Manasse to retire as ASHP CEO in 2011

Henri R. Manasse, Jr., PhD, ScD, executive vice president and CEO of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), plans to retire in June 2011 and the group’s board has started the search for his replacement.

“ASHP is blessed to have the strong, visionary, and inspirational leadership of Henri Manasse,” ASHP President Kevin J. Colgan said. “And the board of directors looks forward to having him at the helm of the organization for nearly three more years.”

“We are making excellent progress in fulfilling ASHP’s ambitious agenda to serve and represent pharmacists who practice in hospitals and health systems, and the board is committed to maintaining this momentum as we plan for a smooth transition in executive leadership,” Colgan said.

Manasse has held the position since July 1, 1997. He previously served as vice president for health sciences, University of Iowa, and chairman of the board of the University of Iowa Health System. He graduated from the University of Illinois. Manasse went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in educational psychology from Loyola University of Chicago, and a PhD in pharmacy administration from the University of Minnesota.

He had several academic and administrative positions, including dean of the college of pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), and he served as interim vice chancellor for health services, UIC Medical Center. Manasse was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences in 1996 and was named recipient of the ASHP Harvey A. K. Whitney Lecture Award in 2007.

In 2005, he was elected professional secretary of the board of pharmaceutical practice of the International Pharmaceutical Federation. An internationally recognized authority on patient safety and the pharmacist workforce, Manasse has published and spoken widely on these and other topics.

The EVP/CEO search process will include ASHP members, national healthcare leaders, and others. ASHP bylaws require that the position be filled by a licensed pharmacist. The initial steps of the process will be led by the EVP/CEO search and screen committee chaired by ASHP Immediate Past President Janet A. Silvester.