Foster Named Fellow of American College of Healthcare Executives

Wanda Foster, Vice President/Chief Nurse Executive at McDonough District Hospital, recently became a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), the nation’s leading professional society for healthcare leaders.

Fellow status represents achievement of the highest standard of professional development with approximately 7,500 healthcare executives holding the distinction. To obtain Fellow status, candidates must pass a comprehensive examination, meeting academic and experiential criteria, earning continuing education credits and demonstrating professional/community involvement, according to Thomas C. Dolan, PhD, FACHE, CAE, president and chief executive officer of ACHE. Fellows are also committed to ongoing professional development and must undergo recertification every three years.

Foster has been at MDH since 1980 and has served as vice president since 2004. She previously was director of outreach services for five years. Foster has 30 years of experience in the healthcare profession. Her nursing career includes staff and management experience in ICU, acute care, rehabilitation services, skilled nursing (transitional care), adult day health, obstetrics, food/nutrition, community health education, home health, and hospice.

She began her career in nursing in May 1982 after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from BradleyUniversity in Peoria. Foster earned her Master of Science in Community Health Education at Western Illinois University in 1997. She completed the Health Forum/American Hospital Association, “Creating Healthier Communities” Fellowship in 2001.

Foster has made professional presentations for a number of organizations including the Illinois Governor’s Conference on Aging & Human Services, and the Illinois Partnership for Cancer Prevention & Control. She is currently president-elect of the Macomb Noon Rotary Club.