She accepted an honorary Doctorate of Healthcare Administration degree from Culver-Stockton College during commencement ceremonies on May 13, in addition to giving the commencement address.
Honorary doctorates may be awarded to an individual for outstanding achievement or service. Degree criteria include having a national or international reputation of excellence in the area for which they are being recognized, having shown indications that they are leading the way to new achievements in the area for which they are being recognized and having performed important humanitarian, spiritual or administrative services for the betterment of mankind.
As president/chief executive officer of Blessing Health System, Kahn has ultimate administrative responsibility for the operation of Blessing Hospital in Quincy, Illini Community Hospital in Pittsfield, and the multi-specialty group Blessing Physician Services. During the last fiscal year, the three organizations experienced more than 655,000 patient encounters combined.
Kahn joined Blessing in 2001 as Blessing Hospital Senior Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer. She was promoted to Blessing Hospital President/Chief Executive Officer in 2005 and assumed the additional responsibilities as President/Chief Executive Officer of Blessing Health System in 2014. Prior to joining Blessing, Kahn held healthcare leadership positions in Philadelphia, New York and Boston over a 24-year period.
Kahn will be inducted into the Studer Group’s “Fire Starter Hall of Fame” during a healthcare conference in Chicago this August. Studer Group works with healthcare organizations around the world, including Blessing Health System, to help them achieve and sustain exceptional improvement in critical organizational outcomes. The term “fire starter” has deep roots in the Studer Group’s mission to make healthcare better for physicians, employees and patients. A “fire starter” refers to an individual who ignites the flames of passion for healthcare excellence.
The Fire Starter Hall of Fame award recognizes a leader who, through his/her dedication and passion, guides and supports an organization's commitment to excellence while keeping the true spirit of an organization alive and flourishing. Since its inception in 2004, more than 40 healthcare leaders have been named to the Fire Starter Hall of Fame.