Martin Named as Chair for Colorado Hospital Association

The Colorado Hospital Association (CHA) added a wealth of new talent, experience and perspectives to the CHA Board of Trustees, including two local health care leaders. At the helm of the association, Konnie Martin, CEO, San Luis Valley Health (SLVH), will serve as the 2020 Chairman of the CHA Board of Trustees.

As a rural health care leader, Konnie holds an important belief, “the possibilities for making a difference in rural healthcare are endless.” In her new role as Chair for the CHA Board of Trustees, she aims to take her experience and vision to the state level. “I am honored to have the opportunity to chair the CHA Board of Trustees. It’s inspiring to work with hospital CEOs from around Colorado and the association’s leadership who are committed to improving the health of our State.”

“Konnie has been an integral part of the CHA Board of Trustees for the past five years,” said Steven J. Summer, CHA president and CEO. “She has been an advocate for rural hospitals and brings that crucial perspective to our Board on all issues – from transparency and affordability to quality improvement and patient safety to policy and advocacy. Konnie will be an outstanding Chairman, as she has earned the trust and respect of her hospital colleagues from around the state, and I believe she has a vision for how hospitals must evolve as health care continues to change.”

As the Chief Executive Officer for SLVH since June 2013, Konnie leads a rural system that includes two hospitals, SLV Regional Medical Center, which is a 49 bed Level III trauma center, and Conejos County Hospital, which is a 17 bed Critical Access Hospital, along with a large, multi-specialty clinic division serving the San Luis Valley region. With over 800 employees, SLV Health is the region’s largest employer as well.

Konnie is an active participant at the local, state and national levels on health care issues and an advocate for rural health care systems. In 2016, she earned the prestigious Grassroots Champion Award, being honored for her work in effectively delivering the hospital message to elected officials, helping to broaden the base of community support for hospitals, and advocating tirelessly on behalf of patients, hospitals and communities. In May of 2018, Konnie served as a witness at the Senate finance committee hearing in Washington, D.C. testifying on “Rural Health Care in America: Challenges and Opportunities” highlighting the need to provide a level playing field ensuring access to necessary health care services so that children, adults, and families are able to live healthy and productive lives by getting the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

The CHA Chairman-Elect will be Jamie Smith, president, Saint Joseph Hospital and CEO. Rob Vissers, MD, president and CEO, Boulder Community Health, will serve as Secretary/Treasurer. CHA also welcomed the following two new Board members, Jandel Allen-Davis, MD, president and CEO, Craig Hospital, and Dave Ressler, CEO, Aspen Valley Hospital. The CHA Board of Trustees also appointed another San Luis Valley health care leader, Arlene Harms, CEO of Rio Grande Hospital, as a delegate to serve on the American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board.