FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9/12/06

Contact:
Nancy Strassel
513 531-0200

HEALTH COUNCIL NAMES NEW PRESIDENT

Colleen O’ Toole, PhD, has been appointed president of the Greater Cincinnati Health Council, effective immediately, the GCHC board has announced. O’Toole has served as the organization’s vice president of Public Affairs since 1991.

O’Toole replaces Lynn R. Olman, who stepped down as president on August 31 to take a position in Chicago after leading the organization for 23 years.

“I am honored at the board’s show of confidence and look forward to serving the membership and the community in this capacity,” O’Toole said.

The Health Council represents 34 hospitals in 14 area counties in their efforts to provide high quality, cost-effective health care. The organization also has more than 150 affiliate members comprised of long-term care facilities, physician groups, hospices and other non-hospital care providers. Along with its subsidiary organization, the Health Improvement Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati, the Council is widely known for its ability to provide a neutral forum for hospitals and other health care stakeholders to work cooperatively to improve the local health care delivery system. Its services include a workforce retention and recruitment center, data services, group purchasing and public affairs. The Council also serves as spokesperson on issues affecting the hospital and health care industry.

“Colleen’s extensive experience in and knowledge of hospital-industry issues and her dedication to working collaboratively with others across the community make her uniquely qualified to lead the Council into the future,” said Tom Urban, CEO of Mercy Health Partners and current GCHC board chair. As public affairs vice president, O’Toole had been responsible for advocacy, speaking to the media on selected issues, facilitating inter-organizational task forces; coordinating members’ regulatory compliance; leading the organization’s strategic planning processes; and managing various Council projects and programs.

Over the last two months the board had conducted a comprehensive assessment to determine the future needs of the organization and the characteristics it needed in a new leader. “Hospital issues are complex and challenges abound,” said Urban. “We have confidence in Colleen’s ability to not only continue but to exceed the current level of service and value the Council provides to its members and the community.”

Urban noted that no immediate changes in the Council’s programming are expected. “The board will be working closely with the new president this year to develop a new strategic plan for the organization, a process that takes place every three years and that was already underway,” Urban said.

O’Toole holds a PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies (Health Policy and History of Public Health) and an MS in Health Planning and Administration from the University of Cincinnati. She also holds a BS in Science and Dental Hygiene from the University of Louisville. She is a member of this year’s Leadership Cincinnati class and is an alumnus of Leadership Northern Kentucky. She currently is the vice chair and secretary of the Tri-State Trauma Coalition's Board, has served as chair of the the Public Policy Committee of the Greater Cincinnati chapter of the Alzheimers Association, and has held memberships in a number of professional and public health associations. 

O’Toole lives in Covington, Kentucky with her husband, John T. Spence, and two sons.

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