Edward J. Hannon, president and chief executive officer of The McDowell Hospital in Marion, N.C., will lead the American Hospital Association's (AHA) Section for Small or Rural Hospitals in 2009. The 23-person governing council represents small or rural hospitals in the AHA's policy process and member services initiatives.

Hannon has served as president and chief executive officer of The McDowell Hospital since 2007. The 65-bed hospital provides a wide array of services for the community including a home health care agency, and health screenings and fairs both at the hospital and at community events. The hospital also provides non-emergent health care services in McDowell County at its rural health clinic, Health Plus. Prior to coming to The McDowell Hospital, Hannon's 20 years of experience in hospitals and health care includes serving as president and chief executive officer at Clarion Healthcare Systems, Inc., in Clarion, Pa. and at DeSoto Memorial Hospital in Arcadia, Fla. Hannon is a member of the Hospital Association of North Carolina, the Western North Carolina Hospital Network and the Marion Rotary Club, Rotary International. Hannon earned a master's degree in professional studies, health services administration from the New School for Social Research in New York City and a bachelor's of science in health care management from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. In addition, he earned an associate of science in nuclear medicine technology at The George Washington University, in Washington D.C.

Robin Lake, chief executive officer of Great Plains Regional Medical Center in Elk City, Okla., is the 2010 chair-elect. Kathleen Hoeft, administrator and CEO of Ashley Medical Center in Ashley, N.D., is immediate past chair.
The Section's governing council advises the AHA on federal policy issues. Elected members serve three-year terms. New members include: Kenneth Cochran, CEO, Cibola General Hospital, Grants, N.M.; Alvin Hoover, CEO, King's Daughters Medical Center, Brookhaven, Miss.; Jon Smiley, CEO, Sunnyside Community Hospital, Sunnyside, Wash.; and Brad Smith, CEO, Rush Memorial Hospital, Rushville, Indiana.

The new governing council members join the following current members: Lynn Beasley, president and CEO, Newberry County Memorial Hospital, Newberry, S.C.; Thomas Bell, president, Kansas Hospital Association, Topeka; Arthur Blank, CEO, Mount Desert Island Hospital, Bar Harbor, Maine; Ann Fagan Cook, administrator and CEO, Parkview Hospital, Wheeler, Texas; Rev. John Coursey, vice chair, Fort Washington Medical Center, Fort Washington, Md.; Staci Covey, administrator and CEO, Troy Community Hospital, Troy, Pa.; Mark Doak, CEO, Davis Health System, Elkins W. Va.; Harry G. Dorman, III, president and CEO, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital, Lebanon, N.H.; Russell W. Johnson, CEO, San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center, Alamosa, Colo.; Gerard Klein, president and CEO, Bucyrus Community Hospital, Bucyrus, Ohio; Susan Lassiter, president, Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie, N.C.; Robert Moser, M.D., AAFP representative, Tribune, Kan.; Bernard A. Orman, Jr., administrator and CEO, Samaritan Hospital, Macon, Mo.; James G. Parrish, CEO, Humboldt General Hospital, Winnemucca, Nev., and John Remillard, president, Aurelia Osborn Fox Memorial Hospital, Oneonta, N.Y. Susan Starling, president, Marcum and Wallace Memorial Hospital, Irvine, Ky. is the representative from the National Rural Health Association. Raymond Hino, CEO, Mendocino Coast District Hospital, Fort Bragg, Calif., serves as the AHA board liaison to the section's governing council.

About 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, which includes more than 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations, and 38,000 individual members. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends.

About the AHA's Section for Small or Rural Hospitals

The AHA's Section for Small or Rural Hospitals provides representation, advocacy and educational opportunities to help the nation's small or rural hospitals better serve the health needs of patients and communities.

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