INDIANAPOLIS – Doug Leonard, who has led the Indiana Hospital Association (IHA) since 2007, plans to retire as president of the association in June 2017.

“Doug’s leadership at IHA has helped improve the quality of health care for millions of people across Indiana,” said Bryan Mills, IHA Board chairman and president/CEO of Community Health Network, Indianapolis. “He has enhanced IHA’s role as the leading voice for Hoosier hospitals and their patients.” 

Along with improving patient care, Leonard guided IHA through monumental transformations in the health care industry including the implementations of the Affordable Care Act and the Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0. 

Leonard strengthened IHA’s Indiana Patient Safety Center and launched several patient safety campaigns during his tenure including the Partnership for Patients initiative which helped prevent harm to thousands of patients and saved millions in health care costs. 

Under Leonard’s leadership, IHA worked to better educate Hoosiers on their health care choices, creating MyCareInsight.org, an interactive website that provides consumers with quality and charge data for Indiana hospitals. 

“It has been an honor to serve as IHA’s president and witness the astounding power of health care professionals working together to ensure a healthier Indiana,” said Leonard. 

Before Leonard became president of IHA, he spent 30 years in administration at Columbus Regional Hospital (CRH), the last 10 of which as CEO. During his tenure as CEO, the hospital became the first Magnet Hospital for Nursing in Indiana and was awarded the AHA Quest for Quality Prize. He is a two-time recipient of the Sagamore of the Wabash and also received the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award from the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health for his career-long dedication to the health care sector. 

IHA’s board of directors has formed a committee to move forward with the planned succession of its president.​