IAHCSMM Executive Director Betty Hanna to Retire

Betty Hanna, who has served in the executive director role for the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM) for 48 years, will retire on Dec. 31, 2012. 

For the past two and a half years, Hanna and the IAHCSMM executive board have been grooming IAHCSMMs Susan Adams to step in as the new executive director. That transition will officially take place on Jan. 1, 2013.

I became involved with IAHCSMM many years ago and have stayed with the organization because I believe strongly in the need to support those responsible for processing instruments and supplying medical devices and equipment to their healthcare customers," says Hanna. "Its a need that is just as important today as it was more than 50 years ago when this association got started. I have seen such positive changes take place in the profession and for IAHCSMM over the years, and Im confident that the association will continue to do wonderful things for its members and the profession. IAHCSMM has an outstanding, dedicated and passionate team, and our membership, which continues to grow each week, is simply outstanding. As I step down from my role as executive director, I know that this association is being left in the most capable of hands.

Hanna has been part of the association since its inception in 1958. In the early years, she maintained records and planned conferences. At that time, she also served as assistant editor of Hospital Management, a Chicago-based trade publication, and provided management and secretarial services for the National Association of Hospital Purchasing Managers and the American College of Legal Medicine. Hannas roles grew rapidly at the National Association of Hospital Central Service (which later became IAHCSMM), and by 1964 she was managing the association full-time as executive director. 

Betty is a person who can never be replaced," says IAHCSMM president Bruce Bird, CRCST. "She has dedicated decades to this association and, while she preferred to keep her face and name behind the scenes, she was anything but. She was always hands-on, the first to roll up her sleeves and contribute whenever and wherever needed. IAHCSMM would not be what it is today without Betty Hanna. Its because of her leadership, loyalty and love of this association and its many members that IAHCSMM will continue to thrive moving forward.