OHA President and CEO Announces Retirement, Receives National Recognition for Service
After nearly 15 years serving as president and CEO of the Ohio Hospital Association, Mike Abrams has announced his plans to retire at the end of this year.
Under Abrams’ leadership, OHA has served as a trusted voice for its members, fostering collaboration, policy engagement and professional development to ensure hospitals can deliver high-quality, accessible and affordable care. OHA has championed Abrams’ deep commitment to both economic sustainability and patient safety, making a lasting impact on the field and the communities it serves.
“Serving our member hospitals and health systems has been an honor, especially as we’ve navigated extraordinary changes in health care,” Abrams said. “I believe now is the right time to pass the torch, and I look forward to spending more time with my family and embracing the next chapter ahead.”
The American Hospital Association announced Abrams as a recipient of their organization’s 2026 Board of Trustees Award. The Board of Trustees Award is presented to individuals or groups who have made substantial and noteworthy contributions to the work of the AHA on behalf of the hospital field.
“As the president and CEO of the Ohio Hospital Association, Mike has not only been a champion for Ohio hospitals, but has also been a great partner, terrific colleague and good friend,” said AHA president and CEO Rick Pollack. “Mike has truly dedicated his career to strengthening health systems and advancing leadership across the field. This is clear by the deep respect he has enjoyed from his counterparts across the country and colleagues on the AHA Board of Trustees.”
In recent years Abrams served a three-year term on the American Hospital Association Board of Trustees and additionally served on the AHA Board’s Task Force on Workforce, the AHA Institute for Diversity and Health Equity Leadership Council and board of the AHA Health Forum.
In 2016, Abrams was named both a Champion of Health Care by Columbus Business First and a member of the SMART 50 group by Smart Business Magazine for his leadership in health care education and advocacy.
Before joining OHA, Abrams previously served as executive vice president and CEO of the Iowa Medical Society from 1996 to 2012. Prior to IMS he led government relations for the Indiana State Medical Association for nine years.
He is a graduate of Indiana University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration. His additional leadership experience includes service on the boards of the Midwest Medical Insurance Company and the Iowa Healthcare Collaborative, a joint effort between the Iowa Medical Society and the Iowa Hospital Association to promote a health care culture of continuous improvement in quality, patient safety and value in the state.
Established in 1915, OHA is a membership-driven organization representing 251 hospitals and 17 health systems throughout Ohio. Ohio hospitals employ 375,000 Ohioans and contribute $102.9 billion to the state’s economy along with $5.54 billion in net community benefit. OHA is the nation’s first state hospital association and is recognized nationally for patient safety and health care quality initiatives and environmental sustainability programs. The association founded the OHA Institute for Health Innovation and is a co-founder of the Ohio Health Information Partnership.
