SHSMD Announces Leadership Excellence Awardee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 CONTACT:  Diane Weber, dweber@aha.org

Chicago (September 12, 2023) – The Society for Health Care Strategy & Market Development (SHSMD), a professional membership group for health care marketers, communicators, strategic planners and business developers of the American Hospital Association (AHA), has named Christine Gallery, senior vice president, planning and chief strategy officer at Emerson Health, the recipient of its 2023 Leadership Excellence Award. This award honors strategic leaders in the health care field who are exemplars of the strategy professions demonstrating a career of stellar achievement and who excel in innovation, enhancement of the strategy profession and leadership abilities.

Christine has led the development of new programs, partnerships and services that enhance patient care and expand the range of services at Concord, Mass.-based Emerson Health. She has developed new care sites, expanded primary and specialized care, established strong relationships with academic medical centers, and recruited hundreds of physicians. Christine’s commitment to the strategy profession is illuminated by her service on the SHSMD board, her SHSMD board presidency, and her participation on committees. She serves as faculty for SHSMD’s health care strategic planning certificate course, and co-authored the SHSMD e-book "A Practical Guide to Healthcare Strategic Planning." Christine is a consensus builder who thinks critically about complex situations and offers creative solutions. She is a strong advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, and a passionate leader committed to making a difference in the lives of her colleagues, patients and the community.

Christine Schuster, RN, MBA, president and CEO of Emerson Health and board chair, Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association, shared, “Christine demonstrates excellence and innovation by adapting and leading in a time of rapid change for the health care field, providing value to her colleagues, patients, and partners.”

Ruth Colby, president and CEO of Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, Ill., and president of the 2007 SHSMD Board, said, “As a past board member of SHSMD, I was fortunate to see firsthand Christine’s passion for making health care better, her vibrant strategic mind and ability to collaborate.”

About the Organization
The Society for Health Care Strategy & Market Development (SHSMD), a professional membership group of the AHA, is the largest and most prominent voice for health care strategists. SHSMD serves strategists across diverse disciplines, providing essential knowledge, leading-edge tools and invaluable connections. SHSMD empowers members to overcome obstacles, foresee the future and drive change, towards the vision of a world with healthier people and communities achieved through bold, actionable and inclusive strategies.