Peers elect Cox CEO to MHA district presidency

by Ann Bucy

SBJ Contributing Writer

Larry Wallis has been the president and chief executive officer of Cox Health Systems for more than five years. In that role, he oversees "17 corporations that are all tied together and integrated in different ways," he said. "I also manage 7,000 employees; 500 of them are medical staff. I plan for the future of the organization, direct daily activities and develop ways and means to evaluate our performance. It's a classic managerial position."

Now, in addition to his duties with Cox Health Systems, Wallis has been elected to a one-year term as the president of the Missouri Hospital Association's Southwest District Council, which serves southwest Missouri.

"He was chosen by his peers for this position; by the other hospital CEOs in his district," said Gwen Tichelkamp, the MHA's director of public policy. "What's unusual about this election is that he also serves on our board of trustees. We've never had an MHA president also serve on our board."

Tichelkamp outlined Wallis' duties as Southwest District president.

"His job is to preside over the quarterly meetings of the council; to help guide the discussions with respect to the association's activities and policies," she said.

"He also gives the board of trustees direct input from the council. He's a liaison between the association and its members."

Tichelkamp said the MHA is a nonprofit group that represents more than 150 Missouri hospitals and provides representation and advocacy for its members.

"My role as the council president fits into the role of any health care leader," Wallis said. "Hopefully, from my years of experience in the field, the expectations of what I'm to do are pretty well understood."

He said he believes it is important that hospitals throughout the region work well with each other. "My role is to be the coordinator: to share the general problems and issues that need group discussion."

In that effort, he will build on the accomplishments of past presidents. "The leadership in the past has been strong," Wallis said.

"I will continue the role that's been in place before, and work with all the hospitals as effectively as it's been done in the past."

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