Richard J. Umbdenstock is president and chief executive officer of the American Hospital Association (AHA), and a past chair of the AHA Board of Trustees.  Prior to joining the AHA, Mr. Umbdenstock was executive vice president of Providence Health & Services in Spokane, WA. 
 
Mr. Umbdenstock’s career includes 11 years as an independent consultant for voluntary hospital governing boards in the U.S. and Canada.  On the AHA Board, Mr. Umbdenstock chaired the Operations Committee and the Task Force on Coverage & Access, was an ex-officio member of Regional Policy Board 9, and served on the Circle of Life Committee.  A Fellow of ACHE, he received a BA in Politics in 1972 from Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT, and a MS in Health Services Administration in 1974 from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.  In May 2003, he was awarded a Doctor of Laws honorary degree from Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA. 
 
Mr. Umbdenstock serves on the National Quality Forum Board of Directors and is a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100.