Mt. Vernon & Centralia, IL - SSM Health is pleased to announce that Damon Harbison, President of SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital, SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital, and SSM Health Rural Health Network in Illinois, has been elected to a second term on the Illinois Health & Hospital Association (IHA) Board of Trustees.
The IHA Board serves as the policymaking body for the Association, representing more than 200 hospitals and nearly 40 health systems across the state. Its work supports advocacy, policy development, and initiatives that strengthen access to high-quality healthcare for Illinois communities.
Harbison will continue serving on three key IHA committees:
- Finance & Audit Committee
- Compensation Committee
- Executive Committee
“Damon is an exemplary leader whose commitment to improving patient experience and expanding access to care is evident across our Illinois ministries,” said Jeremy Fotheringham, SSM Health - Region President, Academic, St. Louis and Southern Illinois. “We are proud to see his leadership continue to shape the future of healthcare in Illinois.”
Harbison has served in multiple leadership roles within SSM Health, including his expanded responsibilities announced in 2023, which include leading the Rural Health Network and both Southern Illinois hospitals.
The Illinois Health & Hospital Association is headquartered in Chicago, Naperville, Springfield, and Washington, D.C. and advocates for hospitals and health systems and supports their mission to care for their communities.
About SSM Health
SSM Health is nationally recognized for quality and innovation. It is a Catholic, not-for-profit, fully integrated health system working to advance health equity and empower all people to achieve their full potential.
With care delivery sites in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin, SSM Health provides convenient access to high-quality community-based services as well as world-class academic medicine, clinical trials, and research studies. The organization’s footprint includes hospitals, physician offices, outpatient and virtual care services, senior care, comprehensive home care and hospice services, a fully transparent pharmacy benefit company, a health insurance company, and an accountable care organization.
As one of the largest employers in every community it serves, the organization’s 40,000 team members and 15,000 providers are dedicated to fulfilling SSM Health’s Mission: “Through our exceptional health care services, we reveal the healing presence of God.”
For more information, visit ssmhealth.com or find us on Facebook and LinkedIn.
