JOE IMPICCICHE
2024-2025 chairperson
CHA Board of Trustees CEO, Ascension St. Louis
As my year as chairperson of the CHA Board of Trustees comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on the shared progress our respective Catholic health ministries have made and the urgent work that still lies ahead. Serving during this period has been an honor, as Catholic health care navigates significant challenges while staying true to its original mission.
In a year marked by workforce shortages, inflationary pressures, changing federal policy and ongoing public health challenges, I have witnessed leaders and organizations across Catholic health care rise to the occasion.
As the headwinds of this industry continue to change, we must remain focused on building a health care experience centered around our patients and keep compassion, dignity and access at the heart of all we do.
Over the past year, the association has helped advance a national conversation around what it means to care for the whole person. Through leadership formation and community investment strategies, CHA continues to provide a values-based framework that informs both national policy and local care delivery.
The association's advocacy has helped ensure Catholic health providers can continue to serve communities where resources are often scarce but the needs are great. And their consistent, credible moral voice has reinforced the importance of making certain that all people have access to care, regardless of background or income.
As I reflect on the year, what stands out most is the unity of purpose across Catholic health care. Despite differences in size, geography and structure, our ministries share a deep commitment to human dignity and the healing ministry of Jesus. With this shared foundation, we can adapt to changes in health care and remain true to our Catholic beliefs, as well as pursue innovation while staying grounded in our values.
I have also seen a renewed commitment to meeting people with compassion and purpose. Ministries are deepening their presence in communities, building stronger connections with those they serve, and finding new ways to support patients throughout their health journeys. Whether through expanded outreach, integrated services, or a greater focus on the whole person, this work reflects the heart of our healing ministry.
It embodies CHA's vision: "We will empower bold change to elevate human flourishing." It reminds us that innovation in Catholic health care is not simply a strategic necessity — it is a moral responsibility, grounded in our belief in the dignity of every person.
The coming years will require that same kind of clarity and courage. Catholic health care stands at a crossroads. The decisions we make today — about how we support our workforce, how we integrate care across settings, how we respond to need and how we measure success — will shape the future of our ministries and the health of the people we serve.
This future must include new models of care that extend beyond the hospital and into the community. It must include meaningful engagement with patients, families and caregivers. Finally, it must include stronger partnerships with local organizations to address the social, environmental and economic conditions that influence the health and well-being of communities.
I remain hopeful not because the work ahead is easy, but because I have seen what is possible when mission-driven people come together. I have seen creativity, resilience and courage in every corner of Catholic health care. I have seen how faith, when paired with action, becomes a powerful force for healing and progress.
As my term concludes, I leave this role with deep respect for all who serve in Catholic health care — and a renewed conviction that our mission is as vital as ever. In the face of adversity, our tradition calls us not to retreat, but to lead. Not to preserve the status quo, but to reimagine a future where care is more compassionate, more connected and more human.
Catholic health care has never been about institutions. It has always been about people — about meeting them in their time of need and walking with them toward healing. In doing so, we fulfill the call to empower bold change and elevate human flourishing — that is a vision worth protecting, and a future worth building.