Stephan Davis, D.N.P., M.H.S.A., F.A.C.H.E., F.A.A.N., has received the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Exemplary Service Award, which is the highest service award bestowed by the College.

Davis serves as associate dean of inclusive excellence and belonging for the VCU College of Health Professions and the School of Nursing, and as executive director of inclusive leadership education and an assistant professor for the VCU Department of Health Administration.

“I am thrilled to congratulate Dr. Davis on his well-earned honor for service,” said Saleema Karim, Ph.D., interim chair and associate professor in the Department of Health Administration. “Service is a critical component of our tripartite mission as a leading academic institution, and I am proud that our faculty exemplify a commitment to service within VCU, throughout Virginia, and nationally.”

Over the course of Davis’ career, he has served in national and chapter leadership roles, and previously served as chair of the ACHE LGBTQ+ Healthcare Leaders Community. He is a prior Regent-at-Large, a role created to foster diversity in the governance of ACHE. In addition, he is on the national faculty of ACHE, teaches five of the ten knowledge areas for the ACHE Board of Governors Exam review course to help ACHE members prepare for the comprehensive fellow candidate assessment, and delivers presentations and educational sessions for the organization, both nationally and through local chapters. Finally, he has served as a mentor, executive coach, resume reviewer, and an advisor to fellow candidates.

At the upcoming ACHE 2024 Congress on Healthcare Leadership, Davis will deliver a presentation entitled “Practitioner to Professor: The Healthcare Executive’s Role as an Educator,” alongside two national faculty colleagues from the Association of University Programs in Health Administration’s Practitioner-Scholar Faculty Forum. This represents Davis’ seventh ACHE Congress presentation acceptance since 2019.

“I am so honored to receive ACHE’s highest service award,” said Davis. “Contributing to the professional development of students, early and mid-careerists, and seasoned executives, brings me so much joy. In particular, I am deeply committed to our work to advance ACHE’s goal to increase the diversity of fellows of the College and I am proud of the strides we have made in this area.”

Davis became a fellow of ACHE in 2014, which he describes as one of his most important professional milestones. He has served on ACHE’s national faculty for three years, helping to launch the virtual ACHE Board of Governor’s review course during the pandemic. The course now attracts hundreds of fellow candidates each year. Davis has received two prior national service awards from ACHE. He is also a prior recipient of the ACHE Executive Development program scholarship, and the North Texas chapter’s “Early Career Executive” (Under 40) Award.

The VCU College of Health Professions is a nationally recognized leader in the education of health providers and leaders, and cultivates an interprofessional approach to training. The College offers curricula at the baccalaureate, master's, post-graduate and doctoral levels designed to prepare health care professionals for roles in a variety of clinical, teaching, and community health and wellness settings. For more, visit the VCU College of Health Professions website.

The VCU Department of Health Administration is a premier research department geared toward creating the most innovative, compassionate, and business-savvy leaders to reimagine healthcare. With access to the amenities of a large institution in a small and student-centric atmosphere, the Department of Health Administration teaches students the executive and technical skills needed to be well-rounded leaders.

The department's master's degree program, the residential Master of Health Administration and the online-hybrid Master of Science in Health Administration for experienced professionals, is rated in the top three among its peers in the country by U.S. News and World Report. Also offered is the highly regarded PhD program in Health Services Organization and Research. For more information, visit the Health Administration website.

The American College of Healthcare Executives is an international professional society of more than 48,000 healthcare executives who lead hospitals, healthcare systems and other healthcare organizations. ACHE’s mission is to advance our members and healthcare management excellence. ACHE offers its prestigious FACHE® credential, signifying board certification in healthcare management. ACHE’s established network of 77 chapters provides access to networking, education and career development at the local level. In addition, ACHE is known for its magazine, Healthcare Executive, and its career development and public policy programs. Through such efforts, ACHE works toward its vision of being the preeminent professional society for leaders dedicated to improving health. The Foundation of the American College of Healthcare Executives was established to further advance healthcare management excellence through education and research. The Foundation of ACHE is known for its educational programs— including the annual Congress on Healthcare Leadership, which draws more than 4,000 participants—and groundbreaking research. Its publishing division, Health Administration Press, is one of the largest publishers of books and journals on health services management including textbooks for college and university courses. For more information, visit www.ache.org.