Strain to Lead ISSA Healthcare Advisory Council

ROSEMONT, IL – With a goal of advancing patient safety worldwide through improved environmental hygiene, ISSA Healthcare has named Barbara Strain, MA, CVAHP, an independent healthcare value consultant, chair of its advisory council.

At a pivotal moment for infection prevention, environmental services, and healthcare operations, said the organization, the council provides strategic guidance to ISSA Healthcare, helping ensure that its education, standards, and advocacy stay closely aligned with the realities of care delivery.

Strain will be joined by chair‑elect Rich Feczko, president and founder of Elevate Innovation Group. Together, they bring deep expertise and a strong commitment to advancing safer, healthier healthcare environments.

The Healthcare Advisory Council is a volunteer board of seasoned leaders from health systems, environmental services, infection prevention, supply chain, and industry.

Members identify emerging needs, shape program priorities, and help connect ISSA’s global resources with the day‑to‑day challenges facing healthcare organizations.

In May, ahead of the Healthcare Surfaces Summit, the council met in person for a strategic planning session to review progress and set priorities for the coming years. During this meeting, members elected Barbara as chair and Rich as chair‑elect, linking the leadership transition directly to the council’s forward‑looking vision for healthcare environmental hygiene.

Strain is widely recognized as a pioneer in healthcare value analysis and value management. With more than four decades of provider‑side leadership experience across clinical microbiology, safety, supply chain, and value analysis, she has helped hospitals and health systems build mature value management programs that align quality, outcomes, and cost.

As a founding member and past president of the Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals, she brings a strong track record of evidence‑based decision making and cross‑functional collaboration to her new role.

Feczko complements this with a strong foundation in operations, innovation, and performance optimization. Through Elevate Innovation Group, he helps organizations improve efficiency and governance using data, analytics, and technology‑enabled solutions. His decades of experience in healthcare support services and performance improvement have made him a trusted voice on how to turn standards and strategy into measurable, sustainable results.

Under Barbara and Rich’s leadership, the Healthcare Advisory Council will continue to elevate the role of environmental hygiene, support EVS as a critical partner in infection prevention, and guide the development of tools, training, and collaborative opportunities for the global healthcare community.

ISSA extends sincere appreciation to all members of the Healthcare Advisory Council for their service and leadership. With this new leadership team in place, the council is well positioned to help drive the next chapter of innovation and impact across healthcare environments.

Also, Mindy Ryan has been named to the ISSA Healthcare team as its new Healthcare Account Executive.

She will work with healthcare systems, hospitals, ambulatory care centers, long-term care facilities, and medical office buildings to help organizations create safer, healthier environments. She collaborates with healthcare leaders to deliver education, environmental hygiene training, and advisory services that strengthen infection prevention practices, reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), and improve patient outcomes.

“I’m excited to join ISSA Healthcare and help healthcare organizations create safer environments through education and training that improve hygiene practices, reduce healthcare-associated infections, and support better patient outcomes,” Ryan said. “I look forward to building new relationships, collaborating with healthcare professionals, and advancing ISSA Healthcare’s mission of promoting safe and healthy healthcare environments.”

Prior to joining ISSA, she served as a senior business development representative with the College of American Pathologists (CAP), where she managed a portfolio of healthcare diagnostic laboratories across the southern United States. In that role, she partnered with laboratory leaders to support accreditation programs and proficiency testing, helping organizations maintain quality standards and achieve regulatory compliance.

For more, go to www.issa.com/healthcare-homepage/.