Leadership to change at Idaho Primary Care Association

Yvonne Ketchum-Ward will replace Tom Fronk, who is retiring as chief executive officer of the Idaho Primary Care Association chief executive officer on August 15. Ketchum-Ward has served as the executive director of the Community Health Center Network of Idaho, a division of IPCA, since March of 2014. She will retain this position in addition to her new role as CEO.

Ketchum-Ward worked more than 25 years in health care, developing relationships between providers and insurers. For 17 years, she was the director of medical operations and manager of provider contracting at Blue Cross of Idaho.

Fronk came to Idaho in 2012 intending to retire but instead stepped into the leadership role at IPCA. Victoria King, CEO of Kaniksu Health Services and IPCA board chair, said in a news release, “Tom’s collaborative leadership style and commitment to our mission, now makes it possible for a smooth leadership transition.”

IPCA has been is a state advocate for community-based health care programs. The organization provides training and technical assistance to Idaho’s community health centers in the areas of community development, quality improvement, workforce development and health center operations.