Kris Doody, RN, CEO at Cary Medical Center in Caribou recently became a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the nation’s leading professional society for health care leaders. “Because health care management ultimately affects the people in our communities, it is critically important to have a standard of excellence promoted by a professional organization,” says Thomas C. Dolan, PhD, FACHE, CAE, president and chief executive officer of ACHE. “By becoming an ACHE Fellow and simultaneously earning board certification from ACHE, health care leaders can show that they are committed to providing high-quality service to their patients and community.”
Fellow status represents achievement of the highest standard of professional development. In fact, only 7,500 health care executives hold this distinction. To obtain Fellow status, candidates must fulfill requirements, including passing a comprehensive examination, meeting academic and experiential criteria, earning continuing education credits and demonstrating professional/community involvement. Fellows are also committed to ongoing professional development and undergo recertification every three years.
Peter Ashley, chairman of the board of directors at Cary Medical Center, had high praise for Doody in recognizing this unique achievement.
“On behalf of our board I congratulate Kris on this recognition”, said Ashley, who is serving as board chair for a second time. “Kris has a unique passion for this organization and the entire field of health care and public service. She works tirelessly for the hospital and always puts the patients first. Her relationship with employees, medical staff, patients, and the community is very positive and she has earned the respect of leaders throughout the health care industry here in Maine and the nation.”
Carl Flynn, president of the medical staff at Cary, echoed Ashley’s remarks and said that the CEO’s long experience at the hospital and her clinical knowledge has been a key part of her success.
“Kris was born at Cary, was a candy striper, a nurses aide, a staff nurse, a supervisor, interim CEO and now, for the past several years the CEO. She understands the dynamics of the relationships that must be built among administrators, trustees and physicians. She has managed these relationships very well and has helped Cary become a leader in both clinical quality and patient satisfaction. I know that the medical staff is delighted for her in gaining this major professional achievement.”
Kris Doody of Cary Medical Center is privileged to use the FACHE credential, which signifies board certification in health care management and ACHE Fellow status.
The American College of Health Care Executives is an international professional society of more than 30,000 healthcare executives who lead our nation’s hospitals, healthcare systems and other healthcare organizations. ACHE is known for its prestigious credentialing and educational programs and its annual Congress on Health care Leadership, which draws more than 4,500 participants each year. ACHE is also known for its journal, the Journal of Healthcare Management, and magazine, Health care Executive, as well as ground-breaking research and career development and public policy programs. AHCE’s publishing division, Health Administration Press, is one of the largest publishers of books and journals on all aspects of health services management in addition to textbooks for use in college and university courses. Through such efforts, ACHE works toward its goal of being the premier professional society for health care leaders by providing exceptional value to its members.
