Emerson Health President and CEO Christine Schuster, RN, MBA, has been elected as the 82nd Chair of the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association (MHA) Board of Trustees. MHA serves as the leading voice for the commonwealth’s hospitals and health systems.
Schuster was elected to the association’s top board post during its 86th annual meeting last week. The meeting serves as the association’s flagship event for health care leadership and took place in-person for the first time since the pandemic began.
As health care leaders approved the slate of officers to serve on MHA’s board for the upcoming year, they expressed unanimous confidence in its ability to lead the commonwealth’s health care community through a new set of pressures and challenges. Schuster begins her tenure as 2023 board chair at a time when severe capacity constraints, vast workforce shortages, deep financial instability, and new reforms significantly impact care delivery.
“It is a distinct honor to take on the position as MHA board chair at this pivotal time for the Massachusetts health care system,” said Schuster. “The challenges facing our providers are well known, and we will continue our focus on the state of the workforce, patient bed availability, and the overall viability of a stretched system. We are also prepared to embrace every opportunity to define the future of care delivery. This organization has never been more focused on making health care better for patients and caregivers alike.”
Schuster is a long-time advocate for equal representation for women in health care leadership. She is regarded as a champion for community hospitals, having served as president and CEO of Emerson Health for 18 years. Prior to leading Emerson, she was CEO of Quincy Medical Center and Athol Memorial Hospital, and she previously served as board chair for the Massachusetts Council of Community Hospitals. Schuster was a go-to leader during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, in which she collaborated with leaders from large systems and community hospitals throughout the commonwealth to ensure bed availability for patients, as well as access to critical supplies and resources.
“As long as I have known her, Chris has embodied the commitment and advocacy that are hallmarks of our health care community,” said MHA President and CEO Steve Walsh. “Her background as a nurse, mentor, and longtime CEO makes for a perfect combination to meet the needs of today. We are excited for what 2023 will bring as Chris leads our efforts to uplift patients and health care professionals across Massachusetts.”
Schuster remains president and CEO of Emerson Health as she takes on this additional leadership role as board chair of the MHA.
About Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association
The Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association (MHA) serves as the unified voice for Massachusetts hospitals and health care providers. Founded in 1936, MHA represents over 100 hospitals, health care partners, and patients across the state. Through advocacy, education, and collaboration, MHA’s mission is to improve the overall health of the commonwealth and support providers’ efforts to offer high-quality, affordable, and accessible care. For further information about MHA, please visit www.mhalink.org or contact communications@mhalink.org.
