Sarah Bush's Uphoff Elected to IHA Board

Kim Uphoff, President & CEO, Sarah Bush Lincoln, has been elected to the Board of Trustees for the Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA). The IHA Board is the policymaking body for the Association, which represents more than 200 hospitals and nearly 40 health systems across Illinois. Uphoff’s three-year term began on Jan. 1, 2024. The first board meeting of the year will be held on Jan. 26.

“It is an honor to welcome Kim and her wealth of knowledge to the IHA Board,” A.J. Wilhelmi, IHA President and CEO, said. “Kim has an impressive, diverse skillset that will help guide us through the unique challenges hospitals are facing, including those in downstate communities. We look forward to working with Kim on creating a robust policy strategy to benefit all Illinois hospitals in the coming year.”

Uphoff, a Mattoon native, was named President & CEO of Sarah Bush Lincoln in 2022. She had served as the Vice President, Operations since 2017 in which she had oversight of the hospital operations including Diagnostic Imaging, Laboratory, Pharmacy, Rehabilitation Services, Facilities Services, Environmental Services, Security, Food & Nutrition Services, Wellness, Healthy Communities, Communications and Marketing, Planning and Business Development and the SBL Foundation. Uphoff was instrumental in the implementation and continuation of the organization’s service culture, Excellence A Way of Life, and established long-range strategic plans with the executive team and the board of directors.

In 2011, Uphoff was named Vice President of Development with oversight of the Health Foundation, Planning, Business Development, Communications, Facilities Services and construction projects, and led the organization in strategic, facility and fund development. She was first named Vice President of Health Foundation in 2010. During those 12 years in leadership, she enhanced the culture of philanthropy by completing an $8 million capital campaign, $3.5 million oncology campaign and achieving $2 million annually in total giving. She planned, executed and oversaw construction of the $15.6 million Regional Cancer Center and $30 million Heart Center and bed expansion project.

Uphoff came to Sarah Bush Lincoln in 1998 as the Director of Planning and Business Development. She started her career as Vice President of Communications at Lincolnland Visiting Nurse Association. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois and has a Master’s of Science degree in Health Services Administration from University of Saint Francis, Joliet. She and her husband, Bill, have two adult children, and are farmers predominately south of Mattoon.

About IHA

The Illinois Health and Hospital Association, with offices in Chicago, Naperville, Springfield, and Washington, D.C., advocates for Illinois’ more than 200 hospitals and nearly 40 health systems.