The Orcas Island Health Care District Board of Commissioners has announced that Anne Presson has agreed to become the superintendent for the Orcas Island Health Care District effective July 16. The superintendent position is a half-time position with responsibility for the efficient administration of the OIHCD. Washington law requires hospital districts to appoint a superintendent. Presson, who resides on Orcas with her husband Stewart, was a member of the Coalition for Orcas Healthcare which organized the campaign to create the OIHCD.

OIHCD’s staffing committee conducted an extensive local and regional search for candidates for the superintendent position. After receiving a number of applications, the committee was extremely impressed with Presson’s experience and talents and enthusiastically recommended her candidacy to the board. The full board interviewed Presson at their July 3 meeting and voted to offer her the position. Richard Fralick, OIHCD Board president, said, “Anne brings a wealth of knowledge and tremendous enthusiasm to the job which will be a great help to the Board as we tackle the challenges of assuring that we continue to have access to quality health care on Orcas. Her knowledge of the health care industry will be invaluable, and her collaborative approach will ensure that she works well with our board.”

Presson will divide her time between Orcas and Lopez, where she serves as the superintendent for the Lopez Island Hospital District. Formed in May 2017, the LIHD employs Presson halftime. Both OIHCD and LIHD see the opportunity for tremendous synergies by having Presson serve as the superintendent for the two districts which face many of the same challenges and constraints. “We’re very happy for Orcas,” said LIHD Chairwoman Christa Campbell. “Anne has proven herself to be professional, capable, collaborative and solution oriented. I’m confident that the Orcas Commission will have the same experience. We are fortunate to have her working on behalf our public hospital districts.”

Presson is pleased to bring her skills and experience to support primary, urgent and after-hours health care on Orcas. She has spent most of her career in the health care industry advocating for improvements to access, affordability and quality of care. “I am excited to be given this unique opportunity,” she said, “and will be looking for ways to deliver increased value to each community via my dual role. Both islands share common challenges and are working to solve similar problems. I hope to serve as a conduit to enable the two hospital districts to create efficiencies, share best practices and expertise.”