CHA issue managers and legislative advocates serve as “on-call”
consultants to members on a wide range of key hospital issues. To
identify and contact CHA staff with expertise on a particular
issue, please consult the Staff
Services Guide.
BJ Bartleson, RN, MS, NEA-BC, provides leadership in the
development and implementation of CHA’s public policies in
nursing and clinical specialties. Previously, Bartleson served as
director of patient care services and chief nurse executive for
Shriners Hospitals for Children in Sacramento. She has been
active in CHA for years through her leadership role on the board
of the Association of California Nurse Leaders and numerous other
professional organizations.
Patricia Blaisdell provides membership support and advocacy for
hospital-based medical rehabilitation and skilled-nursing
services, policy analysis and interpretation, communication with
regulatory bodies and third-party payers, and planning and
implementation of educational programs.
Patricia has more than 20 years of experience in hospital and
health care management in acute and post-acute settings. She has
expertise in rehabilitation and therapy services reimbursement
and clinical operations across the continuum of care.
Gail Blanchard-Saiger provides leadership for state legislative
and regulatory issues related to hospital human resources (HR)
and labor relations. She has more than 15 years of experience as
a labor and employment law attorney representing hospitals and
health systems.
Gail served as special counsel/senior counsel at Foley and
Lardner, LLP, and principal of Blanchard Saiger Law, P.C.
Joe Cooper provides members with hospital-specific reports and
summaries that model the impact of Medicare proposed and final
rules, proposed and final legislative changes, margin
calculations, wage survey data reports and prospective payment
system report sets for inpatient, outpatient, rehabilitation,
skilled-nursing, psychiatric, long-term-care and home health
payments. His background and expertise enable him to
navigate the myriad of government payment systems that affect
California hospitals.
Jennifer Davenport is the assistant to CHA President/CEO C. Duane
Dauner. She manages the administrative affairs of the Office of
the President, and organizes activities for the California
Integrated Systems Council and the Council of Independent
Hospitals.
Connie Delgado represents the interests of CHA member hospitals
before lawmakers and their staff in the California Legislature.
Her main areas of advocacy include trauma/emergency medical
services, privacy, nursing issues and hospital closures. She also
testifies on behalf of CHA at legislative hearings on issue of
importance to the hospital industry.
Connie has nearly 25 years of experience in California’s
political arena. She started her career working for a member of
the Assembly and has worked for three major trade associations,
including the American Electronics Association.
Jana Du Bois brings to CHA a broad foundation of health law experience, including in-house counsel for a large integrated hospital health system and regulatory counsel for state public health and managed care departments. Prior to becoming an attorney, Jana was a registered nurse for more than 10 years. She is an active community and legal volunteer, and recently ended her appointment to the Public Health Executive Committee of the California State Bar.
Jan Emerson-Shea serves as chief spokesperson for CHA, overseeing
the association’s media relations activities. She also is
responsible for developing and implementing strategic
communications and public affairs initiatives that support CHA’s
advocacy objectives.
Dr. Martin Gallegos has an extensive background in both health
care and government. Prior to joining CHA, he served in Gov.
Davis’ administration as director of the California Office of the
Patient Advocate. In November 1994, he was elected to the 57th
Assembly District, making history by becoming the first doctor of
chiropractic elected to the California Legislature.
While in the Legislature, he served as chair of the Assembly
Health Committee for four years, and chair of the Assembly Select
Committee on Health Access and Assembly Select Committee on
Domestic Violence.
1215 K Street, Suite 800
Sacramento, California 95814
Barbara Glaser represents the interests of CHA member hospitals
before lawmakers and their staff in the California Legislature.
Her main areas of advocacy include the state budget, hospital
finance and reimbursement, rural hospitals, clinics, prisons and
post-acute care. She testifies regularly on behalf of CHA at
legislative hearings on issue of importance to the hospital
industry.
Barbara has been a legislative advocate at CHA for 10 years.
As a member of the CHA executive management team, Dietmar
Grellmann is responsible for developing legislative and
regulatory policy regarding financial and legal matters. He works
closely with the California Legislature and regulatory agencies,
including the Department of Managed Health Care and Department of
Health Care Services.
Doug Hitchcock provides analysis, advice and reports on state
public policy issues, including pending state legislation, CHA
public policy development, and on ballot initiatives of concern
to hospitals.
Prior to joining CHA in 1984 he was employed by the State of
California for eight years, serving as Chief Counsel for the
Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development from 1982 to
1984.
Cheri Hummel is the Vice President of Disaster Preparedness at
CHA, and is the Executive Director for CHA’s Hospital
Preparedness Program.
Prior to joining CHA, she worked at the California Emergency
Medical Services Authority Disaster Medical Services Division and
the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. She has
a background in health care and has worked at acute care
hospitals and outpatient clinics.
Alyssa Keefe is responsible for policy development and analysis
of federal regulation impacting California hospitals and health
systems, and serves as a liaison between CHA and federal
agencies, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services.
Prior to joining CHA, Alyssa was managing director of the
Hospital Quality Alliance, a national public/private
collaboration committed to making meaningful, relevant and easily
understood information about hospital performance accessible to
the public, and to informing and encouraging efforts to improve
quality.
499 South Capitol Street SW, Suite 410
Washington, D.C. 20003
Sheree Kruckenberg monitors federal and state regulatory and
legislative activities impact general acute-care hospitals
serving individuals with behavioral health issues. She is also
responsible for advocacy efforts on behalf of hospital-based
outpatient clinics (HBOC) and women and children. Sheree staffs
CHA’s HBOC Committee and Center for Behavioral Health (CBH)
Advisory Board.
Prior to joining CHA, Sheree served 10 years as director of
developmental services with the California Association of Health
Facilities.
As a member of CHA’s Education and Publication Department, Amy
Larsen is responsible for publishing and marketing legal and
informational manuals for hospitals and health systems throughout
California. She is the advertising manager and lead for the
annual Membership Directory and assists with planning
various CHA events. She is also responsible for the publications
web page and online store.
Amy has more than 10 years of experience in various strategic and
tactical marketing positions.
Cathy Martin is responsible for leading the CHA Healthcare
Workforce Coalition, a broad, statewide coalition that identifies
and implements coordinated, strategic solutions to address the
long-term needs of allied health professionals in
California.
Cathy has worked in the nonprofit sector for nearly 20 years with
the last eight directly related to health care or public health.
Jennifer Newman brings more than 20 years of financial management
and accounting experience and expertise to CHA as well as to the
Hospital Council of Northern and Central California and Hospital
Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties. She directs all
internal financial matters of the associations, including
accounting practices and internal controls, budgeting, and
monitoring of financial performance.
Jennifer joined CHA in 1999. Prior to her promotion to Chief
Financial Officer, she served as accountant and controller.
Based in Washington, D.C., Anne O'Rourke manages CHA’s Federal
Relations Office, represents CHA members before Congress and the
White House, and serves as the liaison to other state and
national health organizations.
Before joining CHA in 1998, Anne spent 10 years as a senior
lobbyist for the American Hospital Association (AHA). Part of her
responsibilities included covering AHA's Region 9 on the West
Coast. In the 1980s, Anne was the health legislative assistant to
Rep.
499 So. Capitol Street, S.W., Suite 410
Washington, D.C. 20003
Julie Reppas is responsible for ensuring CHA and the Regional
Associations hire the best employees and maintain a positive
culture and work environment, enabling staff to deliver
outstanding member service and personally thrive. She has
responsibility for managing all human resource (HR) activities
and supporting the general operations of the association.
Julie joined CHA in 2002 and has specialized in HR for more than
16 years.
Lois Richardson has served as CHA’s legal resource for the past
19 years, primarily as legal counsel and most recently as vice
president of legal publications and education.
Roger Richter is responsible for energy, facility, environmental
and related disaster planning issues. He represents hospital
interests by serving as a liaison between member hospitals and
state regulatory agencies, including the Office of Statewide
Health Planning and Development, Hospital Building Safety Board,
California Buildings Standards Commission, State Fire Marshal,
Cal/OSHA, Cal EPA, Emergency Medical Services Authority,
Department of Public Health, California Energy Commission and
California Public Utilities Commission.
Michelle Rivas oversees the California Hospital Association
Political Action Committee. She has 20 years of experience
working in the areas of government and political affairs.
Most recently, she was manager, external affairs, and legislative
advocate for the California Dental Association, where she also
served as grassroots advocate from 2004 to 2007, and political
action coordinator from 1999 to 2004.
Nancy Robinson is executive assistant to CHA’s Executive Vice
President/Chief Operating Officer Lois Suder. She handles
activities relating to the CHA Board of Trustees and Executive
Committee, California Association of Hospitals and Health Systems
Board of Trustees, California Health Foundation & Trust Board
of Directors, and California Hospitals Committee on Issues Board
of Directors.
Terry Sherb is responsible for the overall management of
computing and information technology for the California
Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (CAHHS) and
CAHHS-affiliated organizations, including CHA.
Lois Suder has been with CHA since 1999. Her
responsibilities include operations, accounting, information
systems, education and publications, volunteer programs, CHA’s
website and other member communications, board of trustee
meetings, issue management and CHA’s charitable organization,
California Health Foundation and Trust (CHFT). She manages
CHA’s subsidiaries and related companies.
Peggy Broussard Wheeler serves as vice president of CHA’s Rural
Healthcare Center. She is responsible for developing, advocating
and executing public policies, legislation and regulations on
behalf of small and rural hospitals at the state and national
levels.
