Effective July 1, 2017, Ascension made several changes to the leadership of its Board of Directors and membership of the Ascension Sponsor, its ministerial public juridic person.
Stephen M. Dufilho, CPA, New Board Chair
As the Rev. Dennis Holtschneider, CM, EdD, stepped down as Chair of the Ascension Board of Directors July 1 to begin serving as Executive Vice President/Chief Operations Officer of Ascension, longtime Board member Stephen M. Dufilho, CPA, assumed the role of Board Chair. He had been Vice Chair. Dufilho is Principal at Goldsmith, Fillis & Dufilho Capital Partners, LLC, San Antonio, Texas. Previously he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Trust Co., a San Antonio investment company with more than $1.2 billion in client assets. Before that he served as Chairman and CEO of BBVA Compass Bank in San Antonio.
“We are blessed to have someone with Steve’s vision and experience as Board Chair and look forward to his continued guidance and leadership,” said Anthony R. Tersigni, EdD, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ascension.
Sister Mary Anne Rodgers, CSJ, Joins Board
Sister Mary Anne Rodgers, CSJ, has been appointed to the Ascension Board of Directors for an interim one-year term effective July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018. She will continue to serve as the Chair of the Ascension Sponsor until her term ends on June 30, 2018. Sr. Mary Anne served on the Ascension Sponsors Council beginning in 2010 and was instrumental in the creation of the Ascension Sponsor. She has served as a member of the Ascension Sponsor since it was formed in 2011 and was elected its first Secretary-Treasurer in 2012. She currently works as the Resident Coordinator at Shaker Pointe, an independent senior housing community in Latham, New York.
New Members of the Ascension Sponsor
Sister Danielle Bonetti, CSJ, has joined the Ascension Sponsor She has served as Participating Entity Representative to Ascension for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province, since 2014, and earlier served as Sponsor Liaison to Ascension from 2008-2011. She has been a member of the Congregational Leadership Team for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet since 2014.
Sister Jean Rhoads, DC, also has joined the Ascension Sponsor. She is ending her term as Provincial Councillor for the Daughters of Charity, Province of St. Louise, a position she has held since the Province of St. Louise was formed in 2011. Earlier she served in the same capacity for the Emmitsburg (Maryland) Province of the Daughters of Charity beginning in 2004. She was a member of the Ascension Health Board of Trustees from 2005-2014, including serving as Chair from 2011-2014.
“We’re happy to welcome Sr. Jean and Sr. Danielle and thank them for their continued service to our integrated national health ministry,” Dr. Tersigni said.
Members Leaving the Ascension Sponsor
Sister Barbara Ann Moore, CSJ, completed her term on the Ascension Sponsor, which she joined in 2011 as the representative of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, a Participating Entity of Ascension. Sr. Barbara was a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Congregational Leadership Team when Carondelet Health System joined Ascension in 2002. She was a member of the Ascension Sponsors Council, predecessor to the Ascension Sponsor, from 2003-2008, serving as Chair from 2005-2008. She has received a number of awards and honors, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Catholic Health Association of the United States.
Sister Mary Walz, DC, also completed her term on the Ascension Sponsor. She served on the Ascension Sponsors Council beginning in 2007 and was instrumental in efforts to create the Ascension Sponsor as a ministerial public juridic person. She most recently has served as the appointed representative of the Daughters of Charity, Province of St. Louise, one of Ascension’s Participating Entities, and was elected as the first Vice Chair of the Ascension Sponsor. Sr. Mary has served as Provincial Councillor for the Daughters of Charity, Province of St. Louise, since 2011.
“We greatly appreciate Sr. Barbara’s and Sr. Mary’s many contributions to our ministry. While we will miss their presence, we know they will keep Ascension in their prayers,” Dr. Tersigni said.
