HFMA’s highest individual award — the Frederick C. Morgan Award for Individual Achievement — is awarded annually to a member who has made outstanding contributions to the Association over the course of a career. For only the third time since the award was first presented in 1959, two members received the special honor when the awards were presented on June 27 at HFMA’s 2023 Annual Conference in Nashville: James Heffernan and Kenneth Stoll.
The importance of connection
James Heffernan, FHFMA, MBA, was the senior vice president of finance and treasurer of the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization for 25 years. He currently teaches healthcare finance courses part-time at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital.
Since the 1980s, Heffernan has served HFMA at all levels. As chapter president in 2006, he facilitated the successful merger of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Chapters. He subsequently represented New England on HFMA’s Regional Executive Committee. At the national level, Heffernan served on the Board of Examiners, the Physician Practice Leadership Council, which he chaired, and the national Board of Directors from 2018 to 2021.
In presenting the award, Aaron Crane, HFMA’s 2022-23 National Chair, noted that a common theme running through the letters supporting Heffernan’s nomination was his passion for community service and social justice, as well as his commitment to recruiting and mentoring future leaders.
Accepting the award, Heffernan said that HFMA had been a continuous source of information and help throughout his career.
“The friendships and professional relationships that have grown have been at the root of my HFMA experience,” said Heffernan. “I’ve come to trust the experience and confidence of my HFMA friends, and I’ve been pleased to make many connections for fellow HFMA members to find talent or explore an opportunity.”
Just getting started
Kenneth Stoll currently is RevSpring’s vice president of strategic accounts. A member of HFMA since 1997, he has been actively volunteering and serving from the beginning.
Stoll served as the Central Ohio Chapter president from 2007 to 2011. In that role, he successfully led efforts to reorganize the Chapter’s leadership structure, leading to increased membership satisfaction rates and contributing to the Chapter’s receipt of an unprecedented six national chapter awards in 2010. Stoll went on to serve as a Regional Executive and as a member of the national Chapters 2.0 Committee. Since 2019, he has led the Central Ohio HFMA Gives Back Committee. The project, which he kickstarted and nurtured, connects the Chapter with local nonprofit organizations in need of volunteers and support.
HFMA National Chair Dennis Dahlen, who presented Stoll with the award, said the nomination letter noted that “not only has Ken served in a plethora of positions, both locally and nationally, but he continues to give and serve as if he’s just getting started.”
Stoll used his acceptance remarks to encourage others to serve as well.
“I’m grateful for this wonderful recognition and for all those with whom I’ve had the pleasure to meet, serve and volunteer,” said Stoll. “And I encourage you, having been blessed yourselves, to go out and be a blessing to others.”
