David A. Olson, FACHE, is senior vice president of external relations and chief strategy officer at Froedtert Health in Milwaukee.

He also serves as Immediate Past Chairman of the American College of Healthcare Executives, an international professional society of more than 48,000 healthcare executives who lead hospitals, healthcare systems and other healthcare organizations. With comprehensive programs in credentialing, education, career counseling, publications and research, ACHE works toward its goal of being the preeminent professional society for leaders dedicated to improving health.

Board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow, Mr. Olson served as the ACHE Regent for Wisconsin from 2004 to 2007, and he was on the Wisconsin Chapter of ACHE board of directors from 2004 to 2009 and in 2011. He served on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Healthcare Management, the official journal of ACHE, from 2007 to 2010 and has also served on numerous ACHE committees.

Mr. Olson has been with Froedtert Health since 2011; he served as interim president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Hospital from 2011 to 2012. From 2009 to 2011 he was president of Ozaukee Hospital and executive vice president at Columbia St. Mary’s in Milwaukee. From 1998 to 2009, he served at Bay Area Medical Center, Marinette, Wis., as president and CEO from 1999 to 2009 and as COO from 1998 to 1999. Prior to that he held a number of positions at Ministry Health Care in Milwaukee, serving as president and CEO at Victory Medical Center in Stanley, Wis., from 1994 to 1995; vice president of administrative services at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield, Wis., from 1994 to 1998; and president of The Foundation of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield, Wis., from 1994 to 1998.

Prior to that, he held a number of positions at St. Luke’s Methodist Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, serving as vice president of rehabilitation and support services from 1989 to 1993, associate vice president of rehabilitation and support services from 1988 to 1989, administrative director of rehabilitation services from 1987 to 1988, and administrative fellow from 1986 to 1987.

In addition to his service to ACHE, Mr. Olson has served on the Wisconsin Hospital Association board of directors from 2003 to 2013, and in 2010 he served as the organization’s chair. He has served on the University of Iowa Health Management and Policy Alumni Board of Directors from 2006 to present and was board president from 2010 to 2012. In 2001, Mr. Olson was awarded ACHE’s Robert S. Hudgens Memorial Award for Young Healthcare Executive of the Year.

Mr. Olson received a master's degree in health administration and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Iowa, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.