Healthcare professionals from throughout the state attended the Oklahoma Hospital Association’s (OHA’s) 104th annual convention, Connect 23, Nov. 29-Dec. 1. In addition to the educational sessions and an exhibit hall, other convention highlights included the presentation of several awards to Oklahoma’s outstanding healthcare leaders.
Jim Gebhart, FACHE, community president of Mercy Oklahoma, received the OHA W. Cleveland Rodgers Distinguished Service Award, the OHA’s top award. This award is presented each year to an individual in the hospital or health care industry who has made a substantial contribution of service to the OHA, the profession of health care management and community service. (story continues below)
Gebhart has been Mercy Oklahoma community president since early 2023. His responsibilities include oversight of Mercy hospitals and clinics in Oklahoma. He continues to serve as president of Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City, a position he has held since 2009.
During his tenure, Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City has been recognized as an IBM Watson 100 Top Hospital and an Everest Award winner, a Leapfrog Top Hospital and received nearly a dozen Leapfrog A Safety grades. U.S. News and World Report has also recognized the metro hospital as a Best Maternity Hospital.
Gebhart played a key role during the pandemic in bringing Oklahoma City-area hospitals together for the purpose of strategizing approaches, developing consistent messaging, and communicating as one with the public. In addition, his efforts were instrumental in bringing Medicaid expansion to the ballot and to full passage.
He was a member of the OHA board from 2013-2015 and was elected again to the board in 2022 as Oklahoma City region chair. He has served on the OHA Council on Education and the OHA Council on Policy & Legislation. He recently completed service on the American Hospital Association’s Region 5 Policy Board.
Gebhart also has been chairman of the board of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust and is currently a member of the board of directors for the Greater Oklahoma City United Way, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, State Chamber of Oklahoma, and Regional Transit Authority Board. Gebhart is a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma City (XXIX) and Leadership Oklahoma (XXVIII).
Gebhart holds a master’s degree from the University of Dallas Graduate School of Management in healthcare administration. He is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.
