Board Composition and Recruitment

Boards are only as effective as the individuals serving on them. While there is no magic formula that is guaranteed to produce the perfect mix of board members, the articles in this section suggest considerations that ought to be taken into account when recruiting new board members.   

Diversity and Competence: Recruiting for Both

Deliberately ensuring boards are diverse in composition is a relatively new issue for the healthcare industry. This Great Boards article describes the challenges inherent in changing the composition of the board to better reflect the community it serves. Tips for diversifying a homogeneous board are also presented.

(Sharon O'Malley, Great Boards, May 2002) 

Physicians In Governance: The Board’s New Challenge

In an effort to build positive physician relations, many boards place physicians on the hospital or system board to help address tensions and find common ground. Yet having physicians serve on hospital boards can bring a unique set of challenges. This Trustee Workbook offers tips for creating effective physician participation in hospital governance.

AHA Members-Only Resource*

(James E. Orlikoff and Mary K. Totten, Center for Healthcare Governance, July/August 2005)

*Contact the CEO of your hospital regarding access to American Hospital Association (AHA) members-only materials.