WASHINGTON (Dec. 2, 2022) — On December 2 2022, the GW MHA program celebrated its 60-year anniversary with an evening gala and a daylong event.
The George Washington University MHA Alumni Association and the National Capital Healthcare Executives, in collaboration with the Milken Institute School of Public Health Department of Health Policy & Management, hosted a daytime event featuring the 31st Annual Gibbs Oration, the 15th Annual Coile Lecture, the 19th Annual Young Alumni Speaker as well as a special session on diversity, equity and inclusion.
The event, held at the Milken Institute SPH, brought together national health care leaders, GW alumni, students, faculty and stakeholders for lively conversations about the current state of health care and what the future may hold for the industry.
The Gibbs Oration and Coile Lecture were established to honor two great leaders of the GW MHA program, Frederick H. Gibbs and Russell C. Coile Jr.
Frederick H. Gibbs was the founder and the first chair of GW’s Department of Health Care Administration in 1958. He served as chair until 1967, and remained a member of the faculty until 1972. Professor Gibbs enlisted with the Army in 1925 as a Private and retired in 1957 as a Colonel in the Medical Service Corps, Army Medical Department. During World War II, he served as chief of the Surgeon General's Management Improvement Branch and as the second director of the Army Baylor Program in Hospital Administration. During his distinguished career as a soldier, teacher, researcher, administrator, and consultant he was also a member of numerous health care organizations and authored a wide variety of papers and articles. He was a pioneer of graduate education in health services administration in the United States.
Russell C. Coile Jr., MBA ’68, is recognized as a healthcare futurist and lauded for his expertise in anticipating trends and developments in the health care industry. For more than two decades, Coile advised physician groups, hospitals and health plans throughout the nation. In 2002, Mr. Coile was named one of the top 100 health leaders in America by Modern Healthcare Magazine. In addition to founding his own consulting practice, Mr. Coile served as president of the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development of the AHA and as a board member of the Center for Health Design and the Public Health Institute.
This year, the Frederick H. Gibbs Award for Excellence in Graduate Education was given to Jennifer Weiss Wilkerson. As Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Sheppard Pratt, she collaborates with health system leadership to develop strategic initiatives and long-term business solutions. Previously, she served as Vice President of Regional Planning for MedStar Health. She received her Master of Health Services Administration from GW and a Bachelor of Arts in Health & Society and Religion from the University of Rochester.
The day concluded with the MHA program’s 60th Anniversary Celebration, which was held at the Fairmont Hotel. Alumni, students, faculty, and stakeholders enjoyed an evening of remarks and an opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new contacts in the field.