Deborah Bowen To Receive 2026 AHA Board of Trustees Award

WASHINGTON (April 13, 2026) - The American Hospital Association (AHA) today announced that Deborah Bowen, FACHE, CAE, president and CEO of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), will be awarded its 2026 Board of Trustees Award. The Board of Trustees Award is presented to individuals or groups who have made substantial and noteworthy contributions to the work of the AHA on behalf of the hospital field. Bowen will receive the award during an April 20 ceremony at the AHA Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, D.C.

During her 30 years with ACHE, including 13 as president and CEO, Bowen has worked to provide outstanding educational and professional development resources to tens of thousands of health care leaders and managers in all stages of their careers. Before she was appointed president and CEO of ACHE, Bowen served as executive vice president and COO, vice president of administration and director of government relations. Her nonprofit health care experience also includes posts at the Medical College of Wisconsin, the State Medical Society of Wisconsin in Madison and the Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services, Bureau of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services.

"A passionate advocate for health care, Deborah is deeply committed to cultivating the next generation of leaders in the field and has dedicated her career to serving health care leadership and management professionals across the nation and beyond," said AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack. "She is widely respected for her determination and for being a powerful voice for women leaders across the globe, consistently creating tools and pathways to support their growth. Her unwavering commitment to excellence has strengthened our entire field throughout her career."

Bowen represented the AHA on the governing council of the International Hospital Federation for a decade and served as its president from 2021-2023, bringing insight and experience from across the United States to contribute to knowledge exchange and health care innovation worldwide.

###

About the AHA

The AHA is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals committed to the health improvement of their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which include nearly 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks, other providers of care and 43,000 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. For more information, visit the AHA website at https://www.aha.org.