MASSENA -- Massena Memorial Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer Charles F. Fahd, II, has been chosen by Becker's Hospital Review as one of the leaders on its inaugural list of “50 Rural Hospital CEOs to Know.”

The 50 presidents and CEOs have shown commitment to providing high-quality, accessible care to their patient populations and have approached the challenge of rural healthcare with great aplomb, the review said.

“The hospital board of managers is very proud of this wonderful acknowledgement of Charlie and his successes and professional development,” said MMH Board of Managers Chairperson Tina Buckley.

Fahd has been MMH CEO since 1997. His contract was renewed in 2012 and runs through 2014.

In May, Massena Memorial opened a $3.9 million 20,000 square foot medical office building that houses physicians, surgeons and a phlebotomy center.

The hospital expects that all the physician suites will be occupied by primary care and specialty providers within the next month.

The facility was a strategic initiative, not only to assist in the recruitment of new physicians, but to retain existing doctors requiring more space in modern, state-of-the-art accommodations.

Rural healthcare leaders face certain challenges that are not present in more urban environments, the announcement from hospital spokeswoman Tina Corcoran said. For instance, only about 10 percent of physicians practice in rural areas, according to a 2010 report prepared by the Southwest Rural Health Research Center. This can lead to physician shortages in rural areas.

Fahd is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association. He served as a member of the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) board of directors for nine years, and as a member of the HANYS executive committee. Mr. Fahd He is past chairman of the Healthcare Association of New York State Rural Task Force and has served as Region 2 delegate to the American Hospital Association’s Governing Council for Small and Rural Hospitals.

Fahd is an active member and past president of the Massena Rotary Club and the Monday Luncheon Club.

Becker's Hospital Review is a monthly publication offering business and legal news and analysis relating to hospitals and health systems.