ACHE of South Florida (ACHE-SFL) is the local official chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and provides members with educational programs, networking and volunteer opportunities, career and advancement resources and the ability to connect with healthcare executives.
Learn MoreAs a member, you'll join more than 48,000 healthcare leaders from across the country and around the world who are dedicated to improving health. If you want to connect with local healthcare professionals, join ACHE and select ACHE of South Florida as your home chapter.
Learn MoreWe invite you to attend the many events we host throughout the year, including educational programs, networking events, webinars, seminars and much more.
The first quarter of 2023 has come and gone too quickly! Our chapter has had a busy few months as we plan for the year ahead. As this year’s President some of my goals include facilitating increased member engagement, encouraging greater student membership and encouraging those student members to continue with ACHE of South Florida after graduation. Furthermore, I want to work with the chapter to boost the number of members with Fellowship credentialing. My request to all of you is to give back to your chapter, by fostering collegial interaction and where appropriate offering mentorship to our newest members. Finding ways to give all interested members a “seat at the table” and encouraging greater involvement will grow and strengthen our organization.
On February 28th we had over 250 attendees at our Board Installation Dinner. Congratulations to the 2023 Board of Directors and a special thank you to Shane Strum, President & CEO, Broward Health, and K. Scott Wester, FACHE, President & CEO, Memorial Healthcare System for leading our fireside chat.
We recently held our first education event at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, and it was a terrific program. Panelists shared their knowledge on financing via private equity or alternative funding in healthcare. It was very relevant to today’s healthcare landscape. If you were not able to join us in person you have the opportunity to view the lecture on our website at Event Videos.
ACHE Congress was held in March’ and I would like to thank those members who attended and presented on behalf of our chapter. You represented us well!
ACHE of South Florida received the Chapter Innovation Grant under the leadership of our Immediate Past President, Oyinkansola “Bukky” Ogunrinde. This grant encourages a focus on growing the membership of C-suite leaders who work in non-hospital settings. Special thank-you to Haroula Norden, FACHE, President-Elect for spearheading this effort and ensuring we fulfilled all requirements for the Chapter Innovation Grant.
I am very honored and excited to have the opportunity to lead our 1,200 members through this year, a year of recovery. I encourage each of you to engage with our chapter and your fellow members throughout the year.
Please reach out to me or any of our Board of Directors at any time.
For the latest news, including upcoming events, member and sponsor spotlights and much more, please bookmark our chapter's website and follow us on LinkedIn!
Wishing you all the best!
Jenna Merlucci, FACHE
Chapter President
ACHE of South Florida
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Arianna Urquia knew from a very young age that she wanted a career in business, but she didn’t know healthcare was also going to be part of the equation. Currently Vice President/CFO of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Urquia provides executive oversight over all revenue cycle functions of the hospital, which include Patient Access, Health Information Management, Billing and Collections. She also supports the executive leadership team in strategic planning and profitability analysis, and manages budget performance.
Additionally, Urquia talked about the current challenges healthcare leaders face today – managing price compression together with unprecedented cost inflation, all while providing high-quality, best-in-class healthcare. Urquia said labor shortages and supply chain disruptions are just a few of the contributing factors to increased costs in the delivery of healthcare.
As to how Urquia got her start, she explained that she began as a patient access representative in the emergency department of her local hospital while in college pursuing a finance degree. “I needed a job that was flexible enough to accommodate school hours, and the emergency department being a 24/7 operation provided just that.” As she was finishing her degree, she began to explore opportunities within her field of study, she said. “During my search, an opportunity became available in the accounting department of that same hospital. I transitioned there, not thinking it would be a permanent move. I thought I was simply getting my foot in the door.”
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“Great leaders possess rare and invaluable qualities such as integrity, courage, empathy, compassion and an innate desire to do far more for the greater good than for self. They are visionaries who inspire and empower and are inclusive and collaborative in all things.”
“ACHE has been more than a benefit to my career, it has been the leading driver and foundation to my career and network.”
“The Fellowship (FACHE) designation is important because it adds a level of credibility to your resume. When interviewing for this position, it was a very important credential for the Memorial Healthcare System—it is considered the gold standard for leaders.”
“I became a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) in 2015, because as I continued to take on more leadership roles, I wanted more professional growth and development opportunities. ACHE was a very well-respected organization, and several mentors of mine were Fellows, so it was something to which I aspired.”
“ACHE of South Florida has felt like family to me since I joined several years ago. It’s a privilege to be part of an organization of like-minded leaders who truly care about serving our community and making a positive impact on our healthcare delivery. ACHE has provided me with a diverse network full of knowledge and resources to maximize my skill set and contributions throughout my career.”
“ACHE of South Florida has helped me advance in my professional journey by providing the opportunity to learn alongside my colleagues in the healthcare industry, as well as expand my professional network. Lifelong learning is an essential element of continued development and advancement in this industry, and ACHE of South Florida’s educational programs have truly supported my growth in that regard.”
“ACHE has been a great partner throughout my professional journey. Early in my career, I sought the FACHE credential as a way to enhance my knowledge of healthcare management. I maintain my designation in order to stay current with all the new developments in our industry. Being part of the ACHE family is very rewarding as we nurture long lasting relationships. I usually call other fellows for advice while pursuing new endeavors, and I love connecting members with similar goals. As leaders, we should always mentor colleagues as well as young professionals and ACHE is the perfect platform to do that. If you are passionate about healthcare and want to make an impact in your communities, the FACHE credential is a must have, it will give you the skills and network to help you succeed.”