"In my mind, the only real way we will get MidCentral and Whanganui health boards to really work, think and act as a combined region and understand our joint issues is to progress one CEO across both boards."
She stressed she would "never" be in favour of a joint district health board.
Mrs Baker-Hogan told the Chronicle she believed the two health boards would eventually have a joint chief executive and now would be a good time for Whanganui to step forward.
"We're in a position of strength," she said. "We should lead this discussion rather than it being forced upon us ... what's happening already clearly is joint management."
She believed there would be a "ministerial push" in the next decade for a joint chief executive, and now was a good time to say "Well hey, why not take ours?"
Whanganui board member Ray Stevens said the concept sounded "really good", but if there was to be a joint chief executive the process would need to be transparent.
"I don't know who's in the wings waiting to come here, and I think the market should determine who the CEO should be," Mr Stevens said.
"It's logical to have a joint CEO. I don't mind having that conversation."
Board member Allan Anderson said he wanted to hear the pros and cons of the situation before forming an opinion.
Whanganui board chairwoman Dot McKinnon did not want to comment on Mrs Baker-Hogan's suggestion.
