Former Board Chairman Recognized for Years of Service to SMH

At the SMH Board of Commissioners meeting in June, Dan Ferrari was recognized and thanked for his 12 years serving on the Board of Commissioners. During his tenure, Ferrari served in various roles, including Board Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary/Treasurer, as the Board of Commissioners Trustee on the SMH Foundation Board and as Advisory Board Liaison.

During his time on the SMH Board of Commissioners, Ferrari served on a multitude of committees including: Capital Committee, Stakeholders Committee, Cancer Center Working Group Ad Hoc Committee, Quality Committee, Master Facility Plan Ad Hoc Committee, Executive Committee, Finance Committee, JOA Strategy and Oversight Committee and the Ochsner Board Partnership Committee. “It’s not just the number of roles or committees that are important,” said Sandy Badinger, CEO of SMH and Ochsner Medical Center – Northshore. “It’s the quality of Ferrari’s involvement and his guidance that have made an impact here at SMH.” 

Since 2009, Ferrari has served with dedication, passion and a sincere commitment to improve the quality of life in our community. During his time on the board, Ferrari has seen SMH through peaks and valleys, through growth and expansion, and he has led our team through uncertain times. Most recently, Ferrari campaigned for SMH’s millage extension, making it possible for the hospital to construct new, state-of-the-art facilities and grow life-saving services here in Slidell. Ferrari acted as Board Chairman through a global pandemic, a time when healthcare facilities were put through the toughest trials. Thankfully, he helped advocate for our healthcare heroes, and ultimately, SMH was able to successfully care for our community. Ferrari led the hospital through more than one national search for CEOs, making sure the best candidate was selected to lead SMH into the future. Another major development in the past years was Ferrari’s involvement in the Joint Operating Agreement with Ochsner Health. He played a key role in partnership discussions, negotiations and in building the relationships required to form a successful collaboration.

“Ferrari has always been a champion of connecting with the community, customer service excellence and maintaining a technological edge in the medical field” said Joseph “Joe” DiGiovanni, Jr., SMH Board Chairman. “On behalf of the entire board, administration, leaders, employees and the medical staff, I would like to say thank you for your commitment to Slidell Memorial Hospital and the Slidell community.”