Rhode Island Hospital Association names new leader

CRANSTON – The Hospital Association of Rhode Island has named Michael Souza acting president following the retirement of longtime leader Edward J. Quinlan.
Souza, formerly a senior vice president at the association, took over day to day operations at the trade and lobbying organization on April 1. Quinlan’s retirement becomes official on May 1.
“Ed Quinlan has served our association with distinction for nearly two decades,” said Dennis D. Keefe, chair of the HARI Board of Trustees and president and CEO of the Care New England Health System.
Keefe said Souza’s “background and skills in hospital finance and reimbursement have strengthened the association and will assist him in leading HARI during this tumultuous time of change.”
Quinlan’s retirement caps a career that saw him hold positions in a variety of fields. A former vice president of the NHL’s Washington Capitals, he also served as press secretary for U.S. Senator John Chafee and oversaw public relations for Gilbane Building Company. He joined HARI in 1995 after serving in an number of other roles in healthcare communications.
Souza has been with HARI since 2009 and previously held positions at Signature Healthcare in Massachusetts and at Landmark Medical Center.
Among its activities, HARI represents the state’s hospitals before lawmakers and sponsors research on the hospital industry, such as a report released last year that showed hospitals in the Ocean State account for $6.7 billion in economic activity and support more than 43,000 jobs.

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