Bill Bradley to receive Arkansas Hospital Association’s highest individual honor

William “Bill” Bradley, CEO of Washington Regional Medical System in Fayetteville, will receive the 2017 A. Allen Weintraub Memorial Award, the highest individual honor bestowed by the Arkansas Hospital Association (AHA). Bradley, who will retire in November, has been CEO of Washington Regional Medical System since 2004.

The award is named after the former administrator of St. Vincent Infirmary in Little Rock and “recognizes recipients’ contributions to their hospitals and communities as well as their concerns for patients, employees and the provision of quality healthcare,” according to AHA. On Oct. 5, the award will be given to Bradley during the annual meeting of the Arkansas Hospital Association.

He has served as a hospital executive for more than 30 years, including positions as CEO at hospitals in Springdale and Russellville. In his time at Washington Regional, more than 600 jobs and over 150 medical providers were added, its service area was expanded to include five Northwest Arkansas counties, clinical services increased and the size of the medical center campus was doubled.

Other projects include a five-story Women and Infants Center, which is expected to have 3,500 deliveries annually; the first Ronald McDonald House in Northwest Arkansas; expansion of the hospital’s neuroscience program; earning advanced certification as a Primary Stroke Center; starting the Washington Regional Mobile Dental Clinic, which has provided free dental care and education to more than 2,500 people since 2014; designation as a Level 2 Trauma Center; and development of the Pat Walker Center for Seniors.

Bradley has been a board member for the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, Arvest Bank and Ventures for Christ. He was the first chairman of the Partnership for a Health Arkansas and received a Vision Award from the Washington Regional board of directors.

“As Bill Bradley prepares to retire after more than 30 years of strengthening community hospitals, those of us who have worked alongside him hope his qualities of visionary leadership, civic responsibility, humble generosity and passion for quality healthcare are recognized with the AHA’s highest honor,” said Stephen Percival, vice president/human resources at Washington Regional.

On Sept. 1, Larry Shackelford will become CEO of Washington Regional, and Bradley will become CEO emeritus to help ensure a smooth transition for Shackelford.