Nick Jacobs

Currently President of Windber Medical Center and the Windber Research Institute

F. Nicholas Jacobs retired as President of Windber Medical Center and the Windber Research Institute at the end of December, 2008. Mr. Jacobs was a co-founder of the Windber Research Institute. This translational medicine, proteomic and genomic research institute is an international research center for heart, breast and reproductive diseases.

Mr. Jacobs was responsible for setting strategic vision for the Medical Center and the Institute; providing general management and coordination for both organizations.

Before being named to those current positions, Mr. Jacobs served as the Chief Communications Officer of the Conemaugh Health System; Executive Director for the Conemaugh Health Foundation; Vice President of Mercy Medical Center; Executive Director of the Mercy Healthcare Foundation, President of the Laurel Highlands Convention and Visitors Bureau; Executive Director of Laurel Arts of Somerset, PA; Teacher and Department Chair for Westmont and Johnstown Schools; for the Plum Borough School District in Pittsburgh; and was a professional trumpet player.

Mr. Jacobs holds a Master's degree in Public Management/Health Systems Management from Carnegie Mellon University, and Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He has been awarded Certification from The Grantsmanship Center at the College of William and Mary; and a Certificate in Health Care Management from the Harvard School of Public Health. Mr. Jacobs is also a Fellow of the American College of Health Care Executives.

He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the international hospital organization, Planetree, the Hospital Council of Western PA, Chairman of the Board of the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Services, a board member of both the River City Brass Band, and the Arcadia Performing Arts Theater. He is also a member of the advisory council for the John P. Murtha Institute of Homeland Security at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Jacobs has received various awards including the Commander's Award, Walter Reed Healthcare System; Outstanding Support Award, Clinical Breast Care Project, Walter Reed Army Medical Center; Clinical Breast Care Project Collaboration Award, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; Pennsylvania Senate Proclamation Recipient from Senator John Wozniak; and the Community Rural Health Leader of the Year for 2001, Pennsylvania Rural Health Association, Outstanding Alumni Carnegie Mellon University and Distinguished Alumni Indiana University of PA.

In addition to his CEO positions with WRI and WMC, Mr. Jacobs served as an adjunct instructor for St. Francis University and has been a guest lecturer at various regional, state, and national conferences and workshops including the American College of Healthcare Executives annual congress; the National Planetree Conference; the American Society on Aging; and at numerous colleges and universities including Ohio State University, Carnegie Mellon University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania and St. Francis University.

Many of his writings have been published in healthcare magazines and he has been prominently featured in the Wall Street Journal.