Company:The Joint Commission
Entry Submitted By:Niro Haller & Niro
Company Description:An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 20,500 health care organizations and programs in the United States. Joint Commission accreditation and certification is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting certain performance standards.
Nomination Category:Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category:Female Executive of the Year – Government or Non-Profit –More Than 2,500 Employees

Nomination Title: Lisa Vandecaveye, General Counsel, The Joint Commission

Describe for the judges the activities and accomplishments of the nominated executive since the beginning of July last year (up to 525 words):

Lisa Diehl Vandecaveye is most deserving of The Stevie Award for Female Executive of the Year – Government or Non-Profit – More than 2,500 Employees.

In July 2015, Lisa assumed the responsibilities of General Counsel for The Joint Commission overseeing all legal issues for the largest regulatory body of health systems in the world. Her appointment was achieved after a year-long vetting process and multiple rounds of interviews. Lisa beat out incredibly qualified candidates from a nationwide search.

Lisa's path to that position has been years of hard work and dedication to health care and the law, and the past year has not been different. Prior to her appointment at the Joint Commission, Lisa was the Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer for Beaumont Health ($3.8 billion revenue) after a merger in 2014 with Botsford Health Care where she was the Corporate Vice President of Legal Affairs since 2000. Lisa was instrumental in making the transition a smooth one for the 8 hospitals, 153 ambulatory sites, 5,000 physicians, 33,000 employees involved.

Lisa's professional aptitude and competence has not been unnoticed. She was sponsored by the CEO to attend The Wharton Business School where she achieved a Certificate of Professional Development. Lisa was also recognized as a national health care law leader by the American Health Lawyers Association where she has served in multiple leadership roles on the Board of the American Health Lawyers Association. She achieved Fellow status in 2014. Her decades-long dedication to AHLA was in addition to the long hours she spent at work.

During her transition from Vice President of Botsford to Beaumont to General Counsel of The Joint Commission, Lisa still found time to speak at the American Health Care Lawyers Association in February 2015:“A View From Inside a Merger (Inside the Chapel)”, Physicians and Law Institute, American Health Care Lawyers Association, Las Vegas, Nevada. That speech was only one of dozens she has given over the years.

Leadership and mentoring go hand-in-hand. Lisa has mentored many young attorneys and professionals – both male and female. For her female mentees, Lisa is a strong example of someone who has broken through the glass ceiling. Throughout her career, Lisa has had to prove herself time and again to mostly male counterparts and board members. Her patience, grace and poise have remained steadfast even through intense times – like a billion dollar merger!

Lisa is a nationally, and now globally, known leader in health care regulation. She has shown incredible strength and confidence in assuming her current role at the Joint Commission. She supervises many business units, many outside law firms, and many other executives. Lisa is extremely well deserving of The Stevie Award for Female Executive of the Year – Government or Non-Profit – More than 2,500 Employees. Thank you for your consideration.

Provide a brief biography of the nominated executive (up to 125 words):

Lisa Diehl Vandecaveye is the General Counsel for The Joint Commission. In this role, Ms. Vandecaveye oversees all legal issues for The Joint Commission and its affiliates.

The Joint Commission accredits more than 20,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. Its affiliate, Joint Commission Resources, includes a division (Joint Commission International) that helps improve the quality of patient care by assisting international health care organizations, public health agencies, health ministries and others evaluate, improve and demonstrate the quality of patient care and enhance patient safety in more than 60 countries.

Previously, Ms. Vandecaveye served as Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer for Beaumont Health where she was a member of the Executive Cabinet.