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Bluford Honored For Distinguished Health Care Service

Contact: Dave Dillon -- 573/893-3700, ext. 1311

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — John W. Bluford III, president and CEO of Truman Medical Centers Inc. in Kansas City, Mo., was awarded the Missouri Hospital Association’s Distinguished Service Award for his leadership, advocacy and commitment to health care.

John W. Bluford III, (left) president and CEO of Truman Medical Centers Inc. in Kansas City, Mo., is congratulated by Robert A. Brooks, (right) board chair of Truman Medical Centers Inc.

The award, the highest honor given by MHA, was presented to Bluford on Thursday, Nov. 5, during MHA’s 87th Annual Convention & Trade Show at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach, Mo.

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to health care, Missouri hospitals and the communities they serve. The MHA Board of Trustees selects the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award.

Bluford has provided local, state and national leadership for the hospital community and has been a strong and consistent advocate for increased access to health care for the most vulnerable patients. A past chair of the MHA Board of Trustees, Bluford is a 2003 recipient of MHA’s Visionary Leadership Award.

“John has provided a powerful voice for increased access to care for diverse populations,” said Herb B. Kuhn, MHA president and CEO. “His commitment to building a strong foundation for health care access at Truman Medical Centers has greatly benefited the community. In addition, he has provided leadership at the state level with MHA and has served on the boards of the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems and the American Hospital Association. Through these roles, he has helped amplify the voice of the state and nation’s poor, uninsured and underinsured. He will continue his national advocacy when he serves as AHA chair in 2011.”

Bluford has served as president and CEO of Truman Medical Center Inc. since March 1999. Before joining Truman Medical Centers Inc., he served as CEO of Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis from 1993 to 1999 and as executive director of Metropolitan Health Plan from 1983 to 1999. Before assuming executive leadership of Hennepin County Medical Center, he served as assistant administrator from 1981 to 1993. Bluford served as administrator of Pilot City Health Center in Minneapolis from 1977 to 1981 and served as weekend and evening administrator of Cook County Medical Center in Chicago from 1972 to 1974.

An engaged leader at the community, state and national levels, Bluford has been recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the Most Powerful People in Healthcare and as one of the Top Twenty-Five Minority Leaders. He serves as a trustee for the United Way of Greater Kansas City and the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Bluford is past chair of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and was vice chair of the John Knox Village Board of Directors. He is a board member of the Morehouse College School of Medicine in Atlanta.

The Missouri Hospital Association is a not-for-profit membership association in Jefferson City that represents 153 Missouri hospitals. In addition to representation and advocacy on behalf of its membership, the association offers continuing education programs on current health care topics and seeks to educate the public, as well as legislative representatives, about health care issues.

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