UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — W. Russell McDaid, a Penn State alumnus, has been named president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association (PHCA), effective Jan. 1, 2016.
“I’m truly humbled by this selection,” McDaid said Nov. 10 when addressing more than 600 attendees at the PHCA 2015 Annual Convention and Trade Show at Valley Forge Casino Resort in King of Prussia.
“For more than 20 years, I’ve been fighting to ensure Pennsylvania’s frail elderly and disabled residents get the high-quality care they need and deserve,” McDaid said. “I consider it an honor and a privilege to stand shoulder to shoulder with the men and women who are on the front lines each and every day providing that care. I take seriously my responsibility to ensure they have the resources they need to do the best job possible for the residents in their care.”
McDaid earned his bachelor’s degree in broadcast/cable communications in 1990 and his master of health administration in 1995, both at Penn State.
“My time at Penn State helped give me the skills and experiences that have helped shape my career in government and healthcare policy,” McDaid said. “Access to Penn State’s world class faculty and the culture of learning gave me the tools I needed for the professional and personal accomplishments I have been so blessed to enjoy, from my first journalism class in the College of Communications as an undergraduate student through the many discussions on health care finance, operations and ethics that I had while earning my masters in health administration under the College of Health and Human Development.”
Out of gratitude, McDaid said he gives back to Penn State in multiple ways, including by supporting the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon and visiting classrooms to mentor students.
“I am so passionate about giving back to this University that has given me so much,” McDaid said.
“We are so proud that alumni of our department like Russell McDaid are making important contributions to the health care field, and are also giving of their time and talents to further the careers of the next generation of HPA graduates,” said Marianne Hillemeier, professor and head of the Department of Health Policy and Administration.
McDaid joined PHCA in April 2013 as COO and executive vice president. McDaid has managed the day-to-day operations of the association while spearheading the association’s budget and policy initiatives.
Prior to his time at PHCA, McDaid spent nearly two decades in health and human services policy, including time as the senior vice president and chief policy officer for LeadingAge PA, a statewide association representing not-for-profit senior care and service providers. Previously, he was a senior health and human services policy adviser to governors Tom Ridge and Mark Schweiker, directing policy across multiple state agencies as the deputy director of the Governor’s Policy Office.
McDaid also served as one of the principal advisers to Ridge during the development of Pennsylvania’s “Health Investment Plan,” which provided the initial blueprint to use the Commonwealth’s share of tobacco settlement proceeds, and was instrumental in the development and implementation of the health research grants and the “Adult Basic” program funded with the proceeds.
He currently holds an appointment to Pennsylvania’s federally mandated Medical Assistance Advisory Committee, which provides direction and guidance to the state Department of Health and Human Services in administering the $15 billion in annual spending on Medical Assistance programs. Additionally, he has served on numerous other advisory committees and task forces providing stakeholder input to the state departments of Public Welfare, Aging and Health.
He and his wife, Terri, reside in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and have two daughters, Rose and Grace.
PHCA is a statewide advocacy organization for Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable older residents and their providers of care. Members comprise for-profit, nonprofit and government providers. Together, they represent more than 500 long-term care and senior service providers that care for more than 50,000 elderly and disabled individuals.