Born in Philadelphia, Davidson earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in education from West Chester University and Temple University, respectively, both in Pennsylvania, and a doctorate in education from Washington, D.C.'s George Washington University.

A nationally recognized health care leader, Umbdenstock has deep roots with the AHA. Early in his career, Umbdenstock served as special assistant to then-AHA President Alex McMahon. While on staff at the AHA, he created the association's outreach programs for hospital governing boards. He has remained active in the association serving on the Circle of Life Award Committee and joining the AHA Board in 2000. During his Board service, he was chairman of the operations committee and was on the Board's executive committee. He became Chairman of the AHA Board of Trustees on January 1.


Before the creation of Providence Health & Services, Umbdenstock served as president and CEO of the Spokane, WA-based Providence Services for more than a decade. During those years, he helped create Inland Northwest Health Services, a community collaborative with a far-reaching information technology system, a regional rehabilitation institute, a tele-medicine network, and emergency transport system and other shared services in a joint venture with competitor Empire Health Services. The regional information network has become a national model for sharing patient care information among hospitals, physician offices and other provider locations.

Before that, Umbdenstock spent 10 years as an independent consultant to voluntary hospital governing boards in the United States and Canada. An author of several books and articles for hospital trustees, he is also active in national and local organizations. Umbdenstock currently serves on the boards of the Spokane Diocesan Foundation and Spokane Chamber of Commerce. He has also served as chairman of Premier, Inc., as well as on the boards or advisory boards of Gonzaga Preparatory School, Spokane; the Intercollegiate Center for Nursing Education, Spokane; Family-A-Fair, Spokane; Group Health Northwest, Spokane; and, The Cheswick Center, Rockville, Md.

Umbdenstock received a bachelor's degree in politics from Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn., and a Master of Science degree in health services administration from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. In May, 2003, Umbdenstock was awarded a Doctor of Laws honorary degree from Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA. He is a diplomate of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

About the AHA
The AHA is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the improvement of health in their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, 4,800 hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations, and 33,000 individuals. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information visit the Web site at www.aha.org.

Back to HCB News

More Voices