September 15, 2007
President/CEO Gene Peltola with his recent “CEO of the Year” award.
Peltola garners IHS top CEO award
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Indian Health Services awarded YKHC President/CEO Gene Peltola its prestigious “Chief Executive Officer of the Year” award.
The award was presented earlier this year by the National Council of Chief Executive Officers of Native health organizations.
The plaque Peltola received reads, “for dedication, devotion, innovation, selfless vision, and for being a true ambassador for Native Health.”
The national award recognizes Peltola’s 16 years as YKHC’s President/CEO. When he was hired in 1990, YKHC had 220 employees and no control over operations of the Hospital. Annual payroll was $6 million.
The Board of Directors gave him three charges: contract operation of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Regional Hospital, consolidate Bethel operations into one location near the hospital, and construct a subregional clinic in Aniak to serve as a model for similar future facilities.
Within 18 months, Peltola had positioned YKHC to assume operation of the Hospital. The Aniak Subregional Clinic opened in 1995. Construction began on the Community Health Services Building (CHSB) in Bethel in 1996, and opened its doors in 1999.
Today YKHC has 1700 employees, and an annual payroll in excess of $70 million.
Examples of his innovative approaches to addressing the difficulties inherent in delivering health care to one of America’s most isolated population groups abound. From the legendary acquisition for $1 of what is now the largest medevac firm in Alaska to the development of a company-owned subdivision to offer housing opportunities to employees, or his role in the organization of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, his accomplishments are the hallmarks of resilience and openness to change.
Four years ago, Peltola initiated a corporate make-over based on the Malcolm Baldridge model, called Napartet, “Our Road to Excellence.” This initiative aligns the company’s goals with standards of excellence in areas vital to successfully providing quality health care services to the people of the YK region.
Characteristically, at a recent employee gathering to reaffirm Napartet, he gave credit for this award to “you, the employees. It is really your award.”