WittKieffer Recruits President and CEO for the American Hospital Association
September 4, 2026 – Oak Brook, IL-based WittKieffer has placed Steve Walsh as the new president and CEO of the American Hospital Association (AHA). Andrew Chastain, Paul Bohne, and Keshia Harris led the assignment. “Following a thoughtful national search, the board unanimously selected Steve Walsh to serve as the next president and CEO of the American Hospital Association,” said Marc L. Boom, chair of the AHA board of trustees and president and CEO of Houston Methodist. “Steve is a proven healthcare leader, innovator and accomplished advocate for healthcare improvement, who understands both the challenges facing hospitals and the opportunities ahead. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated an ability to bring people together, build consensus and advance meaningful solutions on behalf of patients, caregivers and communities.”
“Steve is the right leader at the right time for America’s hospitals and health systems,” Dr. Boom added. “As healthcare continues to evolve, we need a leader who can both champion our field and help shape the future. Steve brings the experience, vision and collaborative leadership necessary to guide the Association through this important next chapter. The board’s decision reflects our confidence that Steve is uniquely prepared to build upon the strong foundation established by outgoing CEO Rick Pollack while helping the association strengthen its role as a trusted voice, convener and advocate for health care providers across America.”
Mr. Walsh, who has served as president and CEO of the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association (MHA) since 2017, will assume leadership of the nation’s largest hospital and healthcare system membership organization, representing nearly 5,000 member hospitals, health systems, networks and other providers of care. He brings more than two decades of experience advancing American healthcare, with a focus on strengthening the healthcare workforce, reducing disparities in health outcomes and fostering a more connected continuum of care for patients.
Before MHA, Mr. Walsh served six terms in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, including as chair of the house committee on health care financing. In 2011, he wrote and oversaw passage of Chapter 224, the commonwealth’s landmark 2012 healthcare reform law, which incentivized alternative payment methodologies and investment in community health while encouraging patient empowerment and primary care.
“It is a profound honor to be selected to lead the American Hospital Association, and I am grateful for the trust the board has placed in me to carry on the legacy of service that Rick Pollack has created,” said Mr. Walsh. “The next era of American healthcare is bright for the patients and caregivers we serve, all of whom will benefit from our members’ unified focus around access, quality and innovation. To write the next chapter will require creative leadership, hard-earned trust and the willingness to bring unlikely partners to the same table. I am a true believer that hospitals and health systems must be the ones to define that future for the nation given their unique connection with patients and communities. Building bridges, building trust and building momentum will drive AHA’s successes in the years ahead.”
The American Hospital Association is a non-profit trade association that represents hospitals, health systems, and other healthcare organizations across the United States. Founded in 1898, the organization works to support its members through advocacy, policy development, education, and research related to healthcare delivery and hospital operations.
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WittKieffer assists hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers, medical schools, and physician groups; biotech, pharmaceutical, diagnostics and medical device companies; colleges and universities, and not-for-profit community service and cultural organizations with senior administrative recruiting assignments. With more than 100 search professionals nationwide, its consultants recruit CEOs, CFOs, COOs, CNOs, physician executives, and other leaders.
Over 20 Years of Leadership Experience
As president and chief executive officer of WittKieffer, Mr. Chastain is responsible for charting the firm’s strategic trajectory while ensuring excellence and exceptional service for the firm’s clients. He brings over 20 years of leadership experience to the firm and continues to play a key role in select, high-profile search assignments. His search assignments include identifying C-suite and executive leaders in healthcare, including children’s hospitals, integrated health systems, academic medical centers, research institutes, consulting firms, and other health related industries. Mr. Chastain has also conducted searches on behalf of colleges, universities, community associations, and cultural institutions.
Mr. Bohne, managing partner, has more than 25 years of experience working with integrated delivery systems and a variety of healthcare organizations on executive search assignments and leadership-related consultations. Since joining the firm in 1994, he has supported more than 150 CEO-level searches. Based in Boston, Mr. Bohne epitomizes the firm’s focus on quality and client service. Mr. Bohne is well known for his expertise in contemporary healthcare trends and the leadership competencies that are required of high performing organizations.
A consultant in the firm’s healthcare practice, Ms. Harris supports the identification of senior-level executives, including CEOs, COOs, CHROs, and CFOs, on behalf of integrated health systems, hospitals, physician groups, federally qualified health centers, and non-profit organizations including foundations and social service organizations. She is based in Atlanta.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
