David McEwen, Vice President of Operations

 Throughout his career as a healthcare executive, Dave McEwen has become accustomed to the unique healthcare environments of both large and small communities. He has served as a healthcare planning executive in Detroit, a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at two rural hospitals, and now as Port Huron Hospital's Vice President of Operations since April, 2008. The change in roles puts Dave in a position to remain involved in traditional hospital services yet contribute to the hospital's Service Excellence initiatives and influence the hospital's relationship with its community.

"It's reassuring to see that Port Huron Hospital employees still consider Port Huron Hospital as a community hospital. That perspective, to me, signals a clear understanding of our obligation and accountability in serving our community. Many people who work here have been here for a long time. For them, the relationships with those we serve are especially close and this helps to anchor our culture of service and compassion." He also notes that "All the more impressive, then, is that this sense of community service resides within a hospital that has received numerous national recognitions."

"Coming from a rural community, I am very comfortable with this level of accountability. In fact, it keeps all of us in touch with our community's expectations." "Part of that obligation," explains Dave, "is to balance the community's expectations with the realistic challenges of the healthcare environment."

The hospital's board, medical staff and hospital leadership provide for the hospital's overall strategic direction. However, the community's input - the voice of the customer – is actively incorporated into the hospital's services. "Residents served by our Community Health Centers, Hospital Foundation members and members of the Women's Community Advisory Board provide us with a very real connection to how we're serving the community and how we can best tailor our services to meet their expectations."

In addition to some pleasant surprises about the community's expressions of confidence in Port Huron Hospital, Dave notes that the hospital's management style supports that community-service perspective. He observes a relaxed attitude toward formal titles and roles and greater emphasis given to exceeding patients' expectations. "This organization has a long history of setting and achieving impressive goals for itself. I'm glad to be a part of the progress."

About Dave McEwen 

Education

• Master of Hospital Administration, Loma Linda University
• Bachelor of Science in Management, Central Michigan University
• Certificate of Study – International Studies, University of Cambridge; Cambridge, England

Experience

• CEO, Marlette Regional Hospital
• CEO, Yale Community Hospital
• Corporate Planning Analyst, William Beaumont Hospital

Organizations, Memberships, Certifications

• Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives
• 1991 ACHE Michigan Regents’ Young Executive of the Year
• St. Clair County Regional Education Service Agency Health Careers Academy, Trustee
• Port Huron Museum
• Michigan Health and Hospital Association, Past trustee
• Hospital Council of East Central Michigan, past trustee and chairman
• Marlette Community Art Center, past trustee

Residence

• Marlette