Maryland in Cumberland; and Dodie McElmurray, CEO of Community Hospitals, University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.
For more information, visit ache.org/leadership.