ACHE-IHF Women Leaders in Action networking breakfast

Ms Deborah J. Bowen, FACHE, CAE

Deborah J. Bowen, FACHE, CAE, is president and Chief Executive Officer of the American College of Healthcare Executives. This is an international professional society of more than 40,000 healthcare executives who lead hospitals, healthcare systems and other healthcare organizations. Alongside this role, she serves on the board of the Institute for Diversity in Health Management.

In November 2015, Ms Bowen was nominated by the American Hospital Association, which is an IHF Full Member, to become their representative on the IHF Governing Council. After a successful mandate, Ms Bowen was elected as IHF President Designate in 2019, became IHF President in November 2021 and started her mandate as IHF Past-President in October 2023. In November 2025, at the end of her term as Past-President, she became an IHF Honorary Member.

Ms Bowen is board certified in healthcare management and a Fellow of both ACHE and the American Society of Association Executives. Additionally, she is a Baldrige Executive Fellow and a Certified Association Executive.

An experienced and dedicated healthcare industry leader, Ms Bowen was recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare and one of the Top 25 Women in Healthcare.