title: Tough as he needs to be.
abstract: Fred Brown, recently named the AHA's new chairman-elect, balances idealism with pragmatism. He likes to delegate and doesn't micromanage, but Brown is direct and tough when necessary. And having presided over the three-way merger that created BJC Health System in St. Louis, he's no stranger to politics and consensus-building.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Bilchik
mesh_terms: D000573:American Hospital Association / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016542:Chief Executive Officers, Hospital; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; D049673:History, 20th Century; D007857:Leadership; D008923:Missouri; D014481:United States