Memorial Hospital of Union County's president and CEO has been selected to serve on board of trustees of the Ohio Hospital Association.

The hospital announced Nov. 2 that president Olas "Chip" Hubbs III has been elected as one of six new trustees-at-large to serve on the Ohio Hospital Association (OHA) board of trustees. Hubbs' term will begin in 2010 and last for three years.

"Memorial Hospital is proud of Chip's recent appointment," said Chad Hoffman, Memorial Hospital board of trustees chairman. "Chip brings great leadership, insight, and direction to our organization and we're happy to have him partner with other facilities throughout the state to help improve the future of Ohio's health care."

The OHA board of trustees sets policy and strategic direction for matters affecting hospitals throughout Ohio, according to Stephanie Lantz, public relations and development specialist for Memorial Hospital. The board includes representatives from large and small hospitals, teaching facilities, and healthcare systems and consists of four officers, the OHA president, four district representatives and up to 15 trustees-at-large. The board of trustees is responsible for all business of the association and has the authority to adopt policy for the association.

Hubbs has worked at Memorial Hospital since March 2004. Prior to arriving in Union County, he served for four years as CEO of Community Memorial Hospital in Defiance County, Ohio, according to Lantz. Hubbs is the president of the Union County Chamber of Commerce board of directors and is a past president of the Union County Family YMCA, in addition to participating in various other community programs, Lantz said.

Established in 1915, the OHA works with member hospitals to meet the health care needs of their communities and to create a vision for the future of Ohio's health care environment, according to it's Web site. It is "a membership-driven organization that provides proactive leadership to create an environment in which Ohio hospitals are successful in serving their communities," according to the OHA's mission statement. The OHA now represents more than 170 hospitals and 40 health systems throughout the state.

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