Today, Corewell Health™ announced changes to its board of directors, including the introduction of two new members, the appointment of a new chair and vice chair, and the departure of three founding board members. 

Two new directors began three-year terms on Jan. 1, 2024: Joseph J. Fifer, former president and CEO of the Healthcare Financial Management Association; and Robert Williams, M.D., retired family physician and health services researcher. 

Julie A. Fream, president and CEO of MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers, concluded her term as board chair on Dec. 31, 2023, and will remain actively engaged on the board, including on the executive committee. Named the inaugural Corewell Health board chair in 2022, she successfully led the board through many of the integration milestones and focused on developing a strong unified culture of the board. She joined the Beaumont Health Board of Directors in 2014 and was appointed chair in 2021. 

Sean P. Welsh, regional president for PNC Bank, succeeded Julie A. Fream as board chair. Welsh joined the Spectrum Health Board of Directors in 2015 and was appointed vice chair of the Corewell Health board in 2022.   

The board of directors also appointed a new vice chair, Michael (Mike) Todman, current Corewell Health board member and former president of Whirlpool International and Whirlpool North America. Three members departed from the board:

• Robert (Bob) W. Roth, who retired after a nearly 20-year term of service to the Priority Health, Spectrum Health and Corewell Health boards;
• Christopher (Chris) F. Carpenter, M.D., who took a new role as interim dean of the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine;
• Angel W. Hernandez, M.D., who relocated out of state. 

“During this transformative time in health care, we are thrilled for Joe Fifer and Dr. Robert Williams to join our board to lend their expertise, insights and advice,” said Tina Freese Decker, President & CEO, Corewell Health. “We have made great strides toward achieving our vision of a future where health is simple, affordable, equitable and exceptional thanks to the support of Bob Roth, Dr. Chris Carpenter and Dr. Angel Hernandez. As members of our founding board, we will always be grateful for their service and contributions to our organization.”

 

About Joseph J. Fifer  

Joseph J. Fifer, FHFMA, CPA, is the former president and CEO of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). HFMA’s mission is to lead the financial management of health care. Prior to his position with HFMA in June 2012, Fifer spent 11 years as vice president of hospital finance at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Mich. He also spent time with McLaren Health Care Corporation in Flint, Mich., as vice president of finance, and with Ingham Regional Medical Center in Lansing, Mich., as senior vice president of finance and CFO. Fifer started his career at Ernst & Young, also in Michigan.  

 

About Robert Williams, M.D.  

Robert Williams, M.D., MIS, recently retired from professional services. Dr. Williams enjoyed a 20-year career as a practicing and teaching family physician and health services researcher. During his career, Dr. Williams was a principal investigator with the National Institutes of Health, and vice chair and director of research for a medical school department. In 1996, Dr. Williams left academics at the Medical College of Virginia/VCU and joined the consulting world. During the following 22 years, Dr. Williams served as a senior consulting executive at Ernst & Young, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, IBM, Deloitte Consulting US and Deloitte Consulting UK.