February 23, 2023 – The American Hospital Association has elected Joseph R. Impicciche, chief executive officer of Ascension, to fill a vacancy on its Board of Trustees for a term effective immediately and ending Dec. 31, 2024. The Board of Trustees is the highest policymaking body of the AHA and has ultimate authority for the governance and management of its direction and finances.
“The AHA is an important voice for hospitals and health systems as we work to advance an environment that best meets the healthcare needs of those we serve,” said Impicciche. “I am honored and humbled to represent the perspectives of our associates, providers and communities as part of the AHA board.”
Ascension, which is one of the nation’s largest Catholic health systems, includes 138 hospitals in 19 states with nearly 139,000 associates and 36,000 aligned providers.
Prior to becoming president and CEO in 2019, Impicciche served as president and chief operating officer as well as executive vice president and general counsel for Ascension since 2004. During his time at Ascension, Impicciche has been an advocate for greater access to care, addressing gun violence as a public health issue, promoting health equity and racial justice, reducing drug costs, and using technology for health care innovation.
Impicciche currently serves on AHA’s Committee on Health Care Strategy and Innovation. He was a member of AHA’s Strategic Leadership Group on Provider-led Health Plans from 2016-2018 while also serving on the AHA Task Force on Health Care Liability Reform from 2005-2006.
Impicciche is an active member on the boards of the Catholic Health Association of the United States, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul National Foundation and the St. Louis Regional Business Council. He was the recipient of the Clarence A. Jackson Distinguished Career Achievement Award in 2021 from his alma mater, Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind.