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CHAPTER NEWSLETTER
July - September 2021
Mission-Driven and Member-Focused

Greetings, ACHE of South Florida members, supporters, and friends.

Even though the Delta variant derailed our ability to move forward with in-person events over the summer, it did not prevent us from continuing to offer virtual events that kept many of us connected and engaged. I am truly grateful for the members of the Board, volunteers, participants, and sponsors that continue to support this year's efforts of being mission-driven and member-focused.

Since the start of the year, our chapter has welcomed nearly 200 new members, 10 new Fellows and 1 Life Fellow. Several hundred members and supporters have participated in more than a dozen events, and we have grown our online presence and engagement to a new level. As I often say, nothing can replace a handshake or a hug, but operating virtually this year has eliminated geographical boundaries and South Florida's traffic challenges, drawing event attendees from throughout Florida, the U.S., and other countries. I am looking forward to connecting with all of you again face-to-face very soon.

Several weeks into the last quarter of the year, we have already held two excellent virtual face-to-face educational programs, with another scheduled for November 17th. Please join us!

Check out the rest of this newsletter to learn about many of the activities that we hosted and members that we celebrated throughout the third quarter.
For the latest news, including upcoming events, member and sponsor spotlights and much more, please bookmark our chapter's website and follow us on LinkedIn!

Sincerely,


Kenneth C. Wong, FACHE
About ACHE of South Florida
ACHE of South Florida, known as the South Florida Healthcare Executive Forum (SFHEF) until 2020, is the local chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). Its origins date back to 1972 and serves over one thousand healthcare executives, students, and supporters spanning seven counties throughout southeast Florida, from Monroe to the Treasure Coast.

The mission of ACHE and ACHE of South Florida (ACHE-SFL) is to advance our members and healthcare leadership excellence.
For the first time, ACHE of South Florida dedicated several activities to recognizing, celebrating, and connecting ALL of its Fellows. This was done through recognition on LinkedIn and the chapter's website, along with the first Fellows-only Networking Event. We also held the chapter's first Fellow Advancement and BOG Exam Informational Session, hosted by Paula Zalucki, FACHE, FACMPE.

I wish to extend my gratitude to President-Elect Oyinkansola "Bukky" Ogunrinde for her assistance with organizing these special activities. Thank you, as well, to the Board members and chapter members that attended.
Membership
On September 2nd, Zunner Rios, CPA, FACHE, Membership Chair-Elect, and Kenneth C. Wong, FACHE, Chapter President, organized and hosted the chapter's second "New Member Orientation and Networking Event."

I'd like to extend a warm welcome to the more than 50 new members that joined ACHE and our chapter in the third quarter of 2021.
Educational Programs
On September 18th, an expert group of panelists from our local healthcare community discussed the pandemic's impact on the healthcare supply chain.

I would like to thank the panelists for their time and dedication to making this event a success on a Saturday morning.

If you missed it, you may watch the program HERE and receive FREE Qualified Education Credit. Remember that you must self-report QECs in your ACHE profile.
New Fellows
Earning the FACHE credential signifies meeting eligibility requirements over several years, demonstrating competency in all areas of healthcare management.

To learn more about becoming a Fellow with ACHE, visit ACHE.org/FACHE.

ACHE of South Florida celebrates these individuals who recently earned board certification in healthcare management!

Thank you for your commitment to integrity, lifelong learning, leadership, diversity and inclusion.
Saima Aftab, MD, FACHE, FAAP
Ela Lena, FACHE
Terra Preston, FACHE
Felicia C. Turnley, FACHE
All new Fellows are invited to be recognized for this amazing professional accomplishment.
Thank you, Dr. Aftab, for sharing why you became a member and a Fellow and why you would encourage others, including physicians, to to do the same!
If you are exam-eligible, NOW is a GREAT time to schedule your BOG exam!

Take a look at the incentives that ACHE of South Florida and ACHE have in place for those that become Fellows before the end of this year!
CONGRATULATIONS
to the
2021 ACHE Service Award Recipients
Geness Lebron Bump
Haroula Protopapadakis Norden, FACHE
Isabell Pacheco, FACHE
Ashley Vertuno, FACHE
Kenneth C. Wong, FACHE
Jeff Ritter, PhD
Why Become/Remain a Member of ACHE?
Join 48,000+ healthcare leaders from across the country and around the world, dedicated to improving health for their patients and their communities.
Learn more about membership HERE.
Share the benefits of membership with your colleagues!
Click on the image below to learn more.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
SMARTER Communications
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Our wide range of turnkey solutions includes everything you need, from content and digital communication boards to feature-filled mobile applications, and more, that increase efficiency and enhance experiences.

TAILORED Experiences
You can get ahead of the digital transformation curve. Be the change agent for improved employee communication and delightful patient experiences that drive loyalty. Every business has different workflows, systems, and corporate visions for its future.
Our patient experience teams develop integrated smart solutions that facilitate existing 3rd-party legacy system integration and make the digital transformation process simple and easy for your organization.

Start your digital transformation today. Visit www.DSignage.net.

To see how DSignage transformed a large local hospital's lobby into one that is modern and state-of-the-art, check out the video below.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS & TESTIMONIALS
Please visit our chapter's EVENTS page to view and register for upcoming events.


To kick off this Fall season, we are excited to bring you a very special newsletter that features this year's Platinum and Gold Sponsors.

In this prolonged and challenging healthcare climate, ACHE of South Florida continues to provide timely educational programs and events for members and the healthcare community to stay connected. The support from our annual sponsors gives our organization the opportunity to continue offering these programs and events, along with scholarships and financial assistance, that help us achieve our mission. Our sponsors represent the healthcare continuum, from leading healthcare systems and hospitals to premier academic institutions and companies that specialize in various facets of the overall healthcare industry. 

Together, our sponsors are a dynamic group of companies that shape our local healthcare community. Each of our Platinum and Gold Sponsors provided us with a special message that they wanted to share with our ACHE of South Florida community.
We are extremely grateful to you, our sponsors, for the support you provide not only to ACHE of South Florida but to our overall South Florida community.

Sincerely,


Kristen Palanza, MHSA, Sponsorship Chair
Michelle Marsh, MHSA, Sponsorship Chair-Elect
Kenneth C. Wong, FACHE, Chapter President