Edgar J. Curtis, president and CEO of Memorial Health System in Springfield, will become chair of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association's 2017 board of trustees on Jan. 1. The chair is in addition to his role as Memorial's top executive.

The board of trustees is the policymaking body for the association, representing more than 200 hospitals and nearly 50 health systems across Illinois.

One of the leading healthcare organizations in Illinois, Memorial Health System is a community-based, nonprofit organization that has served its communities since 1897. Its seven affiliates, including four hospitals, provide a full range of inpatient, outpatient, home health, hospice, behavioral health and primary care physician services.

A Springfield native, Curtis received his master’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his bachelor of science degree from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Curtis serves on the boards of Memorial Health System, the BJC Collaborative LLC, VHA Mid-America, the Illinois Higher Education Commission on the Future of the Workforce and the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing External Advisory Board. He is a member of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce Q5 Leadership Council and Strategic Leadership Council.