C. DUANE DAUNER, FACHE, RECEIVES
ACHE'S GOLD MEDAL AWARD

CHICAGO, January 2, 2002—C. Duane Dauner, FACHE, president of the California Healthcare Association/California Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, Sacramento, has been named the recipient of one of two American College of Healthcare Executives 2002 Gold Medal Awards. Dauner will receive the award on March 18, 2002, at the Arthur C. Bachmeyer Memorial Address and Luncheon during ACHE's 45th Congress on Healthcare Management in Chicago.

The Gold Medal Award is ACHE's highest honor bestowed on outstanding leaders who, through a career of service, have made significant contributions to the healthcare profession and field. The purpose of this award is to identify ACHE Fellows who best exemplify leadership at the organizational, local, state/provincial, and national levels. The Gold Medal Award recognizes those individuals who go beyond the confines of their own organization to continually contribute to the improvement of healthcare services and community health.

The California Healthcare Association is one of the largest state healthcare associations, providing nearly 500 hospitals, health systems, and other healthcare providers with representation and advocacy. Dauner has served as CHA's president since 1996, and president of the California Association of Hospitals and Health Systems since 1985. He has more than 30 years of leadership experience with state hospital associations, including positions as vice president of the Kansas Hospital Association and president and chief executive officer of the Missouri Hospital Association.

Board certified in healthcare management and an ACHE Fellow, Dauner is chair of Taxpayers Against Higher Health Costs, a broad-based coalition in California that manages initiative campaigns for member organizations. He serves as the immediate past-chair of Californians Allied for Patient Protection and is a member of the board of California Hospitals Affiliated Insurance Services, Inc. In addition, Dauner has served as a trustee of the American Hospital Association and its Health Research and Educational Trust, and has also served on several ACHE committees, including the Leadership Advisory Committee, Health Associations Committee, and Regent's Advisory Council for California - Gold Country. He is the author of numerous articles on healthcare issues and also authored a book on healthcare reform, The Health Care Solution.

Dauner received his master of arts and bachelor of arts degrees from Wichita (Kan.) State University.

The second 2002 Gold Medal Award recipient is Douglas D. Hawthorne, FACHE, president and chief executive officer of Texas Health Resources in Irving.

CONTACT: Deborah A. Labb, (312) 424-9426

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