Dick Davidson, who led the American Hospital Association for 16 years, died Sunday at age 79. No cause of death was announced.

Davidson was the second-longest serving president of the association, having led from 1991 to 2007. In a news release at the time of his departure, AHA said Davidson provided stability through one of the most tumultuous periods in the hospital industry's history. He guided the organization through the first effort to pass a federal health care reform law under President Bill Clinton. He also oversaw the development of a wide range of policy initiatives to help hospitals adjust to a series of changes in health care delivery and payment models brought on by the adoption of managed care principles.

Davidson was "an innovative and visionary leader, a consensus builder, and a friend and mentor to many throughout our field," current AHA CEO Rick Pollack said in a statement.

AHA recognized Davidson's leadership in 2007 by awarding him its highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award. It also created the Dick Davidson Quality Milestone Award for Allied Association Leadership to recognize state, local and metropolitan hospital associations that demonstrate exceptional organizational leadership. http://bit.ly/1pYbmWS

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