John W. Hanshaw, president and chief executive officer of MountainStar Healthcare, was recently named the Distinguished Healthcare Executive of the Year by the Utah Hospitals and Health Systems Association. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to Utah's health-care community.

The UHA also named Phillip Clinger, board member for University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics, winner of the Urban Hospital Trustee Service award, recognizing outstanding contribution to the public as a community trustee.

Hanshaw is a health-care leader with more than 31 years of hospital management experience in four states. As the chief executive officer at HCA Mountain Division/MountainStar Healthcare, he is responsible for overseeing nine acute care hospitals, a psychiatric facility, a growing number of outpatient surgery and imaging centers and multiple physician practices and clinics in Utah and Idaho. After moving to Utah in 1996, Hanshaw became CEO at St. Mark's, a 317-bed hospital in Salt Lake City where he served until 2005. In October of that year, he was promoted to his current position as president of the HCA Mountain Division. During his tenure as CEO, MountainStar facilities have achieved local and nationwide recognition for delivering high-quality patient services.

In January, 2008, he was appointed to lead the American Hospital Association's Section for Metropolitan Hospitals. In this position, he serves as chairman of the section's 25-member governing council. Hanshaw also served for four years on the AHA Governing Council, traversing the country and talking with his colleagues on issues of strategic importance to the hospital sector.

Clinger has served on the hospital board since 2000, including as president from 2004 to 2006. A graduate of the University of Utah and retired senior vice president for Merrill Lynch, Clinger's talents have been utilized by many other community organizations, including the Utah State Retirement Board, the Bennion Center Board and The Country Club of Salt Lake.