Fr. Bouchard, CHA senior director of theology and sponsorship, to retire

Fr. Charlie Bouchard, OP, is retiring as CHA’s senior director of theology and sponsorship at the end of June after decades in leadership in Catholic education and the church’s health care ministry.

Fr. Bouchard joined CHA’s mission services team in 2015. He has counseled and assisted sponsors and members of ministerial juridic persons in carrying out their canonical responsibilities for the Catholic health ministry. He also has worked with church leaders and bishops at the United

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While the group first convened with a charge to broadly develop a vulnerable patient strategy it quickly pivoted to increasing vulnerable groups’ access to COVID-19 information, screening, vaccines and resources. Since 2021, it has been exploring how to ensure vulnerable populations are aware of the importance of preventive care and can access it.

“We’re looking at how do we make sure that a vulnerable populations strategy is embedded in CommonSpirit from a clinical, operational and strategic perspective,” says Brisa Urquieta De Hernandez, system director of operations for CommonSpirit’s new Lloyd H. Dean Institute for Humankindness & Health Justice. “We’re some-

States Conference of Catholic Bishops and at the Holy See on a range of issues involving health care, social justice, public policy and the church.

“Working at CHA, meeting our members, sponsors, and execs, is the best job I have ever had. I have been able to think about church and ministry in a whole new way,” Fr. Bouchard said. “I love the CHA staff and would stay another 10 years if I could!”

Diarmuid Rooney, vice president of sponsorship and mission services at CHA, times having uncomfortable conversations about what patients are experiencing and we’re amplifying the work that is happening” to address concerns.

The Vulnerable Populations Council is made up of about 40 leaders representing clinical, operational and strategic disciplines. Among the council members are people with experience in community health, population health, value-based care, behavioral health, political advocacy and nursing care coordination. The council meets over videoconference. Dr. Alisahah Jackson, president of the Lloyd H. Dean Institute for Humankindness & Health Justice, helps guide the work.

De Hernandez says the Vulnerable Populations Council has become “an incubator of ideas.”

Rachelle R. Wenger, CommonSpirit system vice president of public policy and advocacy engagement, is a member