The Kansas Hospital Association announces that Ann Gabel, a registered nurse at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, has graduated from the KHA Leadership Institute.

Gabel is among 30 members of the institute’s sixth class, recognized Aug. 24 during the Critical Issues Summit in Wichita.

Students were nominated for the program by their hospital’s chief executive officers. Class members are considered future leaders of Kansas hospitals.

The program’s curriculum is designed to improve leadership by explaining the difference between leadership and management, identifying organizational values and creating a positive organizational climate; enhancing communication skills and examining ethics; building teams; examining conflict and how to effectively manage it; and learning about governance and the challenges facing health care in the future.

The Kansas Hospital Association is a nonprofit, private, voluntary membership association of health care-related organizations in Kansas. The association supports members by providing a variety of information and services, including legislative advocacy, data products and education. The mission of KHA is to provide leadership in the delivery of health and human services.