Every April, ACHE celebrates National Volunteer Week and recognizes the leaders of its 76 chapters for the work they do for members. Below, two chapter presidents, Claudia E. Crist, RN, FACHE, and Richard K. Ogden, PharmD, FACHE, share how they got involved in their local chapters and the importance of ACHE members engaging with their own chapters. To find your local chapter, click here.
Claudia E. Crist, RN, FACHE
President, Hawaii-Pacific Chapter of ACHE
ACHE: When did you start volunteering with your chapter, and what roles have you held?
Crist: After moving from California to Hawaii in 2019, I started volunteering with the Hawaii-Pacific Chapter of ACHE in 2023. The first year, I served as a regular board member and volunteered on the newly formed mentorship subcommittee. The second year, I was asked to be president-elect. With that, I was chair of the nominating committee and also served on the finance committee and mentorship committee. This being my third year, I serve as president and keep in touch with all committees. I also serve on the nominating committee, sponsorship committee and finance committee.
ACHE: What have been some of your favorite experiences as a chapter leader?
Crist: My very favorite part has been to get to know our volunteer chapter board and committee members, both professionally and personally. The level of diverse talent and backgrounds in our chapter is absolutely incredible! On a broader scale, this role has given me a much better insight into the challenges and opportunities among the people serving in healthcare leadership within our chapter area during a very fluid and eventful time in our sector and job market.
ACHE: Why should ACHE members volunteer with their local chapter?
Crist: These are very fluid and eventful times in our industry and job market. I have been in touch with several leaders who are transitioning or have recently transitioned between jobs. This often comes as a shock and can make people feel not seen or appreciated. Sometimes, this results in people withdrawing from their healthcare community, either out of embarrassment or because they are feeling low, or simply in shock.
Being part of ACHE, especially at the local level, is a great opportunity to be seen, make new connections and get support from like-minded individuals who appreciate your expertise and talent better than anyone else. I have personally observed people landing in new jobs BECAUSE of their ACHE family and network. I encourage people to reach out, volunteer and be brave to be visible, especially during the more vulnerable times in our lives. We are a community, and we are here for you!
ACHE: Outside of ACHE, what are some volunteer activities you participate in?
Crist: I serve as volunteer board member with the YMCA of Honolulu, an extraordinary organization focused on the health and well-being of the entire community, but especially keiki (children) and kupuna (elders). I have an opportunity to use my background in healthcare, mental health and public health, while also learning more about what it looks like to run successful, community-based programs that work way upstream and focus on all-around wellness.
I also enjoy volunteering as a growth and development facilitator on various topics for students and young professionals in Hawai’i. Not only are they the future, this purposeful interaction with the younger generations also helps me understand them much better. In turn, I am much better at advising my clients when it comes to employee engagement and retention, and leadership development.
Combining my hobby of cycling with my nursing background, I also recently started volunteering as a ride buddy for adaptive cycling events organized by our local rehab hospitals. Now THAT is a kick in the pants! The people I meet and the stories they share of past professional and personal adventures fill my cup more than I believe my volunteering could ever fill theirs.
Richard K. Ogden, PharmD, FACHE
President, Missouri Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives
ACHE: When did you start volunteering with your chapter, and what roles have you held?
Ogden: I joined the Missouri Chapter in 2015. I started off on the membership committee serving on the student engagement subcommittee. Then I served on the Kansas City Local Programming Committee to help develop and support educational events in the Kansas City metropolitan area. I was nominated to serve as chapter secretary, 2020–2021, and then I was nominated to serve as president-elect. In the Missouri Chapter, the president role is broken into three two-year terms: president-elect, president and immediate past president. I’m currently serving my second year as president.
ACHE: What have been some of your favorite experiences as a chapter leader?
Ogden: I have had the pleasure of working with leaders in all aspects of healthcare in my various chapter leadership roles. I would say my favorite experiences have been as president-elect, leading our annual strategic planning sessions. We are blessed to have a very engaged board with a wealth of knowledge of ACHE and a desire to continuously improve our chapter for the betterment of our membership.
ACHE: Why should ACHE members volunteer with their local chapter?
Ogden: I sincerely believe that when you put your time and effort into your chapter, you reap amazing benefits. A relatively simple time commitment to volunteer on a committee, event or other chapter activity often leads to amazing networking opportunities that could lead to future career development growth. I can’t think of a single chapter event where I heard a member say they regret volunteering.
ACHE: Outside of ACHE, what are some volunteer activities you participate in?
Ogden: I’m extremely proud to serve as chair of the board of directors of Agua Viva International. Agua Viva is an organization that partners with communities in developing countries to implement water purification and bottling systems, providing health and hygiene education and promoting gender empowerment. We have been operating since 2011 and now have water purification systems in five countries in Central America and Africa. We have 53 water purification systems that support over 100,000 people who otherwise would be exposed to contaminated water.
I am a proud alumnus of the University of Kansas City Bloch School of Management and serve on their Alumni Board of Directors. I was very blessed to have so many faculty and alumni invest their time in me, and I try my best to give back to the school, students and fellow alumni.