Two SSM Health leaders earn 2024 honors from Catholic Health Association

Two SSM Health leaders have been honored by the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA) in its 2024 awards.

Ron Hamel, Ph.D., retired SSM Health Ministries president and board member, is the 2024 recipient of CHA’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

In addition, CHA has announced Megan Timm as a recipient of the 2024 Class of Tomorrow’s Leaders. Timm, director of community health for SSM Health’s Wisconsin region, joins 11 other emerging leaders from across the country in receiving this honor.

The honorees will be recognized during Assembly 2024, CHA’s annual conference in June.

“I can think of few people more deserving of this honor than Ron,” said Laura S. Kaiser, FACHE, President and CEO of SSM Health. “His passion and dedication to Catholic healthcare are inspiring. Ron has a remarkable way of providing clarity around complex issues through the lens of Catholic moral teaching and ethics. As president of SSM Health Ministries, he provided wise counsel and invaluable insight that helped further our Mission for the people we are privileged to serve. I am grateful to have worked alongside Ron in ministry – and equally blessed to count him as a friend.”

Dr. Hamel was president/chair of SSM Health Ministries, the sponsor of SSM Health based in St. Louis, and served on the Sponsor Board from 2014 to 2022. He also was a member of the SSM Health board from 2014 till December 2021. He is also the retired senior ethicist at CHA.

CHA’s Tomorrow’s Leaders Program was created in 2011 to identify and recognize promising young leaders who will provide strong leadership and dedication to Catholic health care.

Timm’s selection as one of Tomorrow’s Leaders is lauded by Rosie Perez, SSM Health’s Wisconsin Regional VP of Mission Integration.

“Megan consistently exceeds goals and expectations with a smile and heart filled with Love while working in an increasingly challenging healthcare environment and communities with the most need,” she said. “I’m always in awe of her ability to connect with clinicians and ministry leaders about their work improving community health, especially regarding social determinants of health, with much passion. Not many people have that kind of talent. We are blessed.”

The annual Catholic Health Assembly is the largest gathering of Catholic health care leaders in the United States. This two-and-a-half-day event is hosted in an interactive platform where attendees engage with speakers, connect with colleagues, and create new friendships. Assembly 2024 will take place in San Diego June 9–11. Learn more at the Catholic Health Association of the United States.