SHSMD Advisory Board Member Nominations

SHSMD Advisory Board and Strategic Fellow Nominations

The 2027 Call for Nominations is open February 2 – March 6, 2026.

The SHSMD Nominating Committee is seeking nominations from SHSMD members for diverse and talented leaders who share SHSMD's mission. We welcome nominees from a wide array of health care settings and solution providers to help us meet the needs of our varied membership.

Please consider nominating a colleague or yourself to serve on the SHSMD Advisory Board, as President-Elect, or as a Strategic Fellow.

Advisory Board nominees should demonstrate strong commitment and dedication to the strategy professions as evidenced by previous and current SHSMD volunteer commitments, a strong leadership profile, and the ability to meet the commitments of a SHSMD Advisory Board member. They should also exhibit commitment to SHSMD’s Strategic Plan. Advisory Board members serve three-year terms. To view additional information on the role of the Advisory Board member and candidate qualifications, click here.

SHSMD is pleased to invite nominations for our new Strategic Fellow program. Fellow candidates should show a strong commitment to the Society, have proven leadership skills, and be prepared to actively participate immediately on the Advisory Board. Eligible candidates include SHSMD leaders interested in expanding their experience with governance and practical strategy development in non-profit organizations. You can find additional details about the Strategic Fellow role here. Each Strategic Fellow will serve for one year.

The Nominating Committee also seeks candidates for the 2027 SHSMD President-Elect from among the eligible members of the Advisory Board. Learn more about the role and responsibilities of the SHSMD President-elect and President.

In nominees for all three positions, SHSMD seeks to reflect the communities our members serve. Representation from each of the Society's primary disciplines - marketing, planning, business development, communications and public relations is desired.

Please nominate yourself or a colleague today and contact SHSMD Executive Director, Evan Williams at 312.422.3866 or ewilliams@aha.org with any questions. We look forward to hearing from you!

David Grandy, FACHE Napa, CA Chair of SHSMD Nominating Committee

2026 Timeline 

Roles and Responsibilities

Board Members

The SHSMD Advisory Board acts in an advisory capacity within the guidelines established by the American Hospital Association and is composed of SHSMD members who provide unique knowledge and skills, strategic perspective, and insight. The SHSMD Advisory Board advises the SHSMD Executive Committee on the profession, culture, and advocacy/policy issues of the membership. Advisory Board members act in good faith and with reasonable care and are loyal to SHSMD and the AHA as a whole, avoiding conflicts of interest.

Advisory Board candidates should demonstrate the following:

• A strong commitment and dedication to the strategy professions as evidenced by volunteer contributions such as those described in SHSMD's Leadership Development Pathway.
• Strong leadership profile, including visionary thinking, strategic perspective, influencing and negotiating, seasoned judgement, entrepreneurship and effective teaming/collaboration.
• Ability to meet time commitments, including:
  • Four meetings per year: tentatively, 2 virtual half-day meetings; 2, full or multi-day in-person meetings; and, one short meeting, in person, at Annual Conference.
  • Active participation in and/or leadership of a committee, task force, or Advisory Board work group. Typically involves a meeting every other month for an hour or so, but this varies based on the committee or task force, with some being more seasonal.
  • Attendance and active participation in the SHSMD Connections Annual Conference during each year of your term.

Advisory Board members typically exhibit at least five years of prior service to SHSMD, including:

• Service on multiple SHSMD committees/task forces.
• Service as chair/co-chair or significant contributor to SHSMD committee/task force.
• Proven grasp of the most significant issues facing members.

Selected candidates are slated by the Nominating Committee to serve a three-year term of office. Individuals are eligible to serve a second consecutive three-year term.

Advisory Board Member Key Duties

• Provide thought leadership from the field.
• Participate in the strategic planning process to propose programmatic, policy, and advocacy strategic goals that further the mission of SHSMD and AHA.
• Annually evaluate progress on the strategic plan.
• Oversee committees designed to act on strategic plan or programmatic needs. Serve as a member, leader or advisory board liaison as requested on committees or task forces or other groups.
• Provide recommendations to the AHA in formulating policy in representation of the profession. Collaborate with AHA on initiatives of shared interest.
• Serve as an advocate for all SHSMD members; represent the interests of health care strategy and related professional roles (planning, marketing, business development, communications and other related disciplines).
• Serve as an advocate for the Society when participating in other associations' educational programs and activities.
• Provide input into ongoing membership recruitment, retention, and engagement strategies.
• Provide input into development of programs and services.
• Provide input into the membership, work plans and performance of committees, task forces and other ad hoc advisory groups.
• Offer comments annually regarding the performance of the SHSMD Executive Director.

NEW! Advisory Board Strategic Fellow Program

Strategic Fellow candidates should demonstrate a strong commitment to the Society, have proven leadership skills, and be prepared to actively participate on the Advisory Board. Eligible candidates include SHSMD leaders interested in expanding their experience with governance and practical strategy development in non-profit organizations. Serving in one-year terms, Fellows are non-voting positions, providing those serving with a comprehensive understanding of SHSMD’s board operations, strategic planning, and the responsibilities of SHSMD Advisory Board leadership. The SHSMD Strategic Fellow’s voice, expertise, and experience will benefit the Board.

The Nominating Committee will select one Fellow annually for a one-year fellowship. Time commitments for Fellows are the same as for Advisory Board members.

Strategic Fellow Key Duties

• Provide insights from current experiences in the field, contributing to discussions and problem-solving.
• Actively participate in strategic planning sessions, offering input on programmatic, policy, and advocacy goals that align with SHSMD’s mission.
• Serve as an active member on committees or task forces as requested.
• Serve in board work groups to assist in driving volunteer and member engagement.
• Offer recommendations and collaborate on initiatives related to formulating organizational policies.
• Act as an advocate for all members, representing the interests of health care strategy and related professionals.
• Provide input into ongoing membership recruitment, retention, and engagement strategies, as well as the development of new programs and services.

President-Elect

The SHSMD President-Elect, one of five voting members of the SHSMD Executive Committee, provides leadership to the Society in carrying out the organization’s vision, mission, strategies and objectives.

Nominees for president-elect must be current members of the SHSMD Advisory Board who have served at least one year of a three-year term and who are employed by a hospital or health system. Two years of service as an Advisory Board member is preferred for candidates for President-Elect.

President-Elect Key Duties

• Perform the duties of the SHSMD President whenever the president is unable to do so.
• Fully engage in the work of the SHSMD Executive Committee and support its decisions with the SHSMD Advisory Board and the membership.
• Periodically review governance policies and make recommendations for amendments to the SHSMD Advisory Board and Executive Committee for their consideration.
• Facilitate leadership development within the organization.
• Participate in new board member orientation.

In evaluating nominees for SHSMD President-Elect, the SHSMD Nominating Committee will utilize criteria including:

• Demonstrated leadership characteristics such as:
  • Strategic perspective
  • Influencing and negotiating skills
  • Demonstrated judgment
  • Visionary and breakthrough thinking
  • Implementation skills
  • Communication skills
  • Consensus building skills
  • Facilitation skills
• Experience in health care, including strategic planning, business development, marketing, communications, public relations and physician relations.
• Contributions to the health care field and the strategy disciplines.
• Demonstrated leadership during tenure on SHSMD Advisory Board.
• Definitive contributions to the Society’s goals and objectives during SHSMD Advisory Board tenure.

President

The SHSMD President, one of five voting members of the SHSMD Executive Committee, provides leadership guidance to the SHSMD Advisory Board, committee and task force chairpersons, members and staff in carrying out the organization’s vision, mission, strategies and objectives.

President Key Duties

• Lead the SHSMD Advisory Board in setting and pivoting the strategic direction, evaluating progress on the strategic plan.
• Chair all advisory board meetings, SHSMD Executive Committee meetings, the Society’s annual meeting and any special meetings of the membership that may be called.
• Coordinate and serve as a channel of communication among officers, advisory board members, committee and task force chairpersons and other leadership groups within the association.
• With the SHSMD Executive Committee, help ensures all activities of the SHSMD Executive Committee and Advisory Board are in compliance with the Society Charter and conflict of interest guidelines.
• Serve as the chief elected spokesperson for the Society.
• Represent the Society at appropriate meetings and events sponsored by the Society, the American Hospital Association and other organizations.
• Ensure effective transition of officers at conclusion of presidential term.
• Ensure strategic planning and implementation during the term of office and during the SHSMD Executive Committee’s transition period.

Executive Committee

The SHSMD Executive Committee is composed of five voting members: three advisory board officers (President-Elect, President and Immediate Past President), the SHSMD Executive Director, and a member of AHA’s Executive Management Group.

Note: SHSMD reimburses board members and strategic fellows for travel expenses related to participation in board meetings. However, all roles are expected to attend SHSMD Connections at their own expense.