The Association is sad to report the passing of Sister Mary Gerald Hartney, CSC, FHFMA, on Sept. 10. A founding member of HFMA (then known as the American Association of Hospital Accountants), she served as elected president for two terms from Jan. 1, 1954, to Dec. 31, 1955. While president, Sister Gerald held the first meeting of chapter presidents, helped launch the first correspondence course for hospital accounting, aided in developing standard accounting procedures for hospitals, and provided leadership, education, and support for hospital accountants.
She also helped plan the first HFMA annual meeting, known as the Indiana University Institute, and was instrumental in planning subsequent Annual National Institutes. After her presidency, she also served as a field consultant in financial management for the Catholic Hospital Association, among many other responsibilities. At the time of her passing, she was serving as a consultant for the Sisters of the Holy Cross in Notre Dame, Ind.
