By Lois Thomson, South Florida Hospital News, for ACHE of South Florida

“An environment conducive to learning and growing together.” As president of ACHE – American College of Healthcare Executives – that is how Brian Altschuler described his goals when taking over the presidency at the beginning of this year. And it’s an evolution of the same goals he had as president-elect in 2024. “As we move into ’25, my alignment of goals remains the same. I believe we keep evolving as an association and are providing key opportunities for healthcare leaders.”

Altschuler said he believes ACHE is the association that brings everyone together for the common good of healthcare in South Florida. “It creates a partnership of healthcare providers who come together to grow professionally, grow personally, and collaborate with each other; even though we’re competitors, it levels the environment to be able to network and share for the betterment of the community.”

In his everyday position as Vice President of Ancillary Operations at Boca Regional Hospital, Altschuler and his team have been working on a master facility plan that is scheduled to open in summer 2026. He said it is going to “revolutionize what we’re able to do for the community. We’re adding 20 new ORs, high-tech procedural areas, new critical care beds, new medical/surgical inpatient beds that will take the hospital to 100 percent private rooms, and new infrastructure that will allow the hospital to be on full generator power in all areas, which is very unusual, for between seven and nine days.”

He said the new facility will revolutionize not only the clinical abilities of the hospital to provide state-of-the-art care, but it will also be very team member and patient centric. “It will allow us to be able to perform excellent clinical care in a warm and caring environment for patients and visitors. There will be a retail pharmacy, and not only will the clinical facilities be great, but we’re also trying to create a hotel-like feel. There are going to be several food outlets, including a bistro, a little coffee spot, and additional retail. It’s set up really nicely.”

In looking ahead to 2025 for ACHE, Altschuler said that as incoming president, one of the things he is most grateful for is that previous leadership has continued to set the association up for success. “I’m very fortunate because the prior president (Haroula Norden) set me up for success, which gives me a good platform to continue to innovate. I must recognize the leaders of the past for helping me as incoming president to continue to evolve ACHE South Florida and drive it forward.

“It leaves me with a platform to continue to grow our offerings; for example, in January, we’re excited to have an incredible speaker at our kickoff event.” In a tease, not yet wanting to reveal the name of the personality, he said, “We continue to elevate our standard of speakers and presenters. For me, for an association to pull in a speaker of this caliber really shows what we’re doing.”

He reiterated that ACHE is about healthcare education and certification, growth, and coming together for the betterment of the community. “To me, that is paramount to my leadership. Members who join ACHE should look forward to a dynamic 2025.”

Altschuler has been a part of the association for seven years, and said he is both humbled and honored to be chosen to lead it with a great team of board members. “I think we owe it to the community to be the best healthcare leaders we can; people put their trust in us, and I’m grateful the association is putting their trust in me as their leader.”