Above, Neal Handler, left, is presented with a token of appreciation for his 12 years of service on the Memorial Board of Trustees by Memorial CEO Chip Hubbs. Handler took part in his final meeting Thursday night. (Journal-Tribune photo by Chad Williamson)
Stepping down after 12 years on the Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees, Neal Handler said he had actually grown fond of the meetings.
“I always enjoyed going,” Handler said Thursday night at his final meeting. “It was never a chore for me.”
Handler told fellow members of the board and the senior medical staff that it took him about three years, after being appointed in 2008, before he was comfortable with the medical language used at the meetings. Even now, he said, there are occasional terms that he doesn’t understand.
Handler received his bachelor’s degree in education from Ohio State, majoring in English and speech communication. He went on to receive his master’s degree in educational administration and guidance counseling from OSU.
He held various positions at Marysville, North Union, Fairbanks and Dublin schools during his 40 years in the education field. Though he retired as coordinator of human resources for Dublin City Schools, he also served as high school English and speech teacher, coach, guidance counselor, curriculum director, middle and high school principal and assistant superintendent.
Fellow board member Chad Hoffman said he recalled Handler as a principal at North Union and was excited when he was asked to join the board.
“He was exactly the person I thought he would be,” Hoffman said.
Handler said he feels strongly that the strength of the board comes from the diverse backgrounds of its members. He said he hopes the Union County Commissioners will consider that when appointing a replacement.
Citing the leadership of CEO Chip Hubbs and other members of the health system management as well as medical staff, he called the hospital a great community asset.
Handler reflected on some of the board’s most important accomplishments during his terms including the heart partnership with OSU, the dialysis and wound care centers, creation of new service lines, expanding services to surrounding communities, and the Memorial 2020 project which involves construction of new inpatient and outpatient facilities.
“You made us better, my friend,” Memorial Chief Medical officer Vic Trianfo said.
Handler’s time on the board coincided with an explosive period of expansion for the hospital and health system. It was noted at the meeting that Memorial now has 1,001 employees.
Hubbs said when he came to the hospital in 2004, it employed about 500 individuals in two facilities. Memorial Health now operates 19 facilities.
Hubbs said that the growth has been steady, but that number of facilities and employees brings certain challenges, such as maintaining the feeling that all are operating within one system.
Hoffman said Memorial’s growth has benefitted the area by creating numerous good paying jobs. Hubbs said the economic impact to the community has been significant.
In other business, the board:
•Dealt with routing staff business.
•Approved a purchasing and bidding policy for 2020.
•Learned that patient experience targets are being set for 2020.
•Heard an update on the Memorial 2020 construction project.