The Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) presented Providence Community Ministry Board Chair Mary Selecky with the Joe Hopkins Memorial Award during the association’s Annual Meeting eSeries event Dec. 2. Selecky had previously served as the Washington state secretary of health from 1998-2013, making her among the longest to serve in the position.
“Mary has been an institution in the Washington state health care community for decades. This award is the association’s highest honor, and we are presenting it to Mary to commemorate her years of service that have improved the lives of so many,” WSHA President and CEO Cassie Sauer said. “Though she has served the entire state during her career, she has a keen understanding of rural health care and remains a tireless advocate for equitable, quality health care for all.”
“I can’t think of a more deserving recipient than Mary to receive this award,” said Elaine Couture, Providence Executive Vice President & Regional Chief Executive of Washington & Montana Region. “Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to ensuring residents have access to quality health care. She continues this work now as a volunteer leader, even after her retirement from public service. Washington is lucky to have such a driven and talented health care leader.”
In addition to her work with the Providence Community Ministry, Selecky served as administrator for the Northeast Tri-County Health District for 20 years. She was also the first non-physician health officer elected to serve as the president of the Washington State Association of Local Public Health Officials. She has been a member of the Providence Health Care Community Ministry Board of Directors since 2014. Selecky also serves as chair for the Empire Health Foundation, Public Health Accreditation Committee and United Health Foundation Scientific Advisory Committee.
About Providence Health Care
Providence Health Care is the eastern Washington service area of Providence Health & Services, a not-for-profit Catholic health care ministry committed to providing for the needs of the communities it serves – especially for those who are poor and vulnerable. In eastern Washington, the Providence Health Care network of services includes Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital and Providence Holy Family Hospital – all nationally recognized for quality care, as well as two critical access hospitals in Colville and Chewelah. It also includes a full continuum of services – Providence Medical Park in Spokane Valley (a comprehensive multi-specialty center), three urgent care centers, home health, assisted living, adult day health and skilled nursing care. Providence Medical Group of eastern Washington includes 850 physicians and advanced practitioners. Its medical staff includes pediatric and adult primary care providers, surgical subspecialists and medical specialists. For more information, visit www.washington.providence.org.
