Leadership GHA

Leadership GHA is a six-month intensive, hospital leadership development program. Since 2003, it has helped to identify, grow, and inspire new leaders in health care throughout the state of Georgia. The program includes professional workshops, conferences, panel discussions and field trips to a variety of hospitals and health systems to provide education on the key issues that make up Georgia's health care system. Participants will expand their professional networks yet remain in a position to add value to their organizations through personal development. The nomination deadline is March 31.

Eligibility

GHA-member CEOs and their nominated hospital employees are eligible and encouraged to participate. Class participants usually include CEOs, vice presidents, department directors, government relations directors and managers. Classes are a mix of senior and mid-level professionals from hospitals of all sizes located in all areas of the state.

Nominations

Class members must be nominated by GHA-member hospital CEOs and CEOs are encouraged to self-nominate. The nomination deadline is March 31.

Tuition

A one-time tuition fee of $2,950 will be billed to the nominating CEO’s attention upon acceptance of the nominee on or around May 15. Tuition covers program related expenses such as speakers, meals, A/V expenses, materials, group-related (bus) transportation during site visits, etc. Tuition does not cover hotel lodging or individual transportation (mileage) to and from the programs.

Scholarship Opportunity: The Georgia Hospital Association Research and Education Foundation (“GHAREF”) administers the Earl and Mary Rogers Scholarship Fund to provide financial assistance to hospital government relations professionals seeking advanced leadership skills development. Each year, one Rogers Scholarship will be awarded to an eligible Leadership GHA applicant to cover the full cost of tuition for the program. If you would like to submit your nominee for consideration for the scholarship, please provide a short statement on the nomination form describing the nominees interest in furthering their hospital government relations leadership skills, why the scholarship is needed and deserving, including financial need, if applicable, and other unique factors for consideration. The scholarship recipient will be notified at the time the full 2026 Leadership GHA class is notified of acceptance.

Annual Schedule

The class will meet in person five times (July, August, September, October, and January). Sessions will generally run from Wednesday afternoon through Friday morning during the third week of the month, so attendees should plan for three full days away to allow for travel.

  • January - Nominations officially open upon the GHA president's announcement at the Trustee Conference.
  • March 31 - Nominations closed.
  • April 15 - Class members are notified of acceptance and emailed acceptance forms to be returned to GHA.
  • May 15 - Class member acceptance forms are due back to GHA. Upon receipt, GHA invoices for the tuition.
  • June 30 - Tuition is due. Class receives details on Program #1 in July.
  • July - Session #1
  • August - Session #2 in conjunction with the GHA Center for Rural Health Meeting. Note this session will begin on Tuesday afternoon.
  • September - Program #3
  • October- Program #4
  • January - Program #5 - Final session and graduation in conjunction with the GHA Annual Trustee Conference, Lake Oconee.

(Dates and locations subject to change.)

Previous Leadership GHA Graduates

Leadership GHA has a long history of helping to train and develop the future leaders of health care. Many C-suite staff in our hospitals have completed the program. See past graduates.

Previous Host Hospitals

We would not be able to offer the quality health care leadership training we do without the participation of many of our member hospitals, who graciously host visits and tours for our Leadership GHA classes. Thank you to these hospitals for their involvement.