Howard Hospital Foundation names Doug Beigel chair

Howard Hospital Foundation, which provides philanthropic support to Howard County General Hospital, named Doug Beigel chair of the board of trustees. Beigel, CEO of Columbia-based COLA, a national laboratory accrediting organization, has served on the foundation’s board for more than four years.

“The hospital is the only hospital in the county, and that means that it is fundamentally important and we should never take that for granted,” Beigel said. “Everyone has choices philanthropically, but my perspective in supporting the hospital is that health care feeds the quality of life for not only the individual but the county as a whole. I look forward to focusing on philanthropy and to achieving funding for the Building Today for a Healthier Tomorrow capital campaign.”

Beigel became CEO of COLA in 2000 after serving as chief operating officer since 1987. Under Beigel’s leadership, COLA provided a $360,000 grant to Howard County General Hospital to educate the hospital’s health care professionals about the importance of quality and safety in laboratory medicine. Beigel also spearheaded a $25,000 endowment to expand Howard Community College’s medical laboratory technician program.

In addition, Beigel has served on Howard County General Hospital’s Physician Relations Committee and Howard Hospital Foundation’s Major and Planned Gifts Committee. He also is a director of the Howard County Police Foundation and served on the board of directors for Penn-Mar Human Services.

Beigel received the American Society of Association Executives’ Award of Excellence in Finance and Administration in the technology applications category as well as the Edwards Medal from The American Society for Quality in recognition of his leadership and contributions to the field of quality methodology.

He holds an MBA from the University of Baltimore and Master of Arts from Loyola College. Beigel has lived in Howard County for over 40 years.