Heather Acker named Chair of Board of Directors for Geisinger

DANVILLE, Pa. – Heather Acker has been appointed chair of Geisinger Health’s board of directors effective Jan. 1, 2024. Ms. Acker joined the Geisinger board in 2013 and became vice chair in 2016 before transitioning into her new role as chair while John C. Bravman, PhD, president of Bucknell University, finished his term as chair from 2016 to 2023. 

“Geisinger is an incredible organization that has delivered high-quality health care to communities throughout central and northeastern Pennsylvania for more than 100 years. It is a privilege to be a part of the leadership of this organization to continue to make better health easier for our patients, members and communities,” Ms. Acker said. 

Ms. Acker has held a variety of board leadership roles in her career. She served as chair of the Geisinger Health Audit & Compliance Committee, Geisinger Health Plan Audit Committee as well as the Geisinger Investment Sub-Committee. Ms. Acker co-chaired the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Campaign in 2022 and co-chaired the 2023-2024 Campaign for the United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne and Pike Counties in Pennsylvania.

“Heather has a deep commitment to Geisinger’s mission,” Dr. Bravman said. “Under her leadership, the board will continue to help Geisinger grow and provide the critical services needed in the communities it serves.”

Ms. Acker recently retired as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Gentex Corporation in Carbondale, Pa. She had held the position of chief financial officer for 20 years and has been executive vice president since 2010. Ms. Acker earned her undergraduate degree in mathematics from Bucknell University and received her MBA, with distinction, from the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania, with a concentration in finance.

“Heather has been a leader in our community for years,” Jaewon Ryu, MD, JD, president and CEO of Geisinger Health said. “I look forward to continuing to work with her to bring world-class health care to Pennsylvania.” 

About Geisinger
Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the nonprofit system generates $10 billion in annual revenues across 126 care sites — including 10 hospital campuses — and Geisinger Health Plan, with more than half a million members in commercial and government plans. Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 5,000 medical professionals annually and conducts more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With 26,000 employees, including 1,700 employed physicians, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers with an estimated economic impact of $15 billion to the state’s economy. On March 31, 2024, Geisinger became the first member of Risant Health, a new nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country. Learn more at geisinger.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.