For Immediate Release
CHICAGO, Feb. 6 , 2024 – The American College of Healthcare Executives announces the following 2024 award winners: Rear Adm. Anne M. Swap, FACHE, is the recipient of the Gold Medal Award, and Ashley R. Vertuno, FACHE, is the recipient of the Robert S. Hudgens Memorial Award for Young Healthcare Executive of the Year.
The Gold Medal Award—ACHE’s highest honor bestowed on outstanding leaders—identifies Fellows of ACHE who best exemplify leadership at the organizational, local, state/provincial and national levels. The award recognizes leaders who go beyond the confines of their own organization to continually contribute to the improvement of healthcare services and community health.
Swap served more than three decades in the U.S. Navy and was the director, National Capital Region Market, Defense Health Agency, Washington, D.C., where she served from 2020–2023. Prior positions include commander, Navy Medicine East; director, Tidewater, Multi-Service Market, Portsmouth, Va., and director, Navy Medical Service Corps, from 2016–2020, and director, Medical Resources, Plans, and Policy in 2016. Swap was a member of ACHE’s Regents Advisory Council from 2010–2017 and from 2002–2003; she served on the ACHE Nominating Committee from 2015-2017. She will receive her award March 25 at the Opening Session during ACHE’s 67th Congress on Healthcare Leadership.
The Robert S. Hudgens Memorial Award for Young Healthcare Executive of the Year honors outstanding achievement in the field of healthcare management. The award is given to an exceptional healthcare executive who is younger than 40, is a Fellow of ACHE and holds a CEO or COO position in a healthcare organization.
Vertuno is CEO, HCA Florida JFK North Hospital, West Palm Beach, Fla., where she has served since 2020. Before that, she was COO, HCA Florida Westside Hospital, Plantation, Fla. Vertuno served as the ACHE Regent for Florida-Eastern from 2019–2022. She will receive her award March 26 at the Malcolm T. MacEachern Memorial Lecture and Luncheon during ACHE’s 67th Congress on Healthcare Leadership in Chicago.
About the American College of Healthcare Executives
The American College of Healthcare Executives is an international professional society of more than 49,000 healthcare executives who lead hospitals, healthcare systems and other healthcare organizations. ACHE’s mission is to advance our members and healthcare management excellence. ACHE offers its prestigious FACHE® credential, signifying board certification in healthcare management. ACHE's established network of 76 chapters provides access to networking, education and career development at the local level. In addition, ACHE is known for its magazine, Healthcare Executive, and its career development and public policy programs. Through such efforts, ACHE works toward its vision of being the preeminent professional society for leaders dedicated to improving health. The Foundation of the American College of Healthcare Executives was established to further advance healthcare management excellence through education and research. The Foundation of ACHE is known for its educational programs—including the annual Congress on Healthcare Leadership, which draws more than 4,000 participants—and groundbreaking research. Its publishing division, Health Administration Press, is one of the largest publishers of books and journals on health services management including textbooks for college and university courses.
Contact:
Randy Liss
Director of Communications
American College of Healthcare Executives
300 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 1900
Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 424-9417
rliss@ache.org