Chris B. Barber, president and chief executive officer of St. Bernards Healthcare, has been appointed to the Council of Regents, the legislative body of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).
The council serves as the link between ACHE and its affiliates by approving governance and membership regulations as well as by promoting ACHE programs, services and activities within their respective areas.
Barber, who holds the status of fellow in ACHE, took office at the Council of Regents meeting during ACHE’s 55th Congress on Healthcare Leadership last week in Chicago. As a regent, he represents ACHE’s membership in Arkansas.
He has served as president and chief executive officer of St. Bernards Healthcare since 2010 and was the administrator of St. Bernards Medical Center from 2003-2010. He has been on staff at St. Bernards since 1992.
Board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE fellow, Barber is the presiding president of Arkansas Health Executive Forum. He is a board member of the Arkansas Hospital Association, AHEC Advisory Board, Arkansas State University College of Nursing & Allied Health Advisory Board, Arkansas State University Chancellor’s Cabinet, serves as vice chairman of the VHA OK/AR Board of Directors and is a member of the University of Arkansas Executive Forum (Sam W. Walton College of Business), among various other community and educational committees.
The ACHE is an international professional society of more than 35,000 healthcare executives who lead hospitals, healthcare systems and other healthcare organizations. ACHE offers its prestigious FACHE® credential, signifying board certification in healthcare management.
The organization’s established network of more than 80 chapters provides access to networking, education and career development at the local level. In addition, ACHE is known for its magazine, Healthcare Executive, and its career development and public policy programs. Through such efforts, ACHE works toward its goal of being the premier professional society for healthcare executives, dedicated to improving healthcare delivery.
The Foundation of the American College of Healthcare Executives was established to further advance healthcare management excellence through education and research. It is known for its educational programs — including the annual Congress on Healthcare Leadership, which draws more than 4,500 participants — and groundbreaking research. Its publishing division, Health Administration Press, is one of the largest publishers of books and journals on health services management, including textbooks for college and university courses.