CHICAGO, April 23, 2007 – David C. Nissen, FACHE, VP/Managing Director, Renaissance Healthcare Group, Orlando, Florida recently became a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the nation’s leading professional society for healthcare leaders.

“Because healthcare management ultimately affects the people in our communities, it is critically important to have a standard of excellence promoted by a professional organization,” says Thomas C. Dolan, PhD, FACHE, CAE, president and chief executive officer of ACHE. “By becoming an ACHE Fellow and simultaneously earning board certification from ACHE, healthcare leaders can show that they are committed to providing high-quality service to their patients and community.”

Fellow status represents achievement of the highest standard of professional development. In fact, only 5,400 healthcare executives hold this distinction. To obtain Fellow status, candidates must fulfill multiple requirements, including passing a comprehensive examination, meeting academic and experiential criteria, earning continuing education credits and demonstrating professional/community involvement. Fellows are also committed to ongoing professional development and undergo recertification every three years.

Mr. Nissen of Renaissance Healthcare Group, in Orlando, Florida is privileged to earn the FACHE credential. Renaissance Healthcare Group operates two specialty behavioral healthcare programs. Pasadena Villa is a premier residential treatment facility for adults and 2 young adults with mental illness, and those with co-existing conditions including Asperger’s Syndrome and substance abuse. Transitional Living and Learning Center is a life skills development program assisting young adults with building the skills necessary to improve their daily lives. In each program, education, support and therapy are provided within a unique social integration model. Clients from across the country seek out these programs for help with schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder, bi-polar disorder, anxiety disorders, and other issues. Other services include day treatment and case management services.

For more information regarding the FACHE credential, please contact the ACHE Division of Membership at (312) 424-9400 or membership1@ache.org, or visit the Credentialing area of ache.org.

The American College of Healthcare Executives is an international professional society of more than 30,000 healthcare executives who lead our nation’s hospitals, healthcare systems and other healthcare organizations. ACHE is known for its prestigious credentialing and educational programs and its annual Congress on Healthcare Leadership, which draws more than 4,000 participants each year. ACHE is also known for its journal, the Journal of Healthcare Management, and magazine, Healthcare Executive, as well as ground-breaking research and career development and public policy programs. ACHE’s publishing division, Health Administration Press, is one of the largest publishers of books and journals on all aspects of health services management in addition to textbooks for use in college and university courses. Through such efforts, ACHE works toward its goal of being the premier professional society for healthcare leaders by providing exceptional value to its members.