Michael Ryan, chief executive officer of Hillsboro Community Hospital, was elected to serve a three-year term on the American Hospital Association’s Section for Small or Rural Hospitals.

The 21-person governing council represents small or rural hospitals in the association’s national policy process and member services initiatives.

Ryan was elected to serve from a seven-state region. Currently he serves as the Kansas Hospital Association’s vice chairman on the Policy and Advocacy Council and is a member of the Wheat Plains Health Network and the National Rural Health Association.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in science business administration from Kansas State University and has served as CEO at the Hillsboro hospital since 2000.

“I am very humbled and honored to have been nominated and elected to serve in this capacity,” Ryan said. “This is an extremely critical time for our country in terms of our need for health care reform.

This AHA Section will play an important role in that reform process.”