Spectrum Health Names Christina Freese-Decker New Strategy VP

Christina M. Freese-Decker assumed the role of senior vice president and chief strategy officer for Spectrum Health System, effective December 8.

Freese-Decker served as president of Spectrum Health’s United and Kelsey hospitals since 2011. Spectrum Health recently named Brian Brasser as the new president of the two hospitals.

Freese-Decker helped to grow the presence of these two hospitals through community health initiatives, primary care development and expanded outpatient services. Earlier this year, she won the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Robert S. Hudgens Memorial Award for Young Healthcare Executive of the Year. The honor is given for outstanding achievement in the field of health care management.

She began her career in 2002 as an administrative fellow with Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. Freese-Decker was named director of strategic planning and development and was soon promoted as the department’s vice president. In this role, she led system strategic planning, market intelligence gathering, call center operations and regional hospital network coordination.

Freese-Decker earned master’s degrees in health administration and industrial engineering from the University of Iowa and a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University. She is currently serving on the board of directors of the David D. Hunting YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, serving as vice chair since 2009. Freese-Decker was president of the Great Lakes Chapter of ACHE from 2008 to 2009 and she is currently president of the Health Management and Policy Alumni Board of Directors, College of Public Health, at the University of Iowa.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system, based in West Michigan, offering a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which is comprised of 11 hospitals including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital; 173 ambulatory and service sites; 960 advanced practice providers and employed physicians including members of the Spectrum Health Medical Group and West Michigan Heart physician groups; and Priority Health, a health plan. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest employer with 20,800 employees. The organization provided $250 million in community benefit during its 2013 fiscal year. spectrumhealth.org