About the Center
Executive Director
James A. Harnar
Executive Director
Daniel Hanley Center for Health Leadership
Jim Harnar was named Executive Director of the Daniel Hanley Center for Health Leadership in 2005. He succeeded Alice Chapin, who served as the Center’s first executive director from 2004-2005.
Jim worked closely with the Hanley Family and other health care leaders in establishing the Center in 2002 and served on the Center’s Board of Directors from 2002 - 2005.
He has been an active part of Maine’s health care community for more than 20 years. Before joining the Center, Jim served for more then three years as President of the Maine Health Information Center (MHIC), northern New England’s primary independent, nonprofit health data research organization. While at the MHIC, Jim served as Project Director for the project known as Health Info Net since its inception in mid-2004. In this capacity, he was responsible for the initial planning for a major statewide initiative aimed at establishing an integrated electronic clinical information sharing system for Maine. Jim also was highly involved in the establishment of the nation’s first comprehensive, medical, pharmacy and dental insurance claims databases.
Before joining the MHIC in 2002, Jim served for 14 years as Vice President of Public Affairs and Member Services at the Maine Hospital Association, where he was responsible for communications, education, hospital governance programs, environmental issues and MHA’s for-profit subsidiary.
At MHA he led a number of statewide initiatives, including the establishment of a nonprofit physician recruitment service and the development of an innovative environmental program that was recognized by the Maine Audubon Society and other advocacy groups.
A native of Reading, Pennsylvania, Jim earned his undergraduate degree in journalism and a graduate degree in public administration. After several years as a newspaper reporter in Colorado and New Mexico, Harnar served for seven years on active duty as a U.S. Navy officer in San Diego and Brunswick, Maine. He remained in the Naval Reserve and retired in 2003 with 25 years of combined service with the rank of Captain.
Harnar has been involved in the leadership of many statewide, regional and national health care organizations. He served in the 1990s on the board of directors of the American Society for Health Care Strategy and Market Development and is a former president of the Maine Public Relations Council.