Chris LaJoie Selected as Future Leader in Long-Term and Post-Acute Care by AHCA/NCAL

LANSING, Mich. — The Health Care Association of Michigan (HCAM) and Michigan Veteran Homes (MVH) are proud to announce that Chris LaJoie, operations analyst for MVH, has been selected by the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) as a future leader in long-term and post-acute care. Lajoie will participate in AHCA/NCAL’s Future Leaders program, which provides year-long training and mentorship for professionals in long-term and post-acute care.

“We are thrilled to welcome Chris to this year’s Future Leaders program,” said Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of AHCA/NCAL. “His dedication and vision for the future of long-term care is what sets him apart as a true leader in the making.”

“We are happy to have Chris represent Michigan as a part of the Future’s Leader Program,” said HCAM President and CEO Melissa Samuel. “His career trajectory in long-term care demonstrates his passion for learning and commitment to serving others.”

“Chris has excelled at his responsibilities every step of the way during his more than 16 years supporting veterans at MVH,” said Anne Zerbe, executive director and CEO of MVH. “We are extremely excited that Chris was selected as Michigan’s representative for the AHCA/NCAL Future Leaders program and know that he will expand his expertise in safety compliance and staffing so that we continue to offer the very best care and service to veterans in Michigan.”

Chris LaJoie has served veterans at MVH for over 16 years. For the first 11 years on the front line as a CNA, Chris exuded his passion for long-term care and serving our area’s veterans, while attending college to obtain his degree in Healthcare Administration from Ashford University, with a minor in Human Resources. In 2019, he went on to become the Staffing Coordinator at MVH D.J. Jacobetti. During the hectic times of staffing a nursing facility during the pandemic, Chris also found time to go back to school to acquire his certificate in Long-Term Care from Ferris State University and obtain his Nursing Home Administrator license. In 2021, Chris joined the MVH leadership team to assist with organizational chart development for newly opened MVH homes, maintenance of staffing numbers and compliance with payroll-based journaling. Chris recently received his certification as a Life Safety Specialist in Healthcare and is responsible for oversight of Life Safety Code compliance within the MVH homes.

AHCA/NCAL developed the Future Leaders program in 2004. Selected participants demonstrate both leadership potential and represent the interests of state and national long-term care providers. The program covers the latest theories and practical applications in quality management, customer satisfaction and leadership. The year-long program kicks off with the “Future Leaders of Long-Term Care in America” Symposium held each year in Washington, D.C.