Eric C. Reese

The first quarter of 2026 saw four HFMA members from various parts of the nation take on new CFO positions. On Jan. 2, Michael Browning, MBA, CPA, began his tenure as the new system senior executive vice president and CFO for Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health. Browning is charged with financial oversight over the health system’s network of 138 hospitals and 2,200+ care locations across 24 states.

Arnold P. Silver, FHFMA, CPA, who served as 1974-75 HFMA Chair, died on Nov. 21 at the age of 91. Silver, who joined HFMA in July 1963, was a founding member of the Association’s Principles and Practices Board, participated in the first exchange with HFMA’s counterpart association in the United Kingdom and received HFMA’s Frederick C. Morgan award in 1981. Arnold P. Silver leaves a legacy of exemplary healthcare finance leadership over more than 50 years.

Readers of a certain age may   recall Sebastian Junger’s book  A Perfect Storm, which describes the last voyage of the Andrea Gail, a Massachusetts swordfishing boat. In October 1991, the boat encountered a violent storm in the North Atlantic Ocean and was lost with all hands.