Children's CEO Named to Alabama Hospital Association Board of Trustees

From the Alabama Hospital Association

MONTGOMERY, AL – Several healthcare executives from hospitals and health systems in the Birmingham area have been elected to leadership positions on the Alabama Hospital Association (AlaHA) Board of Trustees during the Association's 2026 Annual Meeting.

“These leaders bring exceptional experience, strong commitment to their communities, and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing Alabama’s hospitals,” said Danne Howard, President and CEO of the Alabama Hospital Association. “We are grateful for their willingness to serve and look forward to their leadership in the year ahead.”

Tom Shufflebarger, Vice Chair, AlaHA Board of Trustees

Tom Shufflebarger, President and Chief Executive Officer of Children's of Alabama, has been elected Vice Chair of the AlaHA Board of Trustees. A healthcare leader with more than four decades of experience, Shufflebarger has served Children's of Alabama, the state’s only freestanding pediatric medical center, since 1992 and became Chief Executive Officer in 2021.

Shufflebarger is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves on the Quality and Safety Committee of the Children’s Hospital Association board. He previously chaired the National Patient Safety Organization for Children’s Hospitals. He is active in numerous professional and community organizations and is recognized nationally for his leadership in pediatric healthcare quality and patient safety.

Dawn Bulgarella, Secretary-Treasurer, AlaHA Board of Trustees

Dawn Bulgarella, Chief Executive Officer of UAB Health System, has been elected Secretary-Treasurer of the AlaHA Board of Trustees. Bulgarella leads one of the nation's largest academic health systems and has spent more than three decades serving UAB in various leadership roles, building her experience in operations, strategic planning, recruitment, and finance.

She has been recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as a “CEO to Know” and by This is Alabama as one of the “Women Who Shape the State.” She serves on the board of directors of Protective Life and the Alabama Workforce Board’s Executive Committee.

Thibaut van Marcke, Birmingham Regional Council Representative

Thibaut van Marcke, Senior Vice President of Orlando Health and President of Baptist Health, has been elected Birmingham Regional Council Representative to the Alabama Hospital Association Board of Trustees. Van Marcke oversees Orlando Health's Alabama operations and brings extensive experience in hospital operations, strategic planning, and healthcare leadership.

Van Marcke previously served as Senior Vice President of Orlando Health’s Southeast Region and President of Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital, where he oversaw strategic planning and financial initiatives while fostering an award-winning workforce culture.

Katrina Keefer, West Regional Council Representative

Katrina Keefer, President and Chief Executive Officer of DCH Health System, has been elected West Regional Council Representative. Since joining DCH in 2022, Keefer has led a significant cultural and operational transformation, achieving measurable improvements in patient care, staffing, technology, and financial health. Previously, she served as CEO of Augusta University Health and held senior roles within UAB Health System, including 13 years as CFO of Baptist Health in Montgomery.

In addition to leading DCH Health System, Keefer serves in leadership roles with several healthcare, education, and community organizations, including as incoming board chair of America’s Essential Hospitals and as a board member of the Alabama School for Health Sciences, the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, and the United Way of West Alabama. She is also a trustee of Huntingdon College

Founded in 1921, the Alabama Hospital Association is a statewide trade organization that assists member hospitals in effectively serving Alabama’s healthcare needs through advocacy, representation, education, and service.