Corporate News and Events

Debra A. Canales Named Michigan’s HR Executive of the Year

Trinity Health Leader Guides 45,000 Associates to Greater Connection with Healing Mission

Novi, Michigan (September 14, 2007) – In recognition of her ability to enable Trinity Health associates to fulfill their calling in health care, Debra Canales, Chief Human Resource Officer and Executive Vice President of Organization and Talent Effectiveness, has been selected as the 2007 Michigan Human Resources Executive of the Year in the non-profit category. The award from American Society of Employers (ASE) recognizes career achievements and meritorious work, as well as contributions to the community and impact on the lives of others, by human resources management executives.

“I am thrilled for Deb to be recognized as Michigan’s Human Resource Executive of the Year,” said Joseph Swedish, President and CEO, Trinity Health. “We are blessed to have a person of Deb’s character and experience leading our effort to strengthen spirit and values within our workplace.”

Canales is leading human resources and professional development strategies throughout Trinity Health’s national network of 45 hospitals employing over 45,000 associates. Here in Michigan, Trinity Health employs more than 27,000 associates who provide care to one in 11 residents in 35 counties. She is guiding Trinity Health's leadership in creating synergy out of dozens of geographically and operationally diverse organizations. She is leading the organization through a culture transformation that advances the spirit and mission of the organization. She also is working to centralize human resource systems and expand online learning throughout the organization.

Canales believes that cultural enhancement and associate relations in a diverse and inclusive workplace are essential to providing superior patient satisfaction.

“This honor shines a bright light on our important work to inspire associates toward a passionate dedication to their work and a sense of connectedness to the people we serve,” Canales said. “We’re creating a healthy, mission-based, high performance culture based upon Trinity Health’s Core Values of respect, social justice, compassion, care of the poor and underserved, and excellence.”

Canales came to Trinity Health in 2005 from Centura Health in Denver, where she had served as Senior Vice President of Human Resources. In 2004, Centura Health received the “International Spirit at Work” award for fostering spirituality while respecting the diversity of religious communities and individual experiences.

Earlier this year, Trinity Health was the only health care organization to receive the Corporate University Xchange Award for Leadership Development. Another executive, D’Anne Carpenter, executive director of Organization Learning and Development, is a finalist for the prestigious 2007 Learning in Practice Awards, sponsored by Chief Learning Officer magazine. The award recognizes Trinity Heath’s Foundations in Leadership program.

About Trinity Health
Trinity Health is Michigan’s leading health care provider and one of the state’s largest employers, providing the full continuum of care for Michigan’s residents, with 11 hospitals, nine nursing homes, 19 senior housing facilities, eight home health care agencies and four hospices serving 35 counties. More than 27,000 associates provide care to one in 11 Michigan residents. With a national headquarters in Novi, Trinity Health is an economic engine for the state with nearly $1.1 billion in payroll – and $1.2 billion in capital investment planned through 2011.

With hospitals in seven states, Trinity Health is the fourth-largest Catholic health care system and the tenth largest overall in the country. Based in Novi, Mich., Trinity Health owns or manages 45 hospitals, 379 outpatient facilities, 26 long-term care facilities, and numerous home health offices and hospice programs. Employing approximately 45,100 full-time staff, Trinity Health reported $6.1 billion in unrestricted revenue and $307.0 million in community benefit ministry in fiscal year 2006. For more information about Trinity Health, visit www.trinity-health.org.

About American Society of Employers
The American Society of Employers (ASE) is a statewide not-for-profit employers association headquartered in Southfield. Since 1902, ASE has provided Human Resource expertise and assistance to its more than 900 member firms throughout the state, including research, surveys, and training. For more information about ASE, visit http://www.aseonline.org.