Jim Alderson, pictured here with his wife, Connie, and grandson, Max

Jim Alderson, pictured here with his wife, Connie, and grandson, Max, will be receiving an honorary doctorate of business at this year's commencement ceremony.

Jim Alderson, a courageous whistleblower who helped uncover the country's largest healthcare fraud, will receive MSU's highest commendation at ceremonies set for 10 a.m. Saturday, May 12, at MSU's Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.

Alderson, who graduated from the MSU College of Business in 1969 with a degree in accounting, was a key whistleblower in what became the largest healthcare fraud prosecution case in U.S. history. Alderson was chief financial office for North Valley Hospital in Whitefish when Quorum Health Group, a subsidiary of the healthcare giant HCA Healthcare Corp, took over the management of the small hospital. Alderson was fired when he refused to keep two sets of cost reports involving Medicare payments. In 1993, he filed a whistleblower suit against Quorum. During the coming years, Alderson and his family moved 14 times as he sought employment, all the while maintaining public silence about the case. The federal case was settled 13 years later for nearly $1.7 billion and benefited taxpayers throughout the country. The MSU College of Business has established the Alderson Program in Entrepreneurship in his honor. Alderson will receive an honorary doctorate in business.

Alderson will join three others in receiving his award, including: Greg Gianforte, Adrienne Mayor and John Varley.

-Contributed by Carol Schmidt, MSU News Services