Now retired, Joseph J. Fifer, FHFMA, CPA, is the former president and CEO of the Healthcare Financial Management Association. HFMA’s mission is to lead the financial management of health care. With more than 60,000 members, HFMA is the nation's leading membership organization of healthcare finance executives and leaders. HFMA welcomes individuals and organizations from all sectors of the healthcare industry as members, including health systems, physician practices, and health plans.
Prior to assuming his position with HFMA in June 2012, Mr. Fifer spent 11 years as vice president of hospital finance at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also spent time with McLaren Health Care Corporation in Flint, Michigan as vice president of finance, and with Ingham Regional Medical Center in Lansing, Michigan as senior vice president of finance and CFO. Mr. Fifer started his career at Ernst & Young, also in Michigan.
Mr. Fifer was chair of the HFMA Board of Directors in 2006-07. An HFMA member since 1983, Mr. Fifer served as a chapter president and for two terms as an HFMA board member. In 2016, Mr. Fifer was named to Modern Healthcare’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare for the second time.
A fellow of HFMA and a CPA, Mr. Fifer received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, Michigan. Mr. Fifer and his wife, Katie, have three children: Sarah, Tom, and Joe.