Sr. Linda Werthman, RSM Named Recipient of Catholic Health Association's 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award
June 12, 2023
LIVONIA, Mich. (June 13, 2023) — The Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA) has announced Sr. Linda Werthman, RSM, Ph.D. as the 2023 recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award. Sr. Linda is a member of the Trinity Health Michigan Board, a former member of the Trinity Health Board and its Ministerial Juridic Person of Trinity Health, Livonia, Michigan, and former Chair of Catholic Health Ministries. Sr. Linda received her award virtually during the annual Catholic Health Assembly -- the largest gathering of Catholic health care leaders in the United States – on Monday, June 12.
"Sister Linda embodies the highest standards of governance, service, and leadership," said Rob Casalou, president and CEO of Trinity Health Michigan and Southeast Regions. "Whether setting policies in the boardroom or getting out into neighborhoods to address poverty and social barriers head on, Sister Linda forged the path that today guides health care leaders throughout Michigan and the country."
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes someone who has inspired and mentored numerous others in Catholic health care and whose accomplishments, over the course of a career, have strengthened the ministry. Her leadership extends past the Catholic health ministry to influence and impact the local community and beyond.
Serving 45 years in the Catholic health ministry, Sr. Linda has made a lasting contribution to Catholic health care organizations. In the mid-1970s, Sr. Linda, RSM, began a life-life commitment to health care governance buoyed by a singular dedication to extend and strengthen the legacy of the founding religious communities, especially that legacy’s concern for marginalized and underserved persons.
In the mid-1980s, she served as the director of a Special Initiative for the poor, which resulted in a comprehensive report to then-Mercy Health services and a commensurate set of recommended policies addressing the system’s intent to continue the momentum of operationalized preferential options for the poor within Mercy Health Services.
As president of the Sisters of Mercy-Regional Community of Detroit, she was a central figure in the formation of the second U.S.-based public juridic person, Catholic Health Ministries, bringing together the health care services of the Sisters of the Holy Cross and the Sisters of Mercy in 2000.
In 2004, Sr. Linda was appointed to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Advisory Council. She currently serves as Board Member of Mercy House, Inc., Trustee, Carlow University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Trustee, Pope Francis Center Board, Detroit, Michigan, and Board Member Trinity Health Michigan Regional Board.
"The impact of Sr. Linda’s work to advance community health and well-being are clearly evident throughout southeast Michigan and nationally – now and for generations to come,” said Mike Slubowski, president and CEO of Trinity Health.
To view Sr. Linda’s Lifetime Achievement Award video, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEj6miCRlAg.
To learn more about the Catholic Health Assembly, please visit: https://www.chausa.org/assembly-2023.