Jerri Kirkland, RN, BSN, CPHRM, CHC, director of risk management for the WVU Health System (WVUHS), has been named an advisory board member for the American Society for Health Care Risk Management (ASHRM).

Established in 1980, the ASHRM is a professional membership group of the American Hospital Association with nearly 6,000 members representing risk management, patient safety, insurance, law, finance, and other related professions.

“I am so honored to have been chosen for this Advisory Board position and look forward to representing the state of West Virginia,” Kirkland said. “Success for me in this role will be bridging the gap between ASHRM and our over 1,300 critical access hospitals across the nation. This platform will allow me to advocate for our most precious asset, our patients.”

Kirkland stepped into her role as enterprise director of Risk Management for WVUHS since October of 2024. Prior to her position with the System, Kirkland served WVU Medicine Summersville Regional Medical Center (SMRC) for 20 years, first as a registered nurse, and later as Director of Quality, Risk, and Compliance for SMRC and WVU Medicine Braxton County Memorial Hospital; and ten years with the U.S. Department of Justice.

Kirkland was a member of the ASHRM Leadership Committee in 2024 and now chairs that committee. She and other newly elected board members will be installed at the ASHRM Annual Conference, which will be held Sept. 28-30 in Charlotte, N.C., and will begin their term on Jan. 1, 2026.

A self-described servant leader, Kirkland’s is the vice president of the Summersville Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Bridge Valley School of Nursing Advisory Board, and a volunteer on the Nicholas County Community Foundation marketing committee.