Earlier this week, the American Hospital Association announced that Rick Pollack will be the national group's next president and CEO.
Mr. Pollack will succeed Richard J. Umbdenstock, who announced his retirement in November and will retire at the end of 2015.
Here are 10 things to know about Mr. Pollack.
1. Mr. Pollack's professional career began in 1977 as a legislative assistant to U.S. Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin, according to the AHA.
2. Later on, Mr. Pollack became a lobbyist with the American Nurses Association.
3. Mr. Pollack went on to join the AHA's Washington, D.C. office, where he has been a member of the association's advocacy team, initially serving as associate director for legislation, and then vice president for federal relations and deputy director of the Washington, D.C. office before becoming executive vice president, according to the AHA.
4. Mr. Pollack has been the AHA's executive vice president for advocacy and public policy since 1991, according to the AHA.
5. Mr. Pollack will become the AHA's president and CEO in September, making him the 11th person to hold the top post in the association's 117-year history.
6. Mr. Pollack is a Brooklyn, N.Y. native.
7. He received a bachelor's degree in political science and communications from the State University of New York's College at Cortland.
8. Mr. Pollack received a master's degree in public administration from the American University in Washington, D.C.
9. In a statement, AHA Chairman Jonathan B. Perlin, MD, PhD, who is president of clinical services and CMO of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA, said of Mr. Pollack, "Rick brings the right mix of skills to this role. His effective advocacy combined with his passion and commitment to the mission of hospitals and the men and women who work there will serve the association well. He will build on the many strengths of the past and ably lead the association into the future."
10. Just last month, Mr. Pollack commented on CMS' 2016 IPPS proposed rule, which, among other things, recommends acute-care hospitals that report quality data and that also are meaningful users of EHRs receive a 1.1 percent increase in Medicare operating rates. Commenting on the proposed rate increases, Mr. Pollack said, "These very modest increases will make it even more challenging for hospitals to deliver care patients and communities expect."
"Rick is an unusually gifted and talented leader and person," says Scott Becker, publisher of Becker's Healthcare.
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