MISSOURI HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION NAMES WENTE CHAIRMAN-ELECT

James W. Wente, administrator of Southeast Missouri Hospital, has been elected chairman-elect of the Missouri Hospital Association (MHA).

As chairman-elect, Wente will join the executive team that travels to Washington twice a year to discuss pertinent health care and legislative issues with Missouri's congressional delegation.

Wente will serve as MHA chairman in 1998, succeeding Ross P. Marine of Truman Medical Center East in Kansas City.

The election took place during the MHA's 74th annual Convention and Trade Show, held recently at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach.

"It's truly an honor for me and Southeast Missouri Hospital to be handed this responsibility at such a challenging time in health care," said Wente. "I look forward to working with Missouri's many highly qualified health care executives in addressing health-care issues, both on the state and national level."

Only two other Southeast Hospital administrators have served MHA in its top leadership position. The late T.J. McGinty served as MHA chairman in 1937 and the late Herbert S. Wright served as chairman in 1954. The late Dr. B.A. Wilkes also served as MHA chairman in 1926, prior to becoming administrator at Southeast in 1932.

Wente has served as a member of the MHA Board of Trustees since 1994 and served as board secretary and member of the executive committee during 1995 and 1996. He previously served as president of the Southeast District Council. He was the MHA representative to the Medical Practice Research Center Ad Hoc Committee, and has also served on MHA's Management Services Corporation Board of Directors.

In addition to his work with MHA, Wente is actively involved in the Cape Girardeau community. He is chairman-elect of the Board of Directors for the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Investment Advisory Committee for the City of Cape Girardeau. He is also a member of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce.

His professional distinctions include Diplomate status in the American College of Healthcare Executives and an appointee to its Missouri Regional Advisory Council. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is an advanced member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

The Missouri Hospital Association is a not-for-profit membership association headquartered in Jefferson. MHA represents more than 150 Missouri hospitals.