WASHINGTON, D.C. – After a 24-year run at the Federation of American Hospitals (FAH), one of Washington’s preeminent health trades, Chip Kahn, FAH’s President and CEO, announced today he will retire from that position effective December 31, 2025. 

“What an honor to have an opportunity for a quarter century – and during a consequential period of health policy making – to be the play caller for this important hospital sector. Much has been accomplished,” said Kahn. “Now it is time for a career turn to work on policy from another vantage point. I look forward to engaging in efforts to foster health care affordability, coverage, and quality improvement.”  

During his lengthy tenure, Kahn – only the third Federation CEO since its founding in 1966 – has skillfully led FAH and its member hospitals through five distinct and diverse Presidential administrations and thirteen Congresses, consistently pursuing legislative and regulatory solutions that enable hospitals to provide quality 24/7 patient care to all, while cultivating a reputation of collaboration to further needed health policy reforms, particularly coverage expansion and fair payment for care. Chip’s legacy of leadership has been recognized in multiple ways, including as the only health leader to be selected for Modern Healthcare’s “100 Most Influential” list every year since its inception 23 years ago. 

“On behalf of the member companies of the Federation of American Hospitals, we want to express our deepest thanks and appreciation to Chip for his many years of outstanding service,” said Marc D. Miller, President and CEO of Universal Health Services & Chair of FAH’s Board of Directors. “Chip has been a steadfast leader of the Federation with unparalleled knowledge of healthcare policy matters so important to the community hospital industry.”   

FAH’s Board has selected Korn Ferry to assist with the CEO search for a successor.   

Chip has had a storied almost 50-year career navigating the intersection of health care, policymaking, and politics.  

First cutting his teeth in politics managing former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s first two campaigns for the House of Representatives, Chip eventually served on Capitol Hill as health aide to Senators Quayle and Durenberger as well as health counsel to House Ways and Means Committee Republicans during development of many budget bills in the 1980’s and early 90’s. As Executive Vice President, he managed the Health Insurance Association of America’s (HIAA) pivotal “Harry and Louise” campaign during Clintoncare consideration; served in a keystone role as staff director for the Health Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee when BBA95, HIPAA, and BBA97 were penned; and as President and CEO oversaw the rebuilding of the HIAA’s membership base before taking over FAH.  

As head of HIAA, Chip dedicated much of his energy towards extending access to affordable health coverage to uninsured Americans through the “strange bedfellows” campaigns. He continued that effort over to the Federation with the Health Coverage Passport proposal and FAH’s leadership on the mission to expand health coverage. While at FAH, Chip also continued his leadership creating and guiding policy coalitions that bring disparate interests together to successfully pursue common causes. 

Chip has also been instrumental in building the current foundations for the nation’s health quality enterprise. He helped spearhead the development of the Hospital Quality Alliance and played an integral role with the National Quality Forum advancing a national strategy for health care quality improvement through better clinical and performance measurement. On a global scale, he has continued to champion health care delivery and quality improvement including as the co-founder and current co-chair of the Future of Health community, an organization that brings together senior executives of leading health organizations from around the world to develop applicable solutions to universal concerns facing health care everywhere.  

As a mark of his commitment to the next generation of health leaders, Chip has readily served as a mentor and trusted advisor to many.  For decades he was a board member and a chair of the David Winston Fellowship, and he has taught heath policy to graduate students at several major universities. 

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