North Texas Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives

Breakfast with the President - Tim Bowen, FACHE
2026-02-03 07:30 - 09:00 (America/Denver) | Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – McKinney, 5252 W University Dr., McKinney, TX, 75071, United States
Another Breakfast with the President event you’re not going to want to miss!

Tim Bowen, FACHE
President
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – McKinney

Tim Bowen, FACHE, serves as president of Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – McKinney, a role he assumed in September 2022. He joined the McKinney team from Baptist Health Medical Center – Conway, part of Arkansas’s largest not-for-profit health system, where he served as facility president. During his tenure there, Bowen strengthened the medical staff, improved financial performance, and enhanced quality and safety outcomes. His leadership earned him recognition as one of Arkansas Business magazine’s “40 Under 40” honorees in 2020.
Prior to that, Bowen served as president of Integris Grove Hospital in Grove, Oklahoma, and as chief executive officer of Mena Regional Health System in Mena, Arkansas. His career is marked by operational excellence, program growth, and a strong focus on team engagement.
Bowen holds a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine Technology from the University of Central Arkansas and a Master of Business Administration from John Brown University in Arkansas. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and currently serves on the North Texas ACHE Board of Directors as president-elect.
Outside of work, Bowen enjoys spending time outdoors and on the golf course. He and his wife, Natalie, have two children, Brody (14) and Bella (7).

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2026 DFW Healthcare Student Summit – ACHE of North Texas
2026-02-21 08:30 - 14:30 | UNT Health Science Center – Medical Education & Training Building, 1000 Montgomery Street, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, United States
Join healthcare leaders and early careerists for an inside look at executive strategies and the growing impact of AI on the future of health

The DFW Healthcare Student Summit is designed for early career professionals and healthcare administration students seeking to learn from and connect with experienced industry leaders. Through two engaging panel discussions, attendees will gain practical insights into executive decision making, operational leadership, and the growing role of AI in healthcare.
Agenda:

8:30am – 8:50am Coffee, Check-in, and Registration
8:50am – 9:00am Welcome and Introductions
9:00am – 10:00am Keynote Presentation
10:00am – 10:10am Break
10:10am – 11:30am Panel Discussion 1 – Executive Strategies for Driving Value & Better Outcomes
11:30am – 12:30pm Lunch and Networking (lunch provided)
12:30pm – 1:50pm Panel Discussion 2 – The Growth of AI in Healthcare
1:50pm – 2:30pm Optional Networking After/Event Ends

Your ticket includes attendance at the Student Summit, a light breakfast with coffee and water, and lunch will be provided at the event as well.
Speakers At A Glance:
Aaron Bujnowski, DSc, FACHE
Managing Director
Alvarez & Marsal
Chad Collins, FACHE
Vice President Operations
Texas Health Resources
Felixia Colón, FACHE
Senior Vice President in Business Development
SCP Health
Richard J. Dixon
Founder & Managing Director
Future Way Health Strategies

Emily Flahaven
Director of Nursing Informatics
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dr. Richard G. Greenhill
Principal and Founder
SmartSigma AI
Lisa Kilgore
Director of Enterprise Connected Medical Device Systems
Baylor Scott & White Health
Christina Mathis
Chief Executive Officer
Medical City Las Colinas

Kris Sanders, FACHE
Senior Vice President, Northern Market Growth & Development
Children’s Health Plano
Timothy Wilson
Head of Program Integrity
Parkland Health
Bert Witherspoon, FACHE
Founder & Managing Partner
Triaxiom Advisors, LLC

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Speakers’ Bios:
Aaron Bujnowski, DSc, FACHE, is a Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal, a leading global professional services firm specializing in advisory, consulting, and turnaround management. With two decades of dedicated experience in the healthcare industry, Dr. Bujnowski has built a reputation as a transformative healthcare strategist, empowering health systems and their leaders to attain sustainable competitive advantage.
Dr. Bujnowski served as the former System Chief Strategy Officer of Texas Health Resources, a ~$5 billion integrated health system in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where he dedicated nearly nine years to developing and executing enterprise-wide strategies.
Dr. Bujnowski holds a Doctor of Science degree in Healthcare Leadership from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He also holds a master’s degree in business administration with the highest honors from The University of Texas at Austin and a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in chemical engineering with a biomedical emphasis from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.
Dr. Bujnowski was honored as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) in 2015. He is a Past President of its North Texas Chapter, where he leads a diverse community of nearly 2,000 healthcare executives and managers.

Felixia Colón, FACHE, serves as Senior Vice President in Business Development at SCP Health, where she leads strategic market development at the executive and health system level. With more than 25 years of healthcare leadership experience, she brings deep expertise in clinical operations, physician practice management, and enterprise growth strategy.
Ms. Colón previously led SCP Health’s Telemedicine and Virtual Care service lines, overseeing expansion across Hospital Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and Critical Care Medicine. Under her leadership, the platform grew from three hospital medicine programs in 2016 to more than 100 sites by 2025, supporting hospitals nationwide with sustainable, high-quality clinical solutions.
Her professional background includes senior leadership roles across multi-specialty, multi-site physician practices, including emergency medicine, academic and private hospital medicine, transitional care medicine, tele-nocturnist and eHealth programs, and post-acute care environments (SNFs and LTACs). She has also led physician outreach initiatives in collaboration with a national health insurance carrier. Prior to joining SCP Health, Ms. Colón served as Senior Vice President for one of the largest independent physician practices in Texas, where she held enterprise-wide responsibility for operations, contracting, business development, marketing, recruiting, and healthcare payment reform initiatives, including participation in CMS’s Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) program.
A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Ms. Colón holds a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Management from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor of Health Administration from the University of North Florida. She is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and an active leader within the organization, having served as Regent-at-Large for District IV and former President of the ACHE North Texas Chapter. She has also held multiple elected board and committee leadership roles and serves as faculty for SCP Health’s Medical Leadership Intensive, focused on developing physician and advanced practice leaders.

Richard Dixon is a healthcare executive, advisor, and author focused on system redesign, digital strategy, and sustainable care delivery. He works with health systems, payers, and public sector leaders to translate emerging technologies, including AI, into practical operating models that improve access, outcomes, and workforce experience.
His work emphasizes responsible adoption, data integrity, and governance, ensuring that technology strengthens care delivery rather than adding complexity or risk. Richard is the author of Care Anywhere and the founder of Future Way Health Strategies, where he advises leadership teams on building durable, human-centered healthcare systems.

Dr. Richard G. Greenhill has spent over 30 years solving the problems that keep healthcare executives awake at night such as declining quality metrics, patient safety challenges and the persistent gap between healthcare’s promise and its operational reality. As principal and founder of SmartSigma AI, he brings rigorous quality science and pragmatic AI implementation expertise to healthcare organizations navigating the intersection of regulatory pressure and technological disruption, turning strategy into sustainable results rather than failed pilots. Elected by his international peers to the prestigious International Academy for Quality and Safety (IAQS), one of the highest lifetime honors in global healthcare quality, Dr. Greenhill serves as editor-in-chief of the International Journal for Quality in Healthcare, Communications (Oxford University Press) and as national faculty for the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). As a sought-after international speaker on AI in healthcare delivery and a subject matter expert for the World Health Organization and International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQua), his voice shapes global healthcare policy while his focus remains on what works in real healthcare organizations. He is a honorably retired U.S. Navy veteran with extensive publications in peer reviewed journals and textbooks. Dr. Greenhill brings academic rigor and operational excellence to every engagement, delivering the strategic clarity and practical implementation support that transforms healthcare organizations.

Lisa Kilgore serves as Director of Enterprise Connected Medical Device Systems at Baylor Scott & White Health, where she provides executive oversight for the strategy, governance, and operational integration of clinical device ecosystems across the enterprise., she leads initiatives that advance interoperability, cybersecurity resilience, data integrity, and clinical technology standardization in support of high-reliability care delivery.
With nearly 30 years of hands-on experience in hospitals coast to coast, a career rooted in enterprise medical device integration and digital health transformation, Lisa operates at the convergence of biomedical engineering, health IT, and executive operations. She partners with clinical, technology, and executive leadership to ensure connected medical technologies not only function reliably at scale but also generate actionable clinical data that strengthens outcomes, operational performance, and regulatory compliance.
As a panelist on The Growth of AI in Healthcare, Lisa brings a systems-level perspective on how connected devices, real-time data streams, and intelligent automation are reshaping care models. Her focus is on building secure, scalable infrastructures that responsibly enable AI-driven innovation while safeguarding patient safety and enterprise stability.

Christina Mathis has served as CEO at Medical City Las Colinas since March 2025. She provides leadership, strategic direction and direct administrative responsibility for all aspects of financial operations, clinical quality outcomes and patient experience for the 99-bed acute care hospital with more than 500 employees. The hospital offers comprehensive services, including Level III trauma services, cardiovascular, orthopedic and spine surgery, robotic surgery, women’s services and a neonatal ICU (NICU). She proudly serves on the Board of Directors for ACHE North Texas, Irving Schools Foundation, Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce and Trinity University Healthcare Administration Alumni Board.

Kris Sanders, FACHE, currently serves as Senior Vice President, Northern Market Growth and Development at Children’s Health Plano. She is board certified in Healthcare Administration. She has a Bachelor of Healthcare Administration as well as her Master of Business Administration. Kris currently oversees the leadership and implementation of all Northern Market activity in DFW for Children’s Health. She previously worked at Envision Physician Services, which she worked as Vice President of Operations. Other previous roles include opportunities at Methodist Health System and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Kris is a board-certified Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE). She also serves as a board member and President for ACHE North Texas. She is a proud member of National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE) where she also serves as the President for the DFW chapter. Other board of director affiliations include Live Oak Surgery Center and Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County. She is a proud Leadership Plano Class 39 graduate and was awarded Diversity Leaders “Rising Star” by Modern Healthcare magazine in 2024. In addition to the professional work, Kris is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Chi Zeta Omega chapter in Plano, TX.

Timothy Wilson is the Head of Program Integrity for Parkland Health’s Medicaid managed care organization, Parkland Community Health Plan. In this role, he provides enterprise leadership over payment integrity and program oversight, strengthening financial stewardship, regulatory compliance, and operational discipline within a highly regulated managed care environment. His work ensures that healthcare dollars are spent appropriately while supporting high quality care and improved patient outcomes.

Timothy brings deep experience across population health operations, managed care, and enterprise risk management. He has led complex, large scale portfolios spanning claims operations, audit and recovery, appeals, system configuration, delegated vendor oversight, and profit and loss accountability. Prior to joining Parkland, he served as Senior Vice President of Population Health Management at P3 Health Partners and held an executive leadership role at Children’s Health, where he helped launch the organization’s health plan. He is known for translating operational complexity into clear executive strategy and for building disciplined operating models that strengthen governance, improve accuracy, and drive sustainable performance.

Beyond his operating roles, Timothy is a recognized healthcare leader and mentor. He serves on the Editorial Board of Healthcare Executive magazine and is President-Elect of the National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE) Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter. He also serves on the boards of NAHSE DFW and the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) of North Texas, advancing executive development, governance excellence, and equity across the healthcare industry. He is also a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Timothy holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Image Management and a master’s degree in Mass Communication and Media Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington. He is Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certified and is a frequent speaker on healthcare operations, program integrity, and executive leadership.

Bert Witherspoon, FACHE, is a board-certified healthcare executive and the Founder & Managing Partner of Triaxiom Advisors, LLC, a boutique, bespoke advisory firm built on one conviction: healthcare works best when it stays deeply personal. Through Triaxiom Advisors, he helps provider-owned practices, surgical groups, and healthcare ventures reclaim control of their future—turning business problems into business solutions grounded in clarity, operational discipline, and human-centered leadership.
His path into healthcare leadership is uniquely shaped by frontline service. A retired firefighter-paramedic and former president and COO of a private EMS organization, Bert learned early that the systems behind care matter just as much as the care itself. That frontline-to-boardroom trajectory gives his work a rare blend of operational realism, empathy, and strategic rigor.
He holds dual graduate degrees (MS and MBA) from The University of Texas at Dallas. In addition to his advisory work, he serves as an Adjunct Professor of Graduate Healthcare Finance at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, a Vocational EMS Instructor at Dallas College, and an active mentor for the American College of Healthcare Executives at both the local chapter and national levels, supporting the development of rising healthcare leaders across the country.
Bert’s leadership philosophy is simple but transformative: the future of healthcare depends on building more Clock Builders, not just more Time Tellers. He believes leaders have a responsibility to grow other leaders—through education, mentorship, and a life-long learner’s mindset—so that innovation isn’t a moment but a mindset. In a field as dynamic as healthcare, he champions the kind of leadership that creates systems, cultures, and people capable of sustaining real, lasting impact.

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Partnerships for Success: Public Health and Health System Collaboration
2026-02-26 15:30 - 17:00 | Virtual
This panel has been approved for 1.50 ACHE Virtual Interactive Education Credits.

The top three functions of public health are to assess and monitor populations, form public policies to address problems and priorities, and finally to make sure access to services is provided. Public health challenges that were once found only in certain countries are no longer limited to within those borders. Globalization has increased these challenges. Through globalization, the public health arena has a significant impact on health administration challenges in the US and on the path that healthcare will take in the foreseeable future.
Moderator: George Roberts, FACHE
Chief Executive Officer
Northeast Texas Public Health District
Panelists:
W. Stephen Love
President & CEO
Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council
Lisako McKyer, PhD, MPH, FAAHB
Professor & Chair, Dept. of Population and Community Health
UNT Health
Matt Richardson, DrPH, FACHE
Director
Denton County Public Health

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Speakers’ Bios:
Mr. Stephen Love is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council which promotes collaboration, cooperation, and advocacy on behalf of its 90 member hospitals. The Hospital Council also has approximately 100 Associate Members (business and industry), including prominent accounting, legal and consulting firms. The primary mission is to drive evidence-based improvement in patient care and health equity in North Texas. He was the United Nations Association Award Winner in 2018 for Global Goals. He served as 2015 Chair for the Conference of Metropolitan and Regional Hospitals Association in the United States. He received the 2020 D CEO’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He also received the Dallas Medical Society’s Millard J. and Robert L. Health Award for a non-physician providing outstanding leadership to the community. He previously served on the Children at Risk Board for North Texas, Southwest Region Board for the American Heart Association, and the Chair for the March of Dimes Walk for Babies Campaign, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Dallas, and Cure Glaucoma Foundation Advisory Board. He serves on the Southwest Transplant Alliance for organ transplants; North Texas Eye Research Institute; the Metropolitan YMCA Board of Directors and received the 2024 Theodore P. Beasley Distinguished Leadership Award in 2024; the Board of Directors of Prism Health North Texas and the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He was the Chair for the Irving-Las Colinas Chamber for 2024-2025. Mr. Love has worked in healthcare management for over 50 years. He has demonstrated leadership in tax exempt, investor-owned, specialty and private hospitals in operations, finance, and corporate governance. Prior to joining the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council, Mr. Love was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of a Fortune 500 healthcare company that owned over 50 hospitals and managed approximately 200 facilities in the United States.

Dr. Lisako McKyer was a non-traditional student, earning a BA in Psychology from California State University Northridge, where she was awarded a NIGMS-funded undergraduate research training grant under Dr. Maria Elena Zavala and Dr. Carrie Saetermoe. Next, she pursued doctoral training in two programs at Indiana University; Clinical Science (Psychology 1995-1999 [incomplete]), and Health Behavior (completed in 2005), where she also earned an MPH degree along the way.
She started her faculty career at Indiana University, where she directed the annual statewide school-based ATOD survey at the Indiana Prevention Research Center. She moved to Texas A&M University in 2006, where she held appointments in the College of Public Health, the School of Medicine and the School of Education and Human Development. During her 16 years at Texas A&M, she rose through the ranks to tenured full professor and served in various leadership positions. Prior to joining UNT Health in 2024, she served as the Inaugural Vice Dean for Faculty Affairs and Inclusive Excellence at the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine

Dr. Matt Richardson was appointed as the Director of Public Health for Denton County in the summer of 2014. He previously served as Director with the City of Amarillo and Potter/Randall Counties for 9 years. He has authored peer-reviewed publications, testified to the Texas Legislature regarding public health issues, and continues to advocate for public health practice and resources for Denton County and the state of Texas. Matt is currently the past president of the Texas Association of City and County Health Officials and was recently appointed as a board member of the National Board of Public Health Examiners. He has been a Council on Education in Public Health (CEPH) accreditation site reviewer since 2013, as both a public health practitioner and site review chair. He is an expert in accreditation efforts across many academic and practice environments—from national public health university programs to individual credentials and certifications.
He has a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Abilene Christian University and both Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Public Health from the University of North Texas. He is currently board-certified and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

George T. Roberts, Jr., has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health) since November 2006. Services provided by NET Health include Community Outreach, Disease Surveillance, Environmental Health, Immunization, Tuberculosis Control, Public Health Emergency Preparedness, Regional Laboratory, Vital Statistics, and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Program. NET Health primarily serves Tyler and Smith County but also provides some services in 21 counties in East Texas. The WIC Program serves a 20-county area and Public Health Preparedness serves a 7-county region.
Mr. Roberts has over 45 years of health care experience, the majority of which was spent in hospital administration, having previously served at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, and Henderson Memorial Hospital in Henderson, Texas. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from SMU in Dallas and a Master’s Degree in Health Administration from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. He is a Fellow in the American College of Health Care Executives (ACHE) and served as the East Texas ACHE Chapter President in 2023. He is a member of the Board of the Texas Health Institute, Carter BloodCare, the Piney Woods Regional Advisory Council, Mosaic Counseling, the Tyler Family Circle of Care and the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce. He recently completed his service to the American Board of Preventive Medicine where he served as the First Public Member of the Board. He is Past President of the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and the Texas Association of City and County Health Officials (TACCHO), and the Past Chairman of the Texas Health Institute. Mr. Roberts is active in a number of church, community, and statewide efforts. Mr. Roberts has been married to his wife Leslie for 38 years, and they have 2 children – Claire (32) and Travis (28).

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Innovation and the Changing Face of Healthcare Delivery
2026-02-26 17:30 - 19:00 | Virtual
This panel has been approved for 1.50 ACHE Virtual Interactive Education Credits.

Given the extensive changes in healthcare delivery and the technological landscape overall, there is a necessity to take stock of where the healthcare community stands on change and innovation, specifically regarding the use of technology. The demand for higher quality healthcare at a lower cost creates an imminent need for change and innovation in healthcare delivery. Healthcare has already seen innovations in the tools used to deliver care, including pharmacy products, medical devices, information technology, and biotechnology products. This innovation has changed and continues to change the way healthcare is delivered. This panel will discuss how health systems are using innovation in technology to improve the value of the healthcare they deliver. Examples may include using technology to improve connectivity, patient flow, provider efficiency, and/or quality measurement.
Moderator: Quyet V. Tran, RPh, MBA, FACHE
Regional DOP
Prime Healthcare
Panelists:
Dr. Xiaoxu Kang
Founder & CEO
KangarooHealth
David Larsen, DO, MBA, FACHE
Institute Chair of Primary Care for CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic
Director of Physician Practice Operations & Medical Director of Clinical Informatics
Steve Miff, PhD
President and CEO
Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation

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Speakers’ Bios:
Dr. Xiaoxu Kang is the Founder and CEO of KangarooHealth, a company transforming healthcare access and quality through innovative technology. After earning her PhD at Johns Hopkins Medicine, she spent over 15 years at the forefront of healthcare innovation and commercialization, combining scientific rigor with entrepreneurial drive.
As a two-time startup founder, Dr. Kang has navigated the challenges of translating research into real-world impact, earning 20+ industry awards, publishing 16 peer-reviewed scientific articles, and securing four patents along the way. Her vision is clear: to leverage technology to make healthcare more connected, accessible, and effective for all.
At KangarooHealth, she is building a world-class team dedicated to powering the healthcare of tomorrow—one innovation, one patient, and one partnership at a time.

Dr. David Larsen serves as the Institute Chair of Primary Care for CHRISTUS Trinity clinic, Director of Physician Practice Operations, and as a Medical Director of Clinical Informatics. He joined CHRISTUS in 2019 as a family medicine physician and has since held a range of clinical and leadership roles, including Medical Director of Clinical Informatics, Lead Physician, and Medical Director of Bluebonnet Point Wellness. His work has been recognized with the CHRISTUS Health Patient’s Choice Award and the CHRISTUS Health Rising Star Award.
Dr. Larsen earned his Bachelor of Arts from Brigham Young University and his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Midwestern University. He holds an Executive MBA in Healthcare Management from The University of Texas at Tyler and a Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and currently serves on the board of the East Texas Chapter.

Dr. Steve Miff is the President and CEO of Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation (PCCI), a leading, non-profit, artificial intelligence and cognitive computing organization affiliated with Parkland Health, one of the country’s largest and most progressive safety-net hospitals. Spurred by his passion to use next-generation analytics and technology to help serve the most vulnerable and underserved residents, Steve and his team focus on leveraging technology, data science, and clinical expertise to obtain unique social-determinants-of-health data and incorporate those holistic, personal insights into point-of-care interventions. Steve was the recipient of the 2020 Dallas Business Journal Most Inspiring Leader award and the winner of the 2021 DCEO and Dallas Innovates healthcare awards. Since 2020, Steve was been named for five consecutive years to the Dallas 500 Most Influential Leaders Awards and in 2023, Steve was named the Tech Titans emerging company CEO of the year. In 2025, Steve received the prestigious Dallas County Medical Society Champion of Science and Medicine award. Under his leadership, PCCI was named one of the 2019 Dallas Best Tech Startups by the Tech Tribune, the award recipient for the 2022 Corporate Citizenship Award, and the recipient of the national Augmented Intelligence in Medicine and Healthcare Initiative award by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research.
Steve earned his PhD and MS degrees in biomedical engineering and a BA in economics from Northwestern University. He has been an adjunct professor of biomedical engineering for more than five years and has authored more than 100 thought leadership, white papers, and peer-reviewed publications. He is also the co-author of the 2020 Building Connected Communities of Care book released by HIMSS publishing and Amazon. Steve and PCCI’s work have been featured in Time Magazine, NEJM, IHI, HealthLeaders, NPR, CBS, NBC, Stat News, and many other leading news and scientific venues. Steve is the lead inventor on the PCCI’s most recent United States Patent for AI driven proximity index system and methods (US 12,087,449 B2).
Before joining the nonprofit world, Steve served as the General Manager of Sg2, a national advanced analytics and consulting business serving over 1,200 leading healthcare systems, and as the Senior Vice President of clinical analytics, population health, and performance management at VHA (Vizient Inc.). He has also performed in various roles at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and St. Agnes Hospital System.
Steve has served on the Senior Board of Examiners for the Baldrige National Quality Program, on the Executive Quest for Quality Prize Board Committee for the American Hospital Association, and as an editor and reviewer for the NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery. He currently participates on multiple other associations and boards, including Health Evolution, Healthcare Executive Forum CEO, and the Northwestern University Biomedical Engineering Advisory Board. Steve serves on the National Academy of Medicine AI Adoption and Code of Conduct committee and on the advisory board for the Health AI Partnership.
Steve is a first generation American born in Romanian. He is a data and technology geek, an avid sports enthusiast, world traveler, and a self-taught sous-chef and mixologist.

Quyet Tran, RPh, MBA, FACHE is a Regional Director of Pharmacy for Prime Healthcare. Since that time the hospital system has seen consistent decrease in pharmaceutical spend. Additionally, Tran lead the transition to a new pharmaceutical wholesale distributor for over 100 outpatient clinics and ambulatory surgery centers. He is passionate about finding new and innovative strategies to reduce cost and increase revenues.
Prior to his arrival at Prime Healthcare Services, Tran held pharmacy leadership positions within several hospital systems. Tran also worked for many years with Cardinal Health in various roles including operations, sales, and business development.
Tran holds a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Louisiana, Monroe. He earned a Master of Business Administration from Purdue University. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

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ACHE 2026 Congress on Healthcare Leadership: Purpose in Motion
2026-03-02 08:00 - 2026-03-04 17:00 | Houston, Texas
Once again this year the ACHE national 2026 Congress on Healthcare Leadership will be in Houston, Texas. Be sure to register for this event an join thousands of our healthcare leadership colleagues from around Texas and the rest of the world.

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Introduction to ACHE Fellowship Virtual Event
2026-03-25 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Are you a healthcare professional working on your graduate degree? Perhaps you have the years of experience under your belt, are active in your profession and community and are looking for a way to differentiate yourself from your peers? Earning your board certification in healthcare management from ACHE is an excellent way to do that. The ACHENTX Advancement Committee wants to support you on your journey. Join this informative session as we discuss the pathway and requirements to earning your certification, share some details about the Board of Governors exam process, provide some tidbits about the separate Board of Governors Exam Review course (which will be offered later this year by the Advancement Committee and led by local industry professionals).
Speakers:
Lee Ann Benson, FACHE
Senior Vice President
Maternal-Child Program Development
Children’s Health
Eric Stephens, MBA, FACHE, CAP-X, PMP
Vice President, Data and Analytics
Catalyst Health Group
Katie O’Neal
Strategic Account Executive
GE HealthCare

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Flavor & Fabric: AHLC Cultural Exchange
2026-03-26 17:30 - 19:30 | Medical City Las Colinas, 6800 North MacArthur Boulevard, Irving, TX, 75039
This ACHE of North Texas Asian Healthcare Leaders Community (AHLC) Cultural Networking & Professional Development Event will bring together Asian healthcare leaders for an inspiring evening of culture, connection, and growth. The program includes two dynamic 15–20 minute workshops:
5:45pm – Check-In/Networking
5:50pm – Workshop 1: Dr. Usha Peri (Healing Breaths) will lead an energizing, wellness-focused session featuring breathing and mindfulness techniques designed to reduce stress, enhance energy, boost resilience, and help prevent burnout among healthcare professionals.
6:15pm – Food / Networking (45 min)
7:00 – 7:30pm – Workshop 2: Career Management Partners (Bianca Chow) will deliver a high‑impact professional development session centered on personal branding, career visibility, and navigating advancement in the healthcare industry.
7:30 – 8pm Networking
In celebration of cultural heritage, the event will feature a multicultural potluck, where participants are invited to sign up to bring foods representing the flavors of their culture, and attendees are encouraged to wear attire that reflects their cultural identity, creating a vibrant, community‑building atmosphere.
Big thanks to our event hosts:
Medical City Las Colinas, SpinSci Technologies, CMP, and Healing Breaths
Speakers:
Bianca Chow
VP Client Solutions
CMP
Dr Usha Peri
Nephrologist Instructor
Healing Breaths
Speakers’ Bios:
Bianca Chow is a passionate coach, facilitator, and consultant with over 20 years of experience in brand management, marketing, global operations, change management, communications, and employee
engagement. Bianca pivoted into the consulting space in 2016 after leading teams and strategic global initiatives in Corporate America, which included time in the fashion, retail and tech industries. At CMP, Bianca leads strategic client initiatives and coaches individuals as they navigate career pivots of all sizes.
Bianca enjoys sharing her career journey and her personal story as a daughter of Chinese immigrants as a means of empowering others, specifically teen girls and women to reach their full potential. Building bridges of trust is important to Bianca as an AAPI woman, and she is a proud member of the Orchid Giving Circle. Bianca’s passion for philanthropy and raising awareness about the needs of the underserved within the Asian community is part of the long-lasting legacy she hopes to leave in the North Texas area and beyond.
Today she serves on the My Possibilities Foundation Board of Directors, a nonprofit focused on supporting individuals with disabilities in the North Texas community. Amplifying the voices of the unheard – be it through collaborative efforts with nonprofits, accelerators, global organizations or start-ups – is what makes Bianca tick.
Bianca holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from The McCombs School of Business
at the University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Usha Peri is double board certified in internal medicine and nephrology from Baylor College of Houston and UT Southwestern. She has had a successful private practice in the greater Dallas area for the past 20 years.
Dr. Peri has been married for 30 years with two grown children. She loves to read, travel, and cook international vegetarian cuisine, besides mentoring students and adults interested in personal growth.
She discovered yoga and meditation (SKY Breath Meditation) and uses these tools for her personal practice and resilience. Dr. Peri actively teaches SKY Breath Meditation to hundreds of healthcare professionals, students, and adults in a pay-forward way.

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ACHENTX WHEN Conference “Journeys Not Ladders: Redefining Success”
2026-03-27 08:30 - 13:30 | Texas Woman’s University – Dallas Campus, 5500 Southwestern Medical Ave, Dallas, TX, 75235
Redefining healthcare leadership through real stories, bold pivots, and purposeful success.

Journeys Not Ladders: Redefining Success is an inspiring healthcare leadership conference where accomplished women executives share real, non-linear career stories and practical insights to help attendees navigate change, lead with purpose, and define success on their own terms.
Conference Agenda:
8:30 – 9:00am - Registration & Light Breakfast/Coffee
9:00 – 9:15 am - Welcome/Introductions
9:15 – 9:45am - Conference Kick-Off
Topic:Importance of Managing Your Brand
Speaker: Bethany Williams
Associate
Ridge Pointe Commercial Real Estate
10:00– 10:45 am - Breakout Session 1
Topic Option #1: A Chat about the Art of Reinvention & Career Transformations
Speaker: Pat Driscoll
Professor
Texas Woman’s University
Topic Option #2: Transferable Skills to Make Career Pivots
Speaker: Niki Shah
SVP Impact Innovation & Activation
McKesson
Topic Option #3: Strategies to Elevate Communication Skills
Speaker: Felixia Colón, FACHE
Sr. VP Market Development
SCP Health
Topic Option #4: Linkedin Branding and Social Selling
Speaker: Terry Sullivan
Founder
BuzzPro
11:00 – 11:45 am - Breakout Session 2
Same four topic options will be repeated from Breakout Session 1
11:45 – 12:15 pm - Lunch/Networking
12:30 – 1:15 pm - Keynote Address
Topic: Executive Perspective on Choosing Leaders- Executive Panel
Panelists:
Heidi Seerden
President, Ultrasound US & Canada
GE Healthcare
Pam Stoyanoff, FACHE
President/COO
Methodist Health System
Carla Dawson
Chief People Officer
Texas Health Resources
Deena Neason
VP/Head of Global HR
Alcon
Moderator: Crystal Brown
Vice President Operations/COO
Methodist Mansfield Medical Center
1:15 – 1:30 pm - Closing

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Speakers Bios:
Felixia Colón, FACHE serves as Senior Vice President in Business Development at SCP Health, where she leads strategic market development at the executive and health system level. With more than 25 years of healthcare leadership experience, she brings deep expertise in clinical operations, physician practice management, and enterprise growth strategy.
Ms. Colón previously led SCP Health’s Telemedicine and Virtual Care service lines, overseeing expansion across Hospital Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and Critical Care Medicine. Under her leadership, the platform grew from three hospital medicine programs in 2016 to more than 100 sites by 2025, supporting hospitals nationwide with sustainable, high-quality clinical solutions.
Her professional background includes senior leadership roles across multi-specialty, multi-site physician practices, including emergency medicine, academic and private hospital medicine, transitional care medicine, tele-nocturnist and eHealth programs, and post-acute care environments (SNFs and LTACs). She has also led physician outreach initiatives in collaboration with a national health insurance carrier. Prior to joining SCP Health, Ms. Colón served as Senior Vice President for one of the largest independent physician practices in Texas, where she held enterprise-wide responsibility for operations, contracting, business development, marketing, recruiting, and healthcare payment reform initiatives, including participation in CMS’s Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) program.
A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Ms. Colón holds a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Management from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor of Health Administration from the University of North Florida. She is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and an active leader within the organization, having served as Regent-at-Large for District IV and former President of the ACHE North Texas Chapter. She has also held multiple elected board and committee leadership roles and serves as faculty for SCP Health’s Medical Leadership Intensive, focused on developing physician and advanced practice leaders.
Carla Dawson is the chief people officer of Texas Health Resources, celebrating 20 years of experience with the organization in 2025. Dawson is responsible for creating and executing Texas Health's people strategy while overseeing a range of departments, including Strategic HR, Benefits, THRU, Employee Health and Volunteer Services. Her passion is developing a culture of community that attracts, retains and inspires individuals to do their life’s best work.
Under Dawson's leadership, Texas Health has undergone a transformative journey, elevating the consumer experience and optimizing HR functions and processes. Dawson’s key accomplishments include navigating the organization through pandemic, designing and managing competitive Total Rewards offerings, modernizing HR technology solutions, and spearheading business acquisitions.
Her contributions have led to Texas Health being nationally and locally recognized with prestigious awards, such as Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For® list, Fortune’s Best Workplaces in Texas™ list, Fortune's Best Workplaces in Health Care™ list, 2024 HR Team of the Year by HRO Today magazine, and The Dallas Morning News Top DFW Employers list.
Prior to joining Texas Health in 2005, Dawson worked as a consultant at Hewitt Associates. She holds certified benefit professional and certified compensation professional certifications from WorldatWork and is a Prosci certified change management practitioner.
Dawson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in advertising with honors from Texas Tech
University.
An accomplished educator and senior healthcare leader; Pat Driscoll is the former President and CEO of Home Health Services of Texas, Inc. Prior to stepping into the CEO role, she served on the board of directors. She has more than 40 years of health care experience, including work in her private legal practice. As a practicing attorney, she handled an array of healthcare and employment issues as well as providing strategic advice to clients. Pat has had roles in a variety of clinical, executive, consultant, and educational settings. Pat currently serves as Professor of Healthcare Administration at Texas Woman's University. She was previously Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for St. Paul Medical Center, and served in managerial roles at Parkland Health and Hospital System and RHD Memorial Medical Center. In her role as a consultant, she advised Fortune 500 companies on health care strategy. Pat served for three years in the US Army Nurse Corps and helped develop cardiac care technology.
Pat has extensive expertise in acute and post -acute care, as well as community engagement. She is currently the Chair Emeritus of the board of directors of CHAP (Community Health Accreditation Partner) in Washington DC and is involved in the development of standards for all aspects of community-based care and in the implementation of Age-Friendly Care in the community setting. Pat is the past chair of the THR Community Leadership Council for Dallas and Rockwall, which is engaged in addressing social determinants of health with an emphasis on behavioral health in underserved zip codes. She served on the Board of Health First, an integrated health delivery system with four hospitals, a health plan, home health and hospice, and served as the Chair of the Board of the North Texas Health Industry Council. She chaired the Texas Alliance for Transitional Care (a consortium of acute and post-acute providers), the North Texas Intra-Professional Task Force, and currently serves on the Methodist Health System ACO Care Coordination Committee.
Pat holds a JD from Southern Methodist University, a Certificate in Governance from the Stanford University Rock School of Law, as well as a BSN and MSN.
Deena Rembert Neason is a seasoned global executive with more than 25 years of experience leading shared services operations, HR technology, and large‑scale business transformation across multiple industries and regions. With a unique foundation in both Human Resources and Information Technology, she is known for building high‑performing global teams, modernizing people processes, and delivering measurable operational and financial impact. She also served eight years in the United States Army Reserve.
Deena currently serves as Vice President and Head of Global HR Operations at Alcon, where she oversees Global HR Shared Services, HR Information Systems, Payroll Operations, and Employee Relations, supporting approximately 25,000 associates in more than 80 countries.
Prior to Alcon, she held senior leadership roles at Dr Pepper Snapple Group, where she provided executive leadership to a robust HR Services organization supporting the company’s workforce and operations. She also served in strategic roles at Pitney Bowes, where she played a key part in the company’s global HR transformation initiative, delivering more than $25 million in annualized savings and leading a multi‑country European deployment. She began her career at International Paper, advancing through several IT leadership positions.
Deeply committed to service and community leadership, Deena serves on the Executive Board of the DFW MidCities Chapter of Jack and Jill of America and is a member and former officer of the Chi Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She served in multiple leadership roles—including Strategic Planning Chair, Second Vice President, and HBCU for Life Chair—where she spearheaded significant scholarship fundraising efforts in support of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. She has also served in leadership roles with the United Negro College Fund and the National Black MBA Association.
Deena holds a Master of Engineering Management from Christian Brothers University, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Tennessee State University, and is a Six Sigma Black Belt.
She is the proud mother of a 28‑year‑old son, Keith; a 14‑year‑old daughter, Jessica; and a loving golden doodle, Rio.
Heidi Seerden is responsible for leading the Ultrasound sales value creation product strategy across the US & Canada market. Through Ultrasound specialization, enhancing customer experience and employee development, Heidi sets the strategy to deliver the best tools to employees to support our customers. Heidi to drives customer satisfaction and business growth through providing market specific insights that help inform product development roadmaps and long-term strategic planning.
Heidi joined GE Healthcare in 2005 as a member of the Commercial Leadership Program. She has since held account manager and executive roles, as well as led the digital solutions team for the South-Central US. Most recently, she served as the Strategic Solutions Executive focused on developing complex partnerships with GEHC’s most strategic clients.
Heidi is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University where she earned a Bachelor and Master of Business Administration. She is also Green Belt Six Sigma Certified. She resides in Victoria, Texas with her husband, Daron, and three children Sadie, Cade and Kensie.
Heidi is an active volunteer in the South Texas Community to include serving as youth soccer coach (also a certified referee), a sustaining member of the Junior League of Victoria and supports many local youth focused organizations.
Niki Shah MBA, MHSA, CCHW, currently serves at the Senior Vice President of Health Impact & Innovation for McKesson. She has built this team, part of the Global Impact Organization, Niki leads the design and execution of strategies that deliver on McKesson’s commitment advancing health outcomes for all through developing innovative solutions, products and offerings that address health & access which drives business value. She works across all of McKesson’s business, customer and community segments to create impact driven initiatives. Key initiative areas include value-based solutions for clinical settings, advancing the community-based workforce, access to care solutions, the creation of our Innovation Lab and the new McKesson Institute of Community & Health.
Niki has spent the last 16 years in healthcare. Prior to McKesson, she served as the Vice President of Community Health for Baylor Scott & White. While in this role, she also simultaneously led initiatives for the organization in Behavioral Health, Digital Health, and Primary Care Transformation. Key focus areas included the development and operationalization of the Texas Medicaid 1115 Waiver programs, establishing the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) and creating care innovations for health plans in the Medicaid and Medicare areas. Prior to transitioning her career to healthcare, Niki was in corporate finance at General Mills and Target Corporation.
She completed her undergraduate degrees in economics and political science and dual MBA and MHSA graduate degrees at the University of Michigan as well as an administrative internship at Yale New Haven. Niki also completed her certification as a Certified Community Health Worker at Texas A&M University and most recently earned certifications from Harvard and Yale Universities around ESG. She has received numerous accolades including Becker’s Hospital Review’s 66 Rising Stars Under 40, Dallas Business Journal’s Minority Business Leader Award, Modern Health Care’s Top 25 Emerging Leaders and she was also selected into Leadership Dallas.
Niki is passionate about building impactful and innovative programs to serve the most vulnerable patients and communities. She loves partnering in the development of catalysts that improve the quality of human life and produce better outcomes for more people.
Niki resides in the DFW area with her husband and two children. She enjoys volunteering, cooking, Michigan football and serial ideating.
Pamela Stoyanoff, MBA, CPA and FACHE and is currently President and Chief Operating Officer for the 12 hospital Methodist Health System in Dallas, Texas. In that role she is leads strategic planning for the system and provides operational leadership for its hospitals, joint ventures and medical group. She is passionate about the Quadruple Aim and improving health by leading efforts that help to reduce health disparities.
She has been a member of numerous Boards including the Dallas Ft. Worth Hospital Council Education and Foundation Board, the Texas Hospital Association Board of Directors, the American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Finance Committee.
Prior to coming toDallas, Pam was the Chief Financial Officer for the St. Vincent Health System (4 hospitals) inLittle Rock,Arkansas. She is originally fromChicago,Illinoisand began her career at Arthur Anderson & Co.
Pam has her BS in Business Administration with a major in Accounting, is a CPA and has her Masters degree from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management in Lake Forest, Illinois. She is also a FACHE.
Pam has spoken around the country on many topics including revenue cycle management, robotics, cost reduction strategies and diversity in healthcare supply procurement.
She has been voted one of the top “100 Women Hospital and Health System Leaders to Know” by Becker’s Hospital Review, one of the top 25 Women in Business in Dallas/Ft. Worth by the Dallas Business Journal and was also selected by the Dallas Business Journal as a Health Care Hero (in recognition of contributions toward improving health care in North Texas).
Terry Sullivan is an internationally recognized expert in LinkedIn Branding and Social Selling. Each year, he delivers over 100 presentations and has trained thousands of professionals across the country, Europe, and South Korea on how to find, connect, and develop relationships with your key contacts and prospects using his advanced LinkedIn Branding and Social Selling tips and strategies.
Through his dynamic training programs, Terry empowers individuals and teams to harness the unlimited power of keyword optimization, digital branding, and social selling. These strategies help professionals and businesses generate better leads, attract more prospects, and achieve measurable results. BuzzPro is known for its innovative solutions and is a trusted leader in Social Selling and Digital Branding world.
He develops on this foundation by bringing Social Selling into his training programs, where he works with his clients to train them on how to use LinkedIn to find, connect, and develop strong relationships with their key contacts and prospects.
Terry works with a diverse range of clients and industries, teaching them how to fill their networking funnels with qualified leads, secure more appointments, and close more deals. Using the unlimited power of LinkedIn, he shows professionals and businesses alike how to grow their networks, enhance their visibility, and drive networking success.
Before founding BuzzPro, Terry served as Director of Marketing at Verizon Communications, where his leadership helped the company acquire over 456,000 new customers and significantly reduce churn rates, even amid pricing challenges and competitive pressures.
Terry holds an MBA from Texas State University and a Social Media Marketing Certificate from Agorapulse and is a certified AI user with jasper.ai, further establishing his expertise in his field of digital marketing.
Today, Terry is not only a sought-after speaker and professional trainer but is also a trusted digital marketing advisor to professionals, companies, organizations, and universities nationwide. If you're ready to elevate your personal LinkedIn brand and enhance your networking results, Terry has the insights and strategies you need to help you thrive!
Bethany Williams believes every healthcare leader has more impact left to make.
A former healthcare executive turned branding expert and author, Bethany helps professionals reimagine what is possible, whether they are stepping into larger leadership roles or preparing for an entirely new season of life, shaped by her own journey through significant business and personal challenges that give her a deep understanding of healthcare leadership struggles.
Through her work with the Association of Healthcare Authors and Speakers, she partners with physicians and executives to share their stories, shape their legacy, and amplify their influence through thought leadership, books, and speaking platforms. Today, she also works with investors as a commercial real estate advisor with Ridge Pointe Commercial Real Estate helping clients acquire income producing properties that build long term wealth and financial freedom.
Her approach is strategic, confidential, and deeply personal. She helps leaders answer one powerful question. What is your next chapter?
Bethany is the author of Brand You and other leadership titles, and she is passionate about helping others move forward with clarity, courage, and purpose.

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ACHENTX Spring Networking Event at Community Beer
2026-04-16 17:00 - 19:30 | Community Beer Co. Taproom & Restaurant, 3110 Commonwealth Drive, Dallas, TX, 75247
You’re not going to want to miss out on this fun evening of networking with our ACHENTX colleagues!

Please join us for our ACHE of North Texas Spring Networking Event. See familiar faces, make new connections and catch-up with colleagues in our healthcare industry. Expand your network in a relaxed brewery setting—great conversations, new opportunities, and excellent brews await. A great selection of mocktails are also available.
Ticket includes a grazing table with light appetizers, cash bar, and parking is free in surrounding lots.

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Community Event - Crossroads Community Market
2026-04-18 09:30 - 12:30 | Crossroads Community Services, 4500 South Cockrell Hill Road, Dallas, TX, 75236
Join ACHENTX in supporting Crossroad Community Services—serving hope by helping residents have access to nutrition food.

Join ACHE for an energizing, hands‑on volunteer event with Crossroads Community Services, where we’ll support their Community Market and help neighbors access the nutritious food that directly strengthens community health. This is a chance to make a real impact on the social determinants of health while having fun, working as a team, and serving Dallas families with dignity and care.
What you’ll be doing

Assisting shoppers with completing a brief survey and building their grocery order
Helping shoppers select groceries and guiding them through checkout
Loading groceries into vehicles with a friendly send‑off
Re‑stocking market shelves to keep the experience smooth for everyone
Sorting fresh produce as needed
Building emergency food boxes to support families facing urgent needs

Supporting the Community Market is more than volunteering! This is advancing health equity, reducing food insecurity, and helping prevent chronic disease by ensuring families have access to nutritious, balanced meals.

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ACHENTX 2026 Q2 Education Event
2026-04-23 15:30 - 19:00 | Texas Health Resources, 612 E Lamar Blvd., Arlington, TX, 76011
Both panels have been approved for 1.50 ACHE In-Person Education Credits. (You will earn 3.00 credits if you attend both sessions.)

3:30–5:00 pm – Panel 1: Building the Hospital of Tomorrow – Rehabilitate, Renovate, or Replace
Healthcare organizations are confronting unprecedented pressure to modernize aging facilities while balancing capital constraints, shifting patient needs, and emerging technologies. This panel explores the strategic, financial, and operational considerations behind three critical pathways: rehabilitating existing structures, renovating for modern care delivery, or pursuing full replacement.
Moderator

John Klitsch, FACHE – President, Texas Health Flower Mound

Panelists

Kathi Cox – COO, THR Ambulatory & Virtual Care
Whitney Higgins – Administrator, Baylor Surgicare Dallas
Julie Frazier – Principal, Perkins & Will

5:30-7pm – Panel 2: Improving the Bottom Line by Optimizing Patient Throughput
Effective patient throughput is a challenge for most organizations even though a sound program can significantly affect operational costs, service capacity, and patient experience. Creating good patient throughput includes strategies that closely align organizational structures, processes, and people to initiate discharge execution at the time of admission. Bringing these complex systems together requires an ongoing transdisciplinary approach to plan, manage and monitor each area’s metrics such as length of stay, patient holding and emergency department left without being seen, and patient satisfaction. Results of a sound program may include increased bed capacity, improved revenue, and reduced costs. This discussion will explore strategies to reduce excess inpatient days and create bed capacity through multiple interlocking clinical initiatives.
Moderator

John Klitsch, FACHE – President, Texas Health Flower Mound

Panelists

Josh Bourgeois – EVP & CNO, Hospital Operations, Children’s Health
D. Scott Phillips – VP, Texas Health Connect
Sharita Butler, MHA – VP, Clinical Programs Growth & Development, Children’s Health

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Speakers’ Bios:
Josh Bourgeois has been with Children’s Health since 2007 and has played a key role at the Plano campus since its opening in 2008. In that time, Children’s Medical Center Plano grew from its original 72 beds to the 212-bed hospital it is today. Children’s Medical Center Plano is a designated Level III pediatric trauma center serving the Collin County community and has one of the busiest emergency departments in Collin County. Josh currently serves as Executive Vice President for Hospital Operations and Chief Nursing Officer, overseeing nursing and ancillary support services.
Dr. Bourgeois earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing Administration from Northeastern University in Boston and later completed his Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of Texas at Arlington.
Josh is currently in his fifth year as a board member on the Plano ISD Education Foundation, and most recently started his term at the North Central Texas Workforce Development Board of Directors.

As Vice President of Clinical Programs for the Northern Market at Children’s Health, Sharita Butler embodies innovation and growth. Her day-to-day work enhances life for team members, patients, and the North Texas community. With a lifelong passion for community health, after earning her master’s in healthcare administration and spending years in a hospital setting, Sharita’s role now combines her clinical experience with the community’s needs by focusing on growth of key clinical programs and services.
Sharita puts as much enthusiasm into the strategic planning for an updated campus as she does to her mentorship and community volunteering. Sharita attributes her passion to her roles as a wife and mother of three, where she has learned the importance of preparing children for the future, including aspects such as medical care and mental well-being. She is invested in her community, serving as the Chair of the Plano Family YMCA Board, Chair of CASA of Collin County, Young Professionals Chair for the Allen Chamber Board, and the UT Arlington Healthcare Administration Advisory Board Member. She is a recent graduate of Leadership Allen and serves as a Mentor for American College of Healthcare Executives.
Sharita’s experience in planning, design, outreach, and patient access has led her to a role where she thrives on solving complex challenges in the fast-paced healthcare environment, while also serving as a mentor to those around her.

Kathi Cox is the chief operating officer of the ambulatory and virtual channel at Texas Health. In her role, she is charged with thinking beyond traditional healthcare offerings and forging innovative new models of care for North Texans. Her role enables her to offer consumers new ways to better meet their needs while expanding Texas Health’s reach.
Kathi started her career with Texas Health over 30 years ago and advanced through various positions of increasing responsibility. Her work now includes building and supporting new models of care using both physical and virtual interactions, including urgent care, virtual visits, behavioral health and home healthcare. She brings a passion for the consumer experience and using technology to streamline operations. She recently was recognized as Outstanding Healthcare Innovator in the D CEO 2024 Excellence in Healthcare awards.
Prior to serving in her current role, she worked in hospital operations, information technology, and patient and family experience within Texas Health. This diverse background has provided her with a wealth of knowledge across the continuum of care that has been vital in her work to establish a seamless experience for consumers.
Kathi is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and holds an M.B.A. from Western Governors University.

As Director of Healthcare Planning, Julie Frazier, AIA, ACHA, LEED AP, has been working hand-in-hand with healthcare leaders for over 20 years, designing solutions to meet their needs for now and into the future. Julie works with healthcare facilities of all sizes and specialties and has a robust knowledge of patient care efficiencies and innovations leading to improved outcomes. She is a thought leader in the industry speaking and writing on innovative ways to plan the physical environment.
In her role, Julie tackles global design initiatives such as sustainability and resilience by championing the effort as co-director of the Perkins&Will’s Firmwide Resilient Design Taskforce to reduce risks and champion equitable healthcare for all. She’s driven by how research and metrics can be applied to produce continual improvement. Julie has been able to lend her time and expertise by leading committees and organizations who focus on an equitable workplace and industry. She led the American College of Healthcare Architects’ JEDI taskforce and is currently the President of the DFW Chapter of Women In Healthcare. She also serves as President Elect on the national board for Women In Healthcare. In her free time she serves as President for the Young Men’s Service League Wylie Chapter where she volunteers side by side with her sons teaching them the value of servitude along the way.

Whitney Higgins, BSN, RN is the Administrator and CEO of Baylor Scott & White Surgicare
Downtown Dallas, a nationally recognized ambulatory surgery center ranked #1 ASC in Texas by Newsweek 3 years in a row. With almost two decades of healthcare leadership experience and a clinical foundation in critical care nursing, Whitney brings a unique perspective that bridges frontline patient care with healthcare operations and strategic facility development. Whitney began her career in the Neurosciences ICU at UT Southwestern Zale Lipshy University Hospital, where she served in multiple leadership roles, including Assistant Nurse Manager and Rapid Response RN, contributing to the hospital’s Joint Commission accreditation and comprehensive stroke center designation. Her early clinical experience caring for complex surgical patients continues to inform her approach to healthcare innovation and patient- centered facility design.
Since joining United Surgical Partners International (USPI), Whitney has held progressive leadership roles including Nurse Manager, Director of Nursing, and now Administrator. She currently oversees the operations, financial performance, and strategic growth of Baylor Scott& White Surgicare Downtown Dallas, while partnering with physicians and health system leaders to expand surgical services and improve access to high-quality outpatient care. Most recently, Whitney led the full-cycle development and relocation of the center into a new state-of-the-art surgical facility, helping position the organization for the next generation of outpatient surgical care. Her work focuses on aligning physicians, health systems, and operational strategy to support the continued shift of complex procedures into specialized ambulatory environments. Whitney holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UT Health Science Center San Antonio, graduating summa cum laude, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is passionate about advancing innovative care delivery models that improve patient outcomes, enhance efficiency, and shape the hospitals and surgical platforms of the future.

John Klitsch has served as the President of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Flower Mound since 2022. Prior to joining Flower Mound, John served as the Professional & Support Services Officer for Texas Health Hospital Frisco, a joint venture between Texas Health Resources and UT Southwestern Medical Center. John and his wife, Alex, moved to Dallas in 2011. They have been married for 18 years and have three children.
John began his career at CIGNA and has served in various, progressive leadership roles at Tenet Healthcare, Baylor Scott & White, and Texas Health Resources. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Business from Lafayette College and a Master of Business Administration in Health Sector Management from Duke University.
John currently serves on the Boards of the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce, Riverwalk Business Owners Association, and Timber Creek Business Owners Association. He is a member of YPO North Texas and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Scott Phillips is a healthcare executive with over 30 years of progressive experience in patient access, revenue cycle operations, and enterprise care navigation. As Vice President of Texas Health Connect, Patient Access and Navigation at Texas Health Resources, Scott leads system‑wide strategies to simplify access, improve patient navigation, and modernize the front door of care across one of the largest integrated health systems in North Texas.
Throughout his career, Scott has driven large‑scale operational transformation spanning scheduling, referral management, contact centers, and digital access channels. He has played a key leadership role in building multi‑entity scheduling and intake centers, implementing standardized quality and performance models, and deploying enterprise revenue cycle and access technologies—including Epic Prelude, Cadence, and Grand Central—across acute care hospitals, behavioral health, and ambulatory settings.
Scott is widely recognized for developing best‑practice models that have earned national revenue cycle recognition and for his ability to align operational needs with a consumer‑focused mindset. He is deeply engaged in enterprise innovation, partnering with clinical, operational, and technology leaders to advance referral management, navigation, and digital access strategies.

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Spring Membership Drive and Networking at Maple Branch Craft Brewery
2026-04-28 17:30 - 19:30 | Maple Branch Craft Brewery, 2628 Whitmore Street, Fort Worth, TX, 76107
Learn more about ACHE of North Texas at our Spring Membership Drive and Networking Event at Maple Branch Craft Brewery. This will be an opportunity to network and meet current members of ACHE of North Texas. Join us for this event to learn more about our chapter and future events throughout the coming months.
Prospective members can attend for free. ACHE members bringing a prospective member guest, can attend for half price.
Ticket includes one drink ticket and heavy hors d’oeuvres. Lot and street parking are both available for attendees.

Guest Speaker:
Jared Shelton, FACHE
President
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth

Jared Shelton, FACHE, serves as president of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, assuming the role in September 2024 after a two-year stint as president at Texas Health HEB.
Shelton’s previous roles included six years as president of Texas Health Allen, and a term as vice president of Professional & Support Services for Texas Health Dallas.
He completed his undergraduate studies at Wake Forest University with a Bachelor of Science degree in business and a minor in religion. He also earned a Master of Science in health care administration from Trinity University. Shelton was named the 2024 Trinity University Health Care Administration Alumni Association “Momentum Award” winner, which recognizes early careerists age 40 and under for outstanding achievements in the field of health care management.
Shelton currently serves as a trustee on the Board of Directors for the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council. He is also serving a three-year term as Regent for the American College of Healthcare Executives in District 4, Texas-Northern. He is a past president for the North Texas chapter of ACHE. He has served two terms on the Texas Hospital Association’s “Council on Policy Development” and is also a member of the Wake Forest Athletic Advisory Council.
Outside of work, Shelton and his wife, Kathryn, enjoy parenthood with their young children — daughters, Mackenzie and Caroline, and son, Jack.

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Combined Networking Blitz - Mentorship Program Orientation
2026-05-04 18:00 - 20:00 | South College, 1507 Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, Dallas, TX, 75234
We’re excited to once again be combining two events into one gathering, enabling our Spring Networking Blitz participants to also connect with our 2026 ACHE of North Texas Mentorship Program mentor and mentee participants.
We will start the evening with everyone gathered together for some fun networking activities, a brief showcasing of the ACHE of North Texas chapter and an exploration of how to maximize your ACHE membership experience. Then, as the night progresses, the two groups will separate with 1) the 2026 ACHENTX Mentors and Mentees having an orientation of this year’s Mentorship Program and 2) the Networking Blitz attendees continuing with some additional organized networking opportunities.
It’s going to be an evening filled with a lot of fun and TONS of networking! We look forward to seeing you there!
Guest Speakers:
Dr. Chris McCracken, OTD, MBA, OTR/L, PMP, FACHE is an occupational therapist who has worked in the healthcare industry for more than 30 years, the last 15 in various leadership roles within rehab and service line administration. She recently transitioned to higher education.
Chris joined South College in 2024 and was promoted to Dean of Academic & Student Services in 2025. She is the dean at the Dallas campus, one of 10 South College on-ground campuses. She has a doctorate in occupational therapy (OTD) and a master’s degree in business (MBA). She is PMP (Project Management Professional) certified and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). She was the 2024 president of ACHE of East Tennessee.
South College focuses on educational excellence, offering a myriad of healthcare programs from the certificate to the doctoral level. Dr. McCracken is passionate about helping others realize their dreams and change their lives.
She lives in the Denton area with her husband, the youngest of three adult children, and three dogs. Outside of work, Chris enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, horseback riding, scuba diving, reading, writing, true crime shows, and hiking.

Laura Parsons-Yanez is a healthcare operations leader with more than 15 years of experience driving performance, quality, and operational excellence across clinical and corporate healthcare environments. She currently serves as Senior Manager of Operational Excellence at Walmart Health & Wellness, where she leads enterprise-wide initiatives focused on patient safety and quality improvement across all US Walmart and Sam’s Club Pharmacies and Vision Centers.
Throughout her career, Laura has built a reputation for developing high-performing teams, implementing data-driven decision-making frameworks, and leading large-scale operational transformations. Prior to her current role, she served as Director of Operations at US Anesthesia Partners, where she oversaw scheduling operations for North Texas, supporting more than 850 providers across 160 facilities and played a key role in optimizing staffing models, improving provider engagement, and enhancing operational efficiency.
Laura started her career clinically in the field of intraoperative monitoring at Detroit Medical Center and later moved into various leadership roles where she drove growth, strengthened compliance programs, and improved service delivery. She is particularly passionate about mentoring emerging leaders, fostering accountability, and helping professionals navigate complex career paths in healthcare.
Laura holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Hope College in Holland, Michigan and later went on to earn her MBA with a healthcare specialization at Baylor’s Executive MBA program here in Dallas.
Laura has been an active member of the North Texas chapter of ACHE for 10 years and currently serves on the Board of Directors. Laura is the current board liaison for the Mentorship Committee, and also served on the Networking Committee for 5 years as both a committee member, Vice Chair and Chair.
Outside of her professional work, Laura and her husband stay busy keeping up with their two active sons, ages 8 and 11, with baseball, basketball, soccer, swim team, and cub scouts. They also enjoy spending time in the mountains skiing or hiking, travelling to see family and playing tennis or pickleball.

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2026 ACHE East-North-Midwest Texas Multi-Chapter Education Symposium
2026-05-14 08:00 - 16:30 | Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Plano, 1100 Allied Drive, Plano, TX, 75093
Architecting the Future of Care: Strategy, Leadership, and System Redesign in a Technology-Driven World.
Hosted by the North, East and Midwest Texas ACHE Chapters.

Symposium Dates: May 14 (in-person), 15, 20 & 28 (virtual)
May 14 In-Person Times: 8am-4:30pm
May 14 In-Person Location: Baylor Scott & White Heart Hospital-Plano
1100 Allied Drive
Plano, TX 75093
The ACHE East, North, and Midwest Texas Chapters are excited to present our 2026 Multi-Chapter Education Symposium; a dynamic event, offering one, two, three or four-day options (depending upon your chosen sessions). This event has been designed for healthcare leaders, innovators, and emerging executives. Featuring a blend of in-person and virtual programming, this year’s symposium explores the future of healthcare through leadership, technology, strategy, and system transformation.
You can customize your experience by choosing from 15 different panel topics, 7 of which will be offered in-Person and 8 will be offered Virtually. Because some of these panels will be offered concurrently, if you attend the maximum number of 10 sessions (maximum of 4 in-person and 6 virtual), you will earn 15 CEUs (up to 6.0 hours of ACHE In-Person Education Credits and 9.0 hours of ACHE Virtual Interactive Education Credits).
Note: Separate registrations are required for each virtual panel. With your registration for the in-person portion of the event, you will receive a discount code for 25% off each virtual panel for which you choose to register. Pick the panels you want to attend. If you choose not to register for the in-person portion, you may still register for any of the virtual panels at full price.
Join your peers from across the northern part of Texas and beyond, to gain actionable insights, expand your network, and stay ahead in an evolving healthcare landscape.
Summary of Symposium Offerings/Credits:
15 Total Topics from which You can Choose:

7 In-Person Education panels, attend up to 4. After registering for this one-day in-person event, you will receive in your Eventbrite promo code for 25% off each of the symposium’s virtual panels. (If you attend all four in-person segments, you will earn 6.0 In-Person credits.)
8 Virtual Interactive Education panels, attend up to 6.(If you attend all six, you will earn 9.0 Virtual credits.)

May 14 In-Person Itinerary/Topics
8-8:45 am – Registration and Breakfast
8:45-10:15 am – Panel Topic: Healthcare Leadership in the 4th Industrial Revolution
Moderator: Ken Hutchenrider – President, Methodist Richardson
Panelists:
Mary Wylie, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Baylor Scott & White Medical center – Plano
Jeff Stewart, Vice President Strategic Marketing, CHRISTUS Health
Clint Abernathy, President, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano
Break – 10:15 am – 10:30 am
10:30 am – 12 pm Sessions
Panel Option 1: Quality Management Systems: Ensuring High Quality Care
Moderator: Bert Witherspoon, Founder & Managing Partner, Triaxiom Advisors, LLC
Panelists:
Dr. Amer Aldeen, Chief Medical Officer, US Acute Care Solutions
Jackie Lopez, Vice President, Ambulatory Quality and Safety, CHRISTUS Health
Patty Kallal, Director Quality Outcomes THPG/Hospital, Texas Health
Panel Option 2: Inclusive Leadership in Healthcare
Moderator: Cassandra Self, Professional Services and Finance Officer, Texas Health Resources
Panelists:
Hamid Sedique, Executive Director-Northeast Texas, Texas Oncology
Pam Bryant, SVP & Supply Chain Officer, Parkland
Shane Brumit, VP of Business Development, Aramark
12-1pm – Lunch
1 – 2:30 pm Sessions
Panel Option 1: On the Executive Track: Leading People Who are More Experienced Than You
Moderator: Brandon Lewis, President, US Acute Care Solutions
Panelists:
Cody Hunter, President, Methodist Hospital Celina
Pete Larose, Associate Vice President of Healthcare Technology Management, Texas Health Resources
Vern Rennier, CEO, Oceans Healthcare Longview
Panel Option 2: Behavior Change and Patient Engagement: The Endgame for Gamification in Healthcare
Moderator: Nick Kagal, Customer Success Executive, Press Ganey
Panelists:
Junaid Kalia, Founder & CEO, SaveLife. AI
Brandi Jaco, Director Patient Experience, CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic
Susan Moats, Regional Chief Nursing Officer/ Vice President of Patient Care Services, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Plano
2:30-3 pm – Break
3 – 4:30 pm Sessions
Panel Option 1: Changing Business Strategies and Aligning Executive Compensation
Moderator: John Carter, Brand Ambassador, Pinnacle Healthcare Consulting
Panelists:
Nelson Mann, Senior Partner, WittKieffer
Stacy Dorsey, SVP & Chief Workforce Officer, Parkland
Cory Edmondson, President & CEO, United Regional Health Care System
Panel Option 2: The Role of Data and Advanced Analytics in Transforming Healthcare
Moderator: Nick Kagal, Customer Success Executive, Press Ganey
Panelists:
James Griffin, CEO, Invene
David Gano, Executive Director, Performance Improvement, CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic
Lisa Kilgore, Healthcare IT Executive, Enterprise Technology Strategy & Clinical Systems Integration
Click here to download the May 14 Speakers’ Bios.

Register Here for May 14 In-Person Segment

The above Ticket/registration is for the in-person May 14 day only. Once you have registered for the above event, you will see in your Eventbrite confirmation containing your 25% off discount code for the virtual offerings tied to this symposium. Click the links below for each respective event title to learn more/register for one or more of these Virtual Panels:
Friday, May 15th – Virtual Panels (NOTE: Both of these time slots have two topics running concurrently. Choose one for each time.)
8:00am-9:30 am Sessions
Panel Option 1: Improving the Health Status of Your Community

Panel Option 2: Developing an Environment of Civility and Respect In Healthcare Organizations: Resources to Empower Healthcare Leaders to Identify, Intervene, and Prevent Workplace Bullying, Incivility and Disrespect
10:00 am -11:30 am Sessions
Panel Option 1: Designing a More Efficient and Higher Quality Patient-Centered Healthcare Delivery Facilities Model
Panel Option 2: Management and Prevention of Hospital Acquired Infections

Wednesday, May 20th – Virtual Panels
12pm -1:30pm – Emergency Department Operational Standards in the 21st Century
2:00pm -3:30 pm – Understanding Implicit Bias and Its Impact on Healthcare Leadership
Thursday, May 28th – Virtual
3:30pm-5:00pm – Strategies for Effective Crisis Leadership
5:30pm- 7:00pm – Navigating Key Legislative Issues Facing Healthcare Leaders

Improving the Health Status of Your Community
2026-05-15 08:00 - 09:30 | Virtual
This panel has been approved for 1.50 ACHE Virtual Interactive Education Credits.

Note: If you are a registrant of the in-person (May 14) portion of the 2026 ACHE East-North-Midwest Texas Multi-Chapter Education Symposium, you are eligible to purchase your ticket for the below referenced virtual panel at a 25% discount. The promo code for that discount is provided to you in your confirmation email from Eventbrite for the May 14 event.
Healthcare organizations exist to serve the communities in which they reside. Though community health has always been a focus for these organizations, new regulations require them to take an active role. The health of a community or geographic population has a critical impact on a healthcare organization’s planning, operations, financial sustainability, outcomes and success.
Due to the implementation of the key components of the healthcare reform by legislation, it will be even more important that provider organizations are both aware of and responsive to the health status and disease states that are most prevalent in their communities. Not only is a population-based focus the right thing to do, but it may prove to be the financially astute course of action.
Moderator: Lee Ann Benson, Senior Vice President, Maternal-Child Program Development for Children’s Health and UT Southwestern Joint Pediatric Enterprise, Children’s Health
Panelists:
Teresa Wagner, Associate Professor, Department of Health Administration and Health Policy, UNT Health of Fort Worth
Ashley Dias, Health Practice Leader, Principal, Perkins Will
Dr. David Nelson, Division Chief of Maternal Fetal Medicine, U Southwestern
Speakers’ Bios:
Lee Ann Benson, FACHE, serves as the Senior Vice President, Maternal-Child Program Development for Children’s Health and UT Southwestern Joint Pediatric Enterprise (JPE). In this role, Lee Ann is responsible for leading strategic planning, development and execution of the Maternal-Child Program including Obstetrics, Maternal Fetal Medicine, and Neonatology.
Prior to joining Children’s Health in 2022, Lee Ann served as the Vice President of the East Valley Market for Phoenix Children’s, the leading pediatric health system in Arizona. In this role, Lee Ann was responsible for providing strategic leadership for the full continuum of pediatric services in Phoenix Children’s East Valley Market. She led the development and implementation of the comprehensive strategic plan for the East Valley market focused on the continued growth and development of primary care, specialty care, ancillary services, and hospital services.
Lee Ann graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration. Lee Ann earned a Master of Science in Health Administration and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Lee Ann is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. She serves as the Chair-Elect of the Advancement Committee for the American College of Healthcare Executives of North Texas and on the Board of Directors for the Women in Healthcare Leadership organization at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Outside of work, you can find Lee Ann and her husband Beau cheering on their 9-year old twins, Lynlee and Reid, at sporting events or just enjoying the great outdoors.
Healthcare Practice Lead for the Houston Studio of Perkins&Will, Ashley Dias is an architect, planner, designer, and strategist. A thought leader on topics such as “Hospitals of Tomorrow”, her experience includes many of the top academic medical centers in the U.S., more than 10 pediatric health systems, and more than 25 hospitals worldwide. Ashley is recognized for her ability to integrate strategic, operational, and facility perspectives into comprehensive health facility planning—transforming data and analytics into compelling scenarios that empower clients to make confident decisions.

David B. Nelson, MD, FACOG, (he/him) is an Associate Professor and Dedman Family Scholar in Clinical Care at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He currently holds the Gillette Professorship in Obstetrics & Gynecology and serves as the Division Chief of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at UT Southwestern and Parkland Health. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and received funding from the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute for an $18 million randomized trial. Dr. Nelson is an Associate Editor for the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, is the Senior Editor for the upcoming 27th edition of Williams Obstetrics, and serves several functions for the American Board of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Dr. Nelson has a passion for advocacy and has twice provided invited testimony to the United States Congress on the topic of improving maternal heath through prevention and access to care.

Dr. Teresa Wagner graduated with a Doctorate in Public Health from the University of North Texas Health Science Center, where she is an Associate Professor in the College of Public Health, Department of Health Administration and Health Policy. She also serves as the Director of the UNTHSC Texas State Certified Community Health Worker Training Center. She’s cross-appointed in both the College of Nursing and the College of Health Professions. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Dietetics from Texas Christian University and Master’s Degree in Nutrition from Texas Woman’s University. Dr. Wagner is a registered and licensed dietitian with a doctorate in public health. She’s certified in Public Health, Patient Safety, Lifestyle Medicine, Health Coaching, and a certified Community Health Worker (CHW) Instructor. She has delivered multiple programs, speaking engagements and trainings on health literacy issues. Currently, she teaches Health Literacy & Communication in the College of Public Health and in the Personalized Health & Wellbeing Program. She teaches Patient Safety, Health Coaching, Nutrition and Health Literacy in the College of Nursing. Her research focuses on facilitating communication for both personal and organizational health literacy to improve health outcomes and population health. She’s a sought-after presenter and mentor who works to certify community health workers as conduits to health literacy. As a result of her work, she has received multiple awards and accolades, including the 2018 Texas Health Literacy Hero Award and the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award from Texas Christian University. In 2023, she received the UNTHSC School of Health Professions Faculty Achievement Award. In 2024, she received the Texas Distinguished Dietitian Award, the Outstanding Dietitian Award from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and a Global Service Award from the International Health Literacy Association.

Register Here for this Virtual Panel

Developing an Environment of Civility and Respect
2026-05-15 08:00 - 09:30 | Virtual
This panel has been approved for 1.50 ACHE Virtual Interactive Education Credits.

Note: If you are a registrant of the in-person (May 14) portion of the 2026 ACHE East-North-Midwest Texas Multi-Chapter Education Symposium, you are eligible to purchase your ticket for the below referenced virtual panel at a 25% discount. The promo code for that discount is provided to you in your confirmation email from Eventbrite for the May 14 event.
Developing an Environment of Civility and Respect In Healthcare Organizations Resources to Empower Healthcare Leaders to Identify, Intervene, and Prevent Workplace Bullying, Incivility and Disrespect.
The organizational culture of a healthcare organization plays a critically important role in shaping the work environment for its employees. Organizations with environments of civility and respect recruit the best and brightest people, exude high morale and high job satisfaction by their employees, and demonstrate high performing teamwork. Unfortunately, disrespect and incivility at work is rampant in many organizations, and it’s on the rise. Uncivil behaviors are characteristically rude and discourteous, displaying a lack of regard for others. There is an organizational price to be paid for uncivil encounters among coworkers. Employees that have experienced or witnessed incivility reduce their commitment to the organization and demonstrate a reduction in work effort. While individual factors may play a major role in contributing to incivility and disrespectful cultures, the workplace environment is a powerful force that consciously or unconsciously enables acts of incivility, disrespect and bullying. Emerging evidence and anecdotal reports suggest that the conscientiousness of healthcare leaders in implementing comprehensive, cohesive, and integrated bullying prevention and intervention programs in their organizations is critical to promote environments of respect and enhance the sustainability of cultures of civility. This panel discussion will focus on tools and methods to identify and address incivility, bullying and disrespectful behavior in the workplace environment as well as methods to develop and support a culture of civility and respect in healthcare organizations.
Moderator: Aaron Bujnowski, FACHE, Managing Director & Transformative Strategies Lead, Alvarez & Marsal Holdings
Panelists:
Graham Torres, Vice President Operations, Children’s Health
Beth Guyton, Principal, The Momentum Leader
Cheryl Peterson, Chief Nursing Officer, Cook Children’s
Speakers’ Bios:
Aaron Bujnowski, FACHE, is a Managing Director with Alvarez & Marsal’s Healthcare Industry Group. With nearly two decades of dedicated experience in the healthcare industry, he is known as a transformative healthcare strategist, empowering health systems and their leaders to attain sustainable competitive advantage.
Mr. Bujnowski executes innovative approaches to enterprise strategy, value-based care (VBC), service lines, partnerships, corporate development and M&A.
Prior to joining A&M, Mr. Bujnowski spent more than four years as a Director and Integrated Delivery Network (IDN) Lead at Chartis, a U.S. healthcare consulting firm. He collaborated with integrated delivery networks to conceive and implement critical strategies and played a pivotal role in launching Chartis’ Private Equity (PE) practice, which assists PE firms to make informed buy- or sell-side decisions and optimize value within their portfolio companies.
Previously, Mr. Bujnowski served as the System Chief Strategy Officer of Texas Health Resources, a ~$5 billion integrated health system in Dallas-Fort Worth, developing and executing enterprise-wide strategies. His purview included acute, post-acute, ambulatory, physician, consumer and value-based approaches. Mr. Bujnowski began his career with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), as a core member of its strategy and healthcare practices. He also played a pivotal role in founding BCG’s private equity practice.
Mr. Bujnowski earned a bachelor’s degree (honors) and a master’s degree in chemical engineering with a biomedical emphasis from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He earned an MBA (highest honors) from The University of Texas at Austin. Mr. Bujnowski is currently a candidate to receive a Doctor of Science in Healthcare Leadership from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is President of the North Texas Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and was honored as Fellow.
Beth Guyton is an accomplished healthcare leader and consultant with expertise in executive coaching, change management, performance management and patient experience. She is the principle of The Momentum Leader where she coaches leaders on reaching their maximum potential in order to thrive personally and professionally.
Prior to her current role, Beth served as the VP of Patient Experience for the Mercy Springfield Communities and before joining Mercy, Beth led a healthcare consulting firm dedicated to helping hospital drive results through exceptional leadership, culture, and processes.
Beth holds a Master’s in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from George Mason University and a BA in Advertising from the Manship School of Journalism at Louisiana State University. She is an ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC), a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ), Six Sigma Green Belt, and has a Certification for Mediation and Negotiation from North Lake College in Irving Texas.
Cheryl Petersen, MBA, BSN, RN, NE-BC serves as the Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Vice President for Nursing/Patient Services at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth & Prosper, Texas. Her prior roles include Assistant Vice President of Nursing, Nursing Director and Nurse Manager.
During her tenure at Cook Children’s she has led the nursing team to a 4th Magnet designation in 2021 and celebrated achievements including NICU Level IV designation, the hospital’s first Beacon Award, CAMTS accreditation and the Emergency Department’s Lantern Award. She has contributed to the hospital’s expansion efforts in Fort Worth and Prosper.
Cheryl is a current member of AACN, TONL, AONL, ANA and TNA. She serves as the President Elect of the TONL Executive Board and has served on the TONL Communication and Membership Committees. Additionally, she is a current member of the Board of Directors for Community Healthcare of Texas and member of the DFW Hospital Council Foundation Board.
She received her Master’s in Business Administration from Benedictine University and Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing from the University of Iowa. She was honored as a DFW Great 100 Nurse in 2012.
In prior positions, Cheryl was employed by North Carolina Children’s Hospital, Chapel Hill, Loyola University Medical Center, and University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
Cheryl lives in Fort Worth, Texas, with her husband, Chris, and their two sons. She enjoys gardening, biking, and spending time with her family.

Register Here

Designing More Efficient-Higher Quality Healthcare Facilities Model
2026-05-15 10:00 - 11:30 | Virtual
This panel has been approved for 1.50 ACHE Virtual Interactive Education Credits.

Note: If you are a registrant of the in-person (May 14) portion of the 2026 ACHE East-North-Midwest Texas Multi-Chapter Education Symposium, you are eligible to purchase your ticket for the below referenced virtual panel at a 25% discount. The promo code for that discount is provided to you in your confirmation email from Eventbrite for the May 14 event.
Evidence-based design (EBD) incorporates the process of basing decisions about healthcare facility environments on creditable research to achieve the best possible outcomes for the patient. Historically, many healthcare facilities have been designed primarily around the provider’s processes. However, the facility design did not always produce efficient or effective workflow for the provider nor did the design incorporate the best interests of the patient. With the advancements in technology, healthcare providers are finding out that there are proven, efficient and effective strategies to achieve more desirable outcomes that are in the best interest of the patient. Implementing EBD principles can sometimes be a difficult decision for the provider with the concern that it may increase their costs. The key to overcoming this concern is to educate healthcare facility decisionmakers about the types of research that are available to quantify the long-term value of EBD. Since the practice of evidence-based medicine (EBM) requires conscientious and committed use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of patients it is paramount there be an alignment between EBD and EBM to provide more efficient and high-quality healthcare delivery.
Moderator: Phil DeBruzzi, Principal, Forvis Mazars
Panelists:
Nick Mengucci, Executive Director, IMH Healthcare
Graham Torres, Vice President Operations, Children’s Health
Chris Grossnicklaus, Health Sector Leader and Director of Healthcare Planning, Corgan
Speakers’ Bios:
Phil DeBruzzi, FACHE, is a Principal with the national healthcare consulting firm Forvis Mazars. Mr. DeBruzzi has 30 years of experience advising healthcare systems in areas related to clinical volume forecasting, capacity optimization, health facility network planning, and capital investment analysis. Phil is board certified in healthcare management as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Board Member of the North Texas Chapter of ACHE, holds an MBA in strategy, and undergraduate degree in Engineering.

Chris Grossnicklaus is Health Sector Leader and Director of Healthcare Planning for Corgan. He is responsible for establishing long-lasting relationships with clients and partners as well as leading Corgan’s health studios across the country. He has deep experience in all phases of project work, from concept visioning and development through final construction documents on a wide range of project experience in the United States, Canada, and the Middle East.
His strengths as a strategist and relationship builder make him an invaluable leader of the Corgan’s Health Sector, overseeing projects for UT Southwestern Medical Center, Methodist Health System, OSF Healthcare, HCA Healthcare Behavioral Health Hospitals, Saint Francis Health System, Houston Methodist, the Mayo Clinic, and UCLA Health.
Chris earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Master of Architecture from Texas A&M University and is Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. He served as chair of the communications committee for the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) of North Texas from 2019 to 2020; he received the Texas Society of Architects Associate Award and the AIA Dallas Associate Award for his contributions as editor of AIA Dallas Columns magazine.

Nick Mengucci, MSN, RN, LSSGB is an Austin based Master’s-prepared Registered Nurse and Executive Director & Texas Market Leader at IMH Healthcare. He partners with health systems across the country, from large academic medical centers to community-based providers, to support healthcare strategy, operational planning, and facility transition and activation.
Nick specializes in readiness planning, workflow optimization, staff training, technology integration, and move activation, helping organizations prepare new facilities, teams, and operations for opening day and beyond. With a foundation in patient care, clinical operations, and healthcare technology, he brings a human-centered approach that blends clinical expertise with strategic leadership to improve efficiency, performance, and patient outcomes.
Nick is actively involved in the Nursing Institute for Healthcare Design (NIHD), the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), and the Association for Medical Facility Professionals (AMFP).

Register Here

Management and Prevention of Hospital Acquired Infections
2026-05-15 10:00 - 11:30 | Virtual
This panel has been approved for 1.50 ACHE Virtual Interactive Education Credits.

Note: If you are a registrant of the in-person (May 14) portion of the 2026 ACHE East-North-Midwest Texas Multi-Chapter Education Symposium, you are eligible to purchase your ticket for the below referenced virtual panel at a 25% discount. The promo code for that discount is provided to you in your confirmation email from Eventbrite for the May 14 event.
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections that patients acquire while receiving treatment for medical or surgical conditions. HAIs are associated with a variety of causes, including but not limited to the use of medical devices to include catheters and ventilators, complications following surgical procedures, transmission between patients and healthcare workers, or the result of antibiotic overuse. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of HHS has shown that about 36% of these infections are preventable through the adherence to strict guidelines by healthcare workers when caring for patients. This discussion will seek to inform hospital leadership and administrators about the causes of hospital acquired infections and the impact leadership can have on the quality, financial health and safety of their organizations.
Moderator: Jim Allard, Chief Nursing Officer, Advocate Christ Medical Center
Panelists:
Ryan Blas, National Director of Ops, Sanderling Renal Services
Eric Gustaf, Director of Quality Safety and Risk Management, Texas Health Resources Azle
Angela Gamber, VP, Clinical Operations, Stormont Vail Health
Speakers’ Bios:
Dr Jim Allard, DNP, RN, NEA‑BC, FACHE, serves as Chief Nursing Officer at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois. He leads nursing services for a 788‑bed premier teaching institution—one of the Midwest’s major referral centers—with one of Illinois’ busiest Level I trauma centers.
With over three decades in healthcare, Dr. Allard’s frontline experience spans pediatric critical care with a focus on congenital heart care. Since 2008, he has held progressive executive roles, including CNO at Medical City Arlington and CNO for Medical City Children’s Hospital & Medical City Women’s Hospital–Dallas, as well as assistant and interim CNO positions within HCA Houston Healthcare.
Dr. Allard earned his Doctor of Nursing Practice from Texas Christian University and a Master of Science in Nursing Administration from The University of Texas at Arlington; he is board‑certified as a Nurse Executive Advanced (ANCC) and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).

Ryan Blas, RN, BSN, C-EMBA, LSSGB, is the national director of operations for Sanderling Renal Services, where he oversees clinical and operational excellence in the renal dialysis field. With a background in nursing and executive leadership, Ryan brings hands-on experience in infection prevention, patient safety, and quality improvement. He is passionate about advancing best practices that keep patients safe and drive better outcomes across healthcare settings.

Angela Gamber is the Vice President of Clinical Operations at Stormont Vail Health in Topeka, Kansas, where she provides executive leadership across complex clinical service lines with a focus on quality, access, operational excellence, and system integration. In this role, she partners closely with physician and administrative leaders to advance patient-centered care, improve network integrity, and drive sustainable performance across acute and ambulatory settings.
With a career rooted in frontline clinical operations, Angie brings deep expertise in emergency, trauma, surgical, and diagnostic services, as well as enterprise-level service line strategy and performance management. She is known for her ability to align clinical outcomes, workforce engagement, and financial stewardship while navigating the evolving demands of healthcare delivery.
Angie is an active leader within the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and currently serves as a Kansas Regent, supporting the professional development of healthcare leaders across the state and advancing ACHE’s mission of excellence in healthcare management. In this capacity, she contributes to education, mentorship, and leadership engagement at the state and regional level.
A respected collaborator and thought partner, Angela frequently participates in leadership forums, panels, and strategic discussions focused on healthcare operations, access to care, and rural and regional health delivery models. She is passionate about building strong leadership pipelines and designing systems of care that are resilient, equitable, and patient-focused.
Eric Gustaf MSN, RN was born and raised in Texas. He was homeschooled from grade school through high school and went on to attend TCU on the Commanders Leadership Scholarship, the first homeschooler to be awarded this scholarship. After graduation in December of 2009, he served in the United States Air Force as a nurse for 4.5 years achieving the rank of Captain. After separation he worked in the Trama ICU at University Hospital in San Antonio for 2 years. He then returned to my hometown of Fort Worth and began working at Texas Health Azle. At Texas Health Azle over the past 10 years he has grown from Emergency Department Nurse to Chage nurse then House supervisor. Then he became the Med/Surg ICU manager while also obtaining his Master’s Degree in Nursing Administration in 2021 and has held the role of Director of quality Patient Safety and Risk for the past 3 years achieving 2 Clinical Excellence awards and a Leader of the Year award. Eric is married with 3 children ages ranging from 8 to 1 years old.

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2026 ACHENTX Cocktails with the Chiefs - Transformation in Action: Leveraging Technology to Improve Capacity, Access, and Performance
2026-05-18 18:00 - 20:30 | The Constellation Club, 5215 North O'Connor Boulevard, Suite 2600, 26th Floor, Irving, TX, 75039
The biggest opportunity to expand access and improve performance isn’t building more, but using what you already have better. Healthcare organizations are under growing pressure to do more with less amid rising demand, workforce shortages, and financial strain. Yet for many, the true constraint isn’t resources — it’s fragmentation: siloed decisions, misaligned incentives, and disconnected operations across the enterprise.
Join industry leaders for an interactive panel discussion on how organizations are leveraging technology and real-time data to align operations, unlock capacity, shift cultures, and improve access and performance. Through a structured Q&A and peer dialogue, panelists will share diverse perspectives on how to break down silos and drive more coordinated, enterprise-wide decision-making with technology.
The discussion will focus on practical strategies across critical operational areas, including inpatient flow and surgical services, highlighting how organizations are improving throughput, optimizing utilization, and reducing delays. Panelists will also explore how AI-enabled insights are helping teams better anticipate demand, reallocate underutilized capacity, and standardize workflows, enabling measurable gains in access, efficiency, and financial performance without expanding physical infrastructure.
Designed to be practical and discussion-driven, this session will provide actionable insights and real-world examples that attendees can apply to implement technology, advance enterprise alignment, and drive operational performance within their own organizations.
Panelists:
Shannan Bradley is a registered nurse and healthcare executive with over 20 years of experience in hospital operations, care management, and patient flow optimization within large, complex health systems. She serves as the Vice President of Care Management and Post-Acute Services at Parkland Health, where she leads strategies to improve throughput, reduce length of stay, and enhance system capacity and patient access.
In her role, Shannan oversees care management, utilization review, and post-acute services, driving coordination across the continuum of care. Her clinical background as a registered nurse informs a practical, patient-centered approach to leadership, with a focus on removing barriers to discharge, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, and implementing data-driven, evidence-based practices.
Throughout her career, Shannan has led large-scale initiatives to optimize discharge processes, standardize workflows, and align clinical and operational stakeholders around shared performance goals.

Diana Gillogly, FACHE, is a Solutions Executive Director at LeanTaaS, where she leverages her extensive perioperative operations expertise to help health systems optimize their operating room performance. With a unique background that combines clinical operations, engineering, and technology development, Diana partners with hospital executives and surgical leaders across the country to implement data-driven strategies that improve OR utilization, increase surgical access, and drive measurable ROI. She is a sought-after speaker and thought leader in perioperative optimization, regularly presenting at industry conferences and leading strategic assessments for major health systems. Diana is based in Georgia.

Susan Grimwood, DNP, MSN, APRN-C, is Sarasota Memorial Health Care System’s Executive Director of Capacity, Logistics and Patient Throughput. Susan is a seasoned leader who had a key role in the development of SMH’s Departure Lounge and Logistics Center, which have been cited by national experts as best practices. In recent years, as SMH has experienced an enormous increase in volumes, Susan has ensured the appropriate placement of hundreds of thousands of patients, developed and facilitated discharge processes throughout the system, and developed and implemented complex COVID-19 surge plans. Her expertise has been essential in system-wide efforts to serve the growing community.

Chris Hunt, MBA, MSHA, BSN, RN, CSSM, NEA-BC, is AVP of Perioperative Services at MultiCare Health System, an expert leader who builds strong teams and implements new and creative solutions that result in improved quality, lower costs, and a better experience. Chris is a results-oriented leader dedicated to building trust and transparency with over 25 years in healthcare. With a focus and specialty in Surgical Services, he exhibits thorough expertise in leading people, driving positive culture change, and facilitating hospital-wide improvement initiatives that deliver better quality and lower cost. Chris motivates others through honesty, integrity, collaboration, and mentoring.
He is experienced in working directly with C-Suite, departmental, and physician leaders in the formulation of operational improvement initiatives in both the perioperative environment and across integrated health systems. Known for his “rolling up his sleeves” approach, Chris excels at building and supporting teams to achieve organizational goals and vision. In addition to his work as a healthcare consultant, Chris has held leadership positions in both acute care and community hospitals worldwide, providing executive leadership and oversight for key clinical service areas and care redesign. Prior to entering the private sector, Chris proudly served in the US Navy, delivering high-quality, compassionate medical care to servicemen and women for 12 years.

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Emergency Department Operational Standards in the 21st Century
2026-05-20 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual
This panel has been approved for 1.50 ACHE Virtual Interactive Education Credits.

Note: If you are a registrant of the in-person (May 14) portion of the 2026 ACHE East-North-Midwest Texas Multi-Chapter Education Symposium, you are eligible to purchase your ticket for the below referenced virtual panel at a 25% discount. The promo code for that discount is provided to you in your confirmation email from Eventbrite for the May 14 event.
The Emergency Department is considered the “Front Door” to the hospital. Hospital executives recognize that in many cases most hospital admissions come in directly through the ED. Over the past several years, there has been a significant push by hospitals across the country to promote emergency department service standards, with the objective of attracting new patients, retaining current patients, and positioning the hospital in a favorable light to the community. Before a hospital embarks on an emergency department service standard it is imperative that they recognize the comprehensive house-wide approach that is required to provide, sustain, and reap the benefits.
Focusing on a variety of emergency department types (suburban hospital ED; satellite ED and urban hospital ED) this presentation will address various approaches with respect to ED service standards. This presentation will address the operational requirements, the impact on patient safety, required resource allocation, physical plant requirements and marketing requirements necessary for the successful implementation of emergency department service standards across a variety of hospitals, in addition to addressing the commitment required by the C-suite and respective departments for long-term sustainability and success.
Moderator: Ken Hutchenrider, Jr., FACHE – President, Methodist Richardson
Panelists:
Ryan Tamula, Admin Director Emergency Services, CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances
Justin John, Business Operations Manager, Emergency Services, JPS
Dr. Tony Briningstool, CEO, Emergency Medicine, Sound Physicians
Speakers’ Bios:
Dr. Tony Briningstool leads Sound Physicians’ Emergency Medicine specialty. As an experienced physician executive, Tony is deeply passionate about the impact we can make in the lives of our patients, our physicians, and the communities we serve. With a relentless pursuit of excellence and a strong Patient‑First culture, he brings a nuanced understanding of the challenges facing healthcare today and values the dedication required to achieve clinical, fiscal, and operational success for our partnerships.
By intentionally empowering our physician leaders, Tony is fostering high‑performing teams capable of elevating patient care processes while ensuring long‑term practice sustainability. Our investments in team wellness strengthen engagement and collaboration—foundations that enable our hospital partnerships to thrive and consistently deliver exceptional care to every patient.
A board-certified emergency medicine physician, Tony earned his Doctor of Medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine and attended Michigan State University, where he also played football.

Ken Hutchenrider joined Methodist Richardson Medical Center as President in July, 2010.
He has more than 30 years of executive experience with a result oriented record of substantially increasing financial stability and strengthening team management to build a tradition of providing the best care possible to the communities served.
During his tenure, Ken administered the assimilation of the hospital into the Methodist Health System, as well as the development of a $120M replacement hospital and its subsequent and ongoing expansions. Additional accomplishments include the establishment of a new wound care center, Level III Nursery, development of the Da Vinci surgical program, Level 3 Trauma Program, Comprehensive Stroke program and the successful recruitment/employment of new medical staff members. Under his direction, Methodist Richardson has received accreditations as a Chest Pain Center, a Stroke Center, and achieved nursing Magnet Designation.
Prior to July 2010, Ken served as the Chief Executive Officer of Galesburg Cottage Hospital, in Galesburg, Illinois. Previously in his career, Ken served in executive roles including Chief Executive Officer of the Terre Haute Regional Hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas. Ken started his career in a clinical position as a Paramedic Shift Supervisor in Pasadena, Texas.
He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&M University and a Masters of Healthcare Administration from the University of Houston, Clear Lake.
In 2018, Ken was proudly elected to serve on the Richardson City Council in Place 5.
He is actively involved in the community and has served as the Chairman of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce and President of the Plano Independent School District Foundation. Ken is an enthusiastic supporter of the PISD and RISD Health Sciences Academy. Currently, Ken serves as the Regent for Northern Texas for the American College of Healthcare Executives
Ken has received many accolades, including the Chamber’s Education Hero Award, the American Heart Association SOAR Award, the Community Health System Outstanding Achievement Award, and Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
On a personal note, Ken and his wife Melinda have two teenage daughters. When he’s not spending time with his family, you are most likely to find Ken on the golf course.

Justin John serves as the Business Operations Manager for Emergency Services at JPS Health Network, a Level 1 Trauma Center in Fort Worth, Texas. Justin oversees cross-functional operational initiatives spanning finance, supply chain, IT, facilities, and construction. Prior to his current role, Justin was an Administrative Fellow at JPS, in which he helped lead major enterprise initiatives. Justin holds a Master of Health Administration from Saint Louis University. Justin actively contributes to the healthcare leadership community through his involvement with ACHE of North Texas.

Ryan Tamula began his career in emergency medicine at just 19 years old as an EKG technician, launching what would become a lifelong commitment to frontline patient care. Before entering nursing, he represented the Philippine National Water Polo Team, an experience that shaped his approach to teamwork, composure under pressure, and disciplined execution.
After earning his nursing credentials, Ryan joined Los Angeles General Hospital (formerly LAC+USC Medical Center), one of the busiest emergency departments on the West Coast. He served as Charge Nurse there for five years, leading high-acuity teams in a large safety-net hospital environment and mentoring nurses through complex clinical, operational, and throughput challenges.
He later practiced at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center, gaining experience in an integrated delivery model before joining CHRISTUS Health in 2019.
At CHRISTUS, Ryan was part of the leadership team that opened the Bradley Thompson Tower at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, his scope as Administrative Director of Emergency Care Centers includes oversight of six emergency departments in and around the Tyler and East Texas, including the 56-bed Level II Trauma Center at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler. Ryan’s leadership philosophy centers on remaining grounded in his nursing foundation, focusing on strengthening frontline teams, advancing emergency care delivery, and supporting high-reliability operations.

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Understanding Implicit Bias and Its Impact on Healthcare Leadership
2026-05-20 14:00 - 15:30 | Virtual
This panel has been approved for 1.50 ACHE Virtual Interactive Education Credits.

Note: If you are a registrant of the in-person (May 14) portion of the 2026 ACHE East-North-Midwest Texas Multi-Chapter Education Symposium, you are eligible to purchase your ticket for the below referenced virtual panel at a 25% discount. The promo code for that discount is provided to you in your confirmation email from Eventbrite for the May 14 event.
The communities for which healthcare organizations operate are rapidly diversifying. Not only do they provide care for a diverse community of patients and families, but their workforce is also growing more diverse. It is incumbent on healthcare organizations and their leaders to both understand and embrace the needs of diverse populations. Their ability to respond to the needs and preferences of a broader customer base will be critical to their financial and operational survival, but they first must understand what their implicit biases are to do that. The goal of the session is for leaders to understand and recognize internal biases both conscious and unconscious. This program will focus on the healthcare leader’s personal recognition of internal bias and its impact on decisions in the organization. The impact of the healthcare leaders’ ability to recognize biases in areas such as employment and policy decision making will lead to increased diversity in individuals holding leadership positions and will help us better serve our patients and communities.
Moderator: Beth Guyton, Principal, The Momentum Leader
Panelists:
Lucky Denenga, CEO, ClearSky Rehabilitation Hospital at Mansfield
Christina Fleeman, Nurse Manager -ED and Ambulance Services, Amarillo VAHCS
Dr. Keisha Downes, Vice President, Middle Revenue Cycle, Beth Israel Lahey Health System
Speakers’ Bios:
Lucky Denenga Fischer, PT, DPT, MBA is a healthcare executive and service line leader with extensive experience across acute care, rehabilitation, and ambulatory settings. A physical therapist by training, she has served the DFW healthcare community for over 12 years and is recognized for leading operational and culture transformation, building inclusive high‑performance teams, and advancing equitable, high‑quality patient care

Keisha Downes, DMSc, MBA, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCS, is a healthcare executive with over 20 years of nursing experience and more than a decade in revenue cycle leadership. She serves as Vice President of Mid-Revenue Cycle at Beth Israel Lahey Health, where she oversees CDI, coding, HIM, and utilization management across 14 hospitals and leads a workforce of more than 500. A recognized thought leader and national speaker on healthcare leadership, AI governance, and revenue cycle innovation, Keisha sits on her health system’s Responsible AI Use Committee and the ACDIS Advisory Board. She earned her Doctorate of Medical Science in Healthcare Leadership with a concentration in Artificial Intelligence from Northeastern University. With roots in neurosurgical ICU and trauma nursing, Keisha brings a bedside-to-boardroom perspective to leadership, grounding her work in the realities of patient care and the importance of building inclusive teams that reflect the diverse communities healthcare systems serve.

Christina Fleeman, MBA, MSN, RN, is a compassionate nurse leader with more than a decade of experience spanning emergency and disaster management, ambulance services, trauma systems, inpatient and ambulatory operations, and integrated care coordination in High Reliability Organization environments. She currently serves as Emergency Department and Ambulance Services Nurse Manager at the Thomas E. Creek VA Medical Center in Amarillo, Texas, where she leads operational and clinical teams to deliver safe, efficient, highquality emergency care for Veterans across the medical center. Christina is also pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice in Leadership at Arkansas State University, building on dual master’s degrees in nursing and healthcare & business administration from Liberty University.​ Across her VA leadership roles—including Acting Chief of Inpatient Nursing Services and VACC/IVC Nurse Manager—she has driven measurable improvements in access, quality, and safety through systems redesign and process improvement. Her earlier career includes service as Trauma Services Coordinator and Emergency Management lead for a statedesignated trauma center, and as a Clinical Manager/Flight Nurse providing rotorwing critical care in rural and disaster settings. Christina’s leadership portfolio includes transformational leadership, team building, shared governance, performance improvement, emergency management, and regulatory readiness, and she is actively engaged in professional organizations including the American College of Healthcare Executives and multiple national nursing and trauma societies.​ Outside of work, Christina is “Nonnie” to six grandchildren with two more on the way, and the proud mother of four adult children whose careers span military service, cardiovascular health advocacy, professional sports, and social media influence. She and her husband also own and operate a BBQ restaurant and music venue, where they bring people together around good food, live music, and community—values that mirror her passion for building resilient, peoplecentered healthcare teams.
Beth Guyton is an accomplished healthcare leader and consultant with expertise in executive coaching, change management, performance management and patient experience. She is the principle of The Momentum Leader where she coaches leaders on reaching their maximum potential in order to thrive personally and professionally.
Prior to her current role, Beth served as the VP of Patient Experience for the Mercy Springfield Communities and before joining Mercy, Beth led a healthcare consulting firm dedicated to helping hospital drive results through exceptional leadership, culture, and processes.
Beth holds a Master’s in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from George Mason University and a BA in Advertising from the Manship School of Journalism at Louisiana State University. She is an ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC), a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ), Six Sigma Green Belt, and has a Certification for Mediation and Negotiation from North Lake College in Irving Texas.

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Leading with Care: Mental Health, Equity, and the Future of Healthcare Leadership
2026-05-21 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual
A powerful discussion with healthcare leaders and experts on burnout, resilience, and building psychologically safe, equitable workplaces.

Join us for an impactful virtual panel in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, hosted by the ACHE of North Texas Community, Culture & Inclusion (CCI) Committee in collaboration with ACHENTX P.R.I.D.E Community and NALHE DFW. This conversation brings together distinguished leaders across clinical care, behavioral health, research, and healthcare administration to explore the realities of burnout, clinician wellbeing, and psychological safety in today’s healthcare environment.

From frontline nursing and quality leadership to national behavioral health policy, organizational consulting, and pediatric psychology, our panelists offer a unique blend of lived experience, research, and executive insight. Together, they will examine how workplace culture, leadership, and equity intersect with mental health and share practical strategies to support resilient teams and sustainable systems of care.

Attendees will gain valuable perspectives on fostering psychologically safe environments, addressing stigma, and leading with intention to improve both workforce wellbeing and patient outcomes.

Moderator:
Kathy Tbaba, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC, PMHNP-BC
Market Clinical Manager
Texas Oncology
Panelists:
Brianna Garza, BSN, RN, CPHQ, LSSGB
Clinical Quality Nurse
UT Health Austin
Indira Harris, DHSc, LCSW, BCD, CAPT, USPHS
US Public Health Service Commissioned Officer (USPHS)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Board-Certified Diplomate
Katherine Thompson, LPC-S
Founder and Executive Director
Spero Psychological Services
Jill West, Ph.D., LP
Director, Psychology Pediatric Psychologist
Scottish Rite for Children

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Speakers’ Bios:
Brianna Garza, BSN, RN, CPHQ, LSSGB serves as Clinical Quality Nurse at UT Health Austin. She is a doctoral student at Duke University and published researcher, focused on workplace culture and clinician wellbeing. A former ICU nurse and D Magazine Nursing Excellence 2026 honoree, she brings firsthand clinical experience to quality, safety, and healthcare leadership.

CAPT Indira Harris is a US Public Health Service Commissioned Officer (USPHS), Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Board-Certified Diplomate with over 20 years of experience as a subject matter expertise in behavioral health, whole health and wellness, resilience, and meditation.
Since August 2018, CAPT Harris has served as Chief of the Behavioral Health Unit within ICE Health Service Corps. In this capacity, she oversees mental health care and treatment of all individuals detained in ICE custody, acts as IHSC’s lead behavioral health subject matter expert and national mental health authority, and serves as lead advisor to ICE leadership on all matters related to detention behavioral health concerns. She also notably led approximately 200 USPHS social work officers as Chair and Senior Advisor of the Social Work Professional Advisory Group, co-created Operation Corps Strong (OCS) to educate USPHS officers about suicide prevention and other mental and emotional health concerns affecting the service, co-developed Resilience Through Meditation, a program that facilitates meditation experiences for hundreds of PHS officers and civilians across 13 federal agencies and 33 different locations nationwide, and also co-created the esteemed Surgeon General’s Ceremonial Drill Team.
CAPT Harris is a recipient of esteemed Academy Award Nominee, Taraji P. Henson’s Boris L Henson Foundation (BLHF) Joy Award in June 2022. She was one of 10 individuals selected nationally due to her work on resilience, mental health treatment, and mindfulness/meditation in communities of color and other vulnerable populations.
CAPT Harris is active in the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). She served several years as the NASW Health Specialty Section Committee Chair and previously selected as a significant contributor for the NASWs national policy statement on Intimate Partner Violence in 2018. She was also a contributor to the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Specialized Practice Curricular Guide for Military and Veteran Social Work.
CAPT Harris is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). She holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology and a master’s degree in clinical social work (MSW) from Florida State University. She also holds a doctorate degree in Health Science (DHSc) with a concentration in Telehealth from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Kathy Tbaba is a Market Clinical Manager for Texas Oncology in South Dallas, TX and a dual certified Psychiatric Mental Health and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She has been in nursing leadership for a little over 7 years and has worked in a variety of healthcare settings, both large and small. Kathy’s passion is incorporating mental health care and knowledge into all aspects of healthcare, specifically nursing leadership and primary care. She completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology and Nursing at Texas Woman’s University, a graduate program in Nursing at Texas Woman’s University, a post graduate program at Duke University in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, and is now in the DNP program at Texas Woman’s University. Kathy is a native Texan, born and raised local to the DFW area. She is married and has two daughters, one living in New York, and one a sophomore at University of Connecticut. Any time not working or in school, Kathy enjoys travel, football and soccer games, and spending time with friends and family.

Katherine Thompson, LPC-S is the Founder and Executive Director of Spero Psychological Services, where she partners with healthcare organizations and leadership teams to address burnout, strengthen psychological safety, and support sustainable workplace cultures.
Katherine is a speaker and organizational consultant who leads trainings on workplace mental health, burnout prevention, and reducing mental health stigma in high-responsibility professions. She has delivered talks for professional associations, healthcare organizations, and leadership groups on topics related to burnout, psychological safety, and workplace well-being.
A first-generation professional and bilingual speaker, Katherine brings both lived experience and professional insight to conversations about leadership, resilience, and mental health in healthcare settings.

Jill West, Ph.D., is a Pediatric Psychologist and the Director of Psychology at Scottish Rite for Children, a renowned pediatric orthopedic and sports medicine hospital in Dallas and Frisco, Texas. Dr. West completed her doctoral training in School Psychology at Tulane University. She began her career at Children’s Hospital New Orleans, where she completed a two-year post-doctoral fellowship in Pediatric Psychology. After completing her fellowship, Dr. West joined Ochsner Health and practiced for several years as a child clinical and pediatric psychologist, with a practice focus on patients with chronic medical problems. In 2018, she became the Section Head for the Child Psychology Department at Ochsner for Children, which began her journey into clinical leadership. While at Ochsner, Dr. West successfully grew the Psychology program from one to 19 providers, including building post-doctoral fellowship and doctoral internship training programs. In 2022, Dr. West relocated to Dallas to join Scottish Rite, where she oversees her departmental operations and strategy and continues to provide care for patients, and she has grown her department from four to twelve providers. In addition, Dr. West is a facilitator for Schwartz Rounds and serves as the physician champion for staff wellbeing development and Stress First Aid.
Dr. West is active with the Texas and Louisiana Psychological Associations, the American Psychological Association (APA), APA Division 16 (School Psychology), APA Division 53 (Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology), and APA Division 54 (Pediatric Psychology). She is a member of the Spina Bifida Board of North Texas (SBANT) and the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). She lives in Dallas with her husband and two children.

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Strategies for Effective Crisis Leadership
2026-05-28 15:30 - 17:00 | Virtual
This panel has been approved for 1.50 ACHE Virtual Interactive Education Credits.

Note: If you are a registrant of the in-person (May 14) portion of the 2026 ACHE East-North-Midwest Texas Multi-Chapter Education Symposium, you are eligible to purchase your ticket for the below referenced virtual panel at a 25% discount. The promo code for that discount is provided to you in your confirmation email from Eventbrite for the May 14 event.
Preparing for an unplanned or unexpected event, such as a natural disaster, pandemic, civil disturbances, medical error, or labor disputes (e.g., union labor) causes physical, psychological and emotional stress that can overwhelm employees, medical staff, patients and communities. In the event of a crisis, the quality and efficiency of care delivery may be challenged and typically takes a toll on every part of the organization. Lack of the unknown or uncertainty is also a challenge that healthcare leaders face in the time of crisis. Healthcare leaders need to understand ways to prepare their organization for unforeseen circumstances, which includes developing a communication plan, managing organizational resources, such as medical supplies, levels of patient care and leveraging local and state resources and funding.
This panel discussion will provide insight and perspectives on ways to manage an unforeseen crisis within the healthcare organization and its community. It will include how healthcare leaders can better prepare and respond to a community or healthcare crisis, health surge event, or unanticipated response.
Moderator: Jared Shelton, President, Texas Health Fort Worth
Panelists:
Jon Darnell, Executive Director, System Imaging, Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center
Warren Robicheaux, President & CEO, Matagorda Regional Medical Center
Robin Moreno, Compliance and Privacy Officer, Texas health Resources
Speakers’ Bios:
Jon Darnell is an Executive Director of Imaging Services for Baptist Health, a multi-hospital healthcare system in Jacksonville, FL, where he provides strategic and operational leadership across hospital and outpatient imaging operations. He oversees high-acuity, high-volume services that are central to clinical decision-making and enterprise patient flow, with a focus on operational excellence, workforce engagement, and access to care.
Jon’s leadership experience includes managing system-wide responses to operational disruptions such as technology downtime, capacity constraints, workforce challenges, and rapid volume surges. He is committed to building resilient organizations through structured crisis preparedness, transparent communication, and frontline support. To strengthen emergency response capabilities, he has completed FEMA’s Incident Command System (ICS) 100, 200, and 700 training.
A recognized leader in imaging strategy and innovation, Jon also works at the enterprise level to advance technology adoption, data-driven performance management, and system integration initiatives that improve patient care and operational stability.

Robin Moreno, EdD, MHA, FACHE is a seasoned healthcare executive, educator, and thought leader with extensive experience in advancing compliance, privacy, ethics, and risk management across complex healthcare systems. She currently serves as Director of Compliance & Privacy at Texas Health Resources where she partners with boards and senior leadership to align compliance strategy with enterprise risk, operational excellence, and cultural transformation.
A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), Robin brings a unique foundation—rising from frontline patient care and oncology research to leadership roles in finance, compliance, and privacy. She is a published author, a frequent speaker at national risk conferences, and an editorial contributor to several professional peer-reviewed publications.
Robin also serves as an adjunct professor, mentoring future healthcare leaders and bridging academic theory with real-world application. Her leadership philosophy—The Department of Know, not the Department of No—reflects her commitment to building trust, promoting accountability, and fostering ethical innovation.
Recognized for her collaborative style and strategic insight, Robin translates complex regulations into actionable solutions and facilitates high-impact conversations among executives navigating governance, risk, and organizational change.
Outside of work, Robin is an avid reader who loves traveling and spending time with family and friends. She is a proud parent of three adult children; a role she embraces with joy and gratitude.

J. Warren Robicheaux, FACHE serves as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Matagorda County Hospital District and provides executive leadership for all district asset initiatives.
Before joining the district in 2018, Warren served in senior administration and CEO roles at several facilities in the East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System (ETMC). His list of accomplishments ranges from building replacement hospitals and establishing new service lines to leading award-winning quality programs.
Warren has over twenty years of experience in healthcare and is board certified in healthcare management (FACHE). He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science and a Master of Healthcare Administration from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.

Jared Shelton, FACHE, serves as president of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, assuming the role in September 2024 after a two-year stint as president at Texas Health HEB.
Shelton’s previous roles included six years as president of Texas Health Allen, and a term as vice president of Professional & Support Services for Texas Health Dallas.
He completed his undergraduate studies at Wake Forest University with a Bachelor of Science degree in business and a minor in religion. He also earned a Master of Science in health care administration from Trinity University. Shelton was named the 2024 Trinity University Health Care Administration Alumni Association “Momentum Award” winner, which recognizes early careerists age 40 and under for outstanding achievements in the field of health care management.
Shelton currently serves as a trustee on the Board of Directors for the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council. He is also serving a three-year term as Regent for the American College of Healthcare Executives in District 4, Texas-Northern. He is a past president for the North Texas chapter of ACHE. He has served two terms on the Texas Hospital Association’s “Council on Policy Development” and is also a member of the Wake Forest Athletic Advisory Council.
Outside of work, Shelton and his wife, Kathryn, enjoy parenthood with their young children — daughters, Mackenzie and Caroline, and son, Jack.

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Navigating Key Legislative Issues Facing Healthcare Leaders
2026-05-28 17:30 - 19:00 | Virtual
This panel has been approved for 1.50 ACHE Virtual Interactive Education Credits.

Note: If you are a registrant of the in-person (May 14) portion of the 2026 ACHE East-North-Midwest Texas Multi-Chapter Education Symposium, you are eligible to purchase your ticket for the below referenced virtual panel at a 25% discount. The promo code for that discount is provided to you in your confirmation email from Eventbrite for the May 14 event.
Numerous public policy and legislative issues around healthcare delivery and public health affect healthcare organizations and demand involvement of their leaders to respond and adjust organizational policies and procedures. These issues often relate to improving population health, access and coverage through Medicaid and other programs, improving value, addressing consumer issues and workforce shortages, and more. Learning these issues and being involved in policy and organizational responses is important for healthcare leaders, regardless of how directly they may be involved.
Moderator: Lance Lunsford, Senior Partner & Co-Founder, Groundswell Health
Panelists:
Steve Love, President and CEO Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council
Jorge Leal, President & CEO, Laredo Medical Center
Michaela Bennett, VP Government Relations, Children’s Health
Speakers’ Bios:
Michaela Bennett serves as Vice President of Government Relations at Children’s Health. In this role, she is responsible for developing and leading the implementation of public policy engagement with elected officials and policy makers to further the Children’s Health mission to make life better for children. Before joining Children’s Health in 2013, Michaela worked in the Texas Senate, Houston City Hall, and for multiple political campaigns. Michaela holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Boston University.

Since taking the helm as Chief Executive Officer of Laredo Medical Center in 2020, Jorge Leal, FACHE, has been a driving force behind the hospital’s transformation and growth. He joined the hospital in 2014 as the Assistant Chief Executive Officer before being appointed as the Chief Operating Officer. His leadership has guided the expansion of key service lines and clinical programs, strengthened hospital operations, and significantly enhanced patient care across Laredo, Webb County and the surrounding South Texas region.
Leal has led major developments including the opening of a brand new Women’s Imaging Center to increase access to lifesaving screenings and essential women’s health services. He also oversaw the expansion of post-acute care with the opening of the Inpatient Rehabilitation Center, adding eight skilled nursing beds and 16 inpatient rehabilitation beds, and championed the reopening of the Open Heart program, where close to 500 open heart procedures have been performed, and nearly 2000 patients have been positively impacted through its cardiac rehab services since 2022. A key achievement under his tenure was a $6.9 million renovation of the cardiac catheterization lab, which now offers advanced interventional cardiology in two suites and capabilities for electrophysiology services—bringing first-of-its-kind heart rhythm care to the community.
In 2021, LMC entered a new era in surgical care with the introduction of robotic-assisted surgery, providing surgeons with greater precision and patients with faster recovery times. A second system was added in 2023, and in 2025, the hospital celebrated over 2,500 robotic-assisted procedures across specialties including general surgery, urology, gynecology, bariatrics and orthopedics. Additionally, the hospital recently embarked in a joint venture with Gastroenterology Consultants of Laredo where over 3,000 advanced gastrointestinal procedures have been performed since January 2025.
Additionally, Leal has expanded the hospital’s infusion center, providing enhanced cancer and infusion therapy services. He has also been instrumental in increasing access to primary and specialty care, growing the hospital’s provider network from one primary care physician in 2020 to ten, along with the addition of 16 specialists. He launched primary care residency programs in family medicine and internal medicine, ensuring a pipeline of future healthcare providers for the Laredo-Webb County area. Since 2025, 79 resident physicians across five graduate medical education classes have graduated and the programs’ eighth cohort of 16 residents were welcomed with 47 residents currently enrolled. A total of 24 graduates from Laredo’s only GME program have made Laredo their home as physicians that work in various capacities throughout Laredo’s healthcare system.
Looking ahead, Laredo Medical Center will expand emergency care access to south Laredo’s growing population with the $22 million Buena Vista ER. A ground breaking was held on June 12, 2025, and the grand opening is set for summer 2026.
Beyond hospital leadership, Jorge is a dedicated civic and industry leader. He has served on the boards of numerous community organizations including the Laredo Daybreak Rotary, Laredo Boys and Girls Club, Mercy Ministries of Laredo (Past Chair), United Way of Laredo (2022–2023 President), the Laredo Chamber of Commerce (Chairman-elect 2027), and others. He currently serves on the United Day School Board and, most recently, has been appointed to the City of Laredo Economic Development Advisory Committee. At the state level, he was elected in 2024 to the Texas Hospital Association’s Board of Trustees and has served on the Council on Policy Development and HOSPAC. He currently serves as Chairman of the Texas Hospital Association’s HOSPAC. Nationally, he represents Texas as an At-Large Delegate to the American Hospital Association’s Regional Policy Board 7.
A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Jorge earned board recertification in 2026 and was part of the inaugural class of the Texas Hospital Association Leadership Fellows Program. He is a 2018 recipient of the Texas A&M 12 Under 12 Young Alumni Spotlight, which honors recent graduates for achievements in business, service and leadership. In 2024, he was honored with the inaugural Outstanding Alumni Award from the Texas A&M Master of Health Administration Alumni Association. In 2025, the Laredo Chamber of Commerce recognized Jorge as a Business Icon Award honoree, upon his recognition as the Chamber’s first-ever recipient of the Professional Excellence Award for his commitment to healthcare excellence and community leadership.
Under Jorge’s leadership, Laredo Medical Center has earned national accolades, including recognition by Becker’s Healthcare Review as one of the “150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare” and as one of “100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs.” Laredo Medical Center has also been recognized corporate wide for top employee and physician engagement which has lead to back to back awards for our hospital. His visionary leadership has not only improved clinical outcomes and operational performance but also fostered a culture of pride, empowerment, and excellence. Jorge Leal is a transformative leader—one whose impact continues to shape a stronger hospital and a healthier Laredo.
Mr. W. Stephen Love is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council which promotes collaboration, cooperation, and advocacy on behalf of its 90 member hospitals. The Hospital Council also has approximately 100 Associate Members (business and industry), including prominent accounting, legal and consulting firms. The primary mission is to drive evidence-based improvement in patient care and health equity in North Texas. He was the United Nations Association Award Winner in 2018 for Global Goals. He served as 2015 Chair for the Conference of Metropolitan and Regional Hospitals Association in the United States. He received the 2020 D CEO’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He also received the Dallas Medical Society’s Millard J. and Robert L. Health Award for a non-physician providing outstanding leadership to the community. He previously served on the Children at Risk Board for North Texas, Southwest Region Board for the American Heart Association, and the Chair for the March of Dimes Walk for Babies Campaign, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Dallas, and Cure Glaucoma Foundation Advisory Board. He serves on the Southwest Transplant Alliance for organ transplants; North Texas Eye Research Institute; the Metropolitan YMCA Board of Directors and received the 2024 Theodore P. Beasley Distinguished Leadership Award in 2024; the Board of Directors of Prism Health North Texas and the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He was the Chair for the Irving-Las Colinas Chamber for 2024-2025. Mr. Love has worked in healthcare management for over 50 years. He has demonstrated leadership in tax exempt, investor-owned, specialty and private hospitals in operations, finance, and corporate governance. Prior to joining the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council, Mr. Love was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of a Fortune 500 healthcare company that owned over 50 hospitals and managed approximately 200 facilities in the United States.
Lance Lunsford serves as senior partner at Groundswell Health, a company he co-founded in Austin, Texas, focusing on strategic communication and marketing programs for health care organizations. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves on the board of the Central Texas chapter. Previously, he served as SVP of marketing and communications for the Texas Hospital Association, overseeing all strategic messaging related to legislative and regulatory affairs, including issues relating to health care delivery and finance.
Prior to joining THA, Lunsford worked as director of marketing for UMC Health System, a 400-bed hospital located in Lubbock, Texas, where he built patient volume strategies for a variety of service lines.
Lunsford started his career in journalism as a reporter before becoming city editor of a major West Texas daily newspaper at 24. Lunsford was the first to produce and implement digital content features at multiple newspapers between 2003 and 2007. In June 2024, Texas Tech University Press will release his new book Inside the Well: The Midland, Texas Rescue of Baby Jessica McClure. The book chronicles the international media spotlight in the West Texas oil town and the tragedies that followed. The book brings to life the aftermath rescuers faced as they navigated movie deals, international media, and scrutiny to become one of first high-profile cases of PTSD among first responders.

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ACHENTX & Quest Diagnostics Networking Event: Digital Pathology & AI in the Lab
2026-06-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Quest Diagnostics, 2501 South State Highway 121, Suite 1100, Lewisville, TX, 75067
Bridging innovation & diagnostics, we are bringing together industry leaders to explore the future of digital pathology in the lab.

Join ACHENTX and Quest Diagnostics for a high-impact networking event featuring a dynamic panel on digital pathology and AI in the lab – where you’ll gain real-world insights, connect with forward-thinking leaders, and explore how emerging technologies are reshaping diagnostics, driving efficiency, and improving patient outcomes.
Moderator: Jared Lange, FACHE
Vice President, Operational Transformation
Parkland Health
Panelists:
Viv Babber, MD
Chief Executive Officer
Lean Six Intelligence Group
Dr. Mark Kruzel
Medical Director for Oncology and Consumer-Initiated Testing
Quest Diagnostics
Joel Soto, MT (ASCP)
Director, Laboratory Services
Methodist Mansfield Hospital
Monisha Veerapaneni
AI Governance & Enterprise Transformation Leader
Author/Podcast Host

A big thanks to Quest Diagnostics for hosting this event for us! Light refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be available.

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Speakers’ Bios:
Dr. Viv Babber is a physician leader and AI governance and responsible AI strategist with over 20 years of clinical and healthcare leadership experience. She holds advanced certifications in AI Medicine and AI Ethics, and has earned the AI Governance Professional (AIGP) designation from the International Association of Privacy Professionals. She has achieved a unique, visionary, and forward-thinking milestone with ISO/IEC 42001 Lead Auditor certification for global AI management systems (AIMS), positioning her among early leaders shaping the adoption of a rapidly emerging standard that supports structured AI governance, AI risk management, audit readiness, and regulatory compliance for organizations deploying AI.
A Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Dr. Babber applies a disciplined, systems-driven approach grounded in process optimization, risk reduction, and operational efficiency to help healthcare systems, life sciences, and digital health companies implement safe, scalable, and compliant healthcare AI and enterprise AI solutions, including EHR-integrated AI. As an educator, advisor, and speaker, she positions AI governance as critical infrastructure, guiding medical and legal professionals to strengthen trust, safeguard privacy, and ensure safe, accountable AI adoption in high-stakes, high-trust environments. She is a member of the Forbes Coaches Council and has been recognized as an AI75 Impact Innovator among leading AI voices in North Texas for advancing responsible, enterprise-ready AI. A trusted thought leader, her articles and AI On Call newsletter deliver clear, executive-level insights that inform decision-making across AI governance, compliance, and AI risk.
Mark Kruzel, MD, MBA serves as Medical Director for Oncology and Consumer-Initiated Testing at Quest Diagnostics. In these roles, he leads strategic efforts to expand access to high-quality diagnostics and advance precision medicine. In his consumer-initiated testing work, Dr. Kruzel focuses on designing clinically responsible patient-centered testing models that empower individuals while maintaining strong integration with the clinician care continuum. His approach reflects a nuanced understanding of the patient–physician relationship alongside a sophisticated appreciation for the operational, financial, and strategic dimensions—the business and the art—of modern medicine.
Dr. Kruzel also serves as a medical liaison to the organization’s national payers, partnering on reimbursement strategy and evidence development to support coverage for clinically actionable testing pathways. His work spans the full diagnostic lifecycle—from assay development, validation and clinical utility—while emphasizing appropriate utilization and the implementation of guideline-driven care pathways.
Deeply committed to improving health outcomes, Dr. Kruzel is particularly passionate about expanding equitable access to diagnostics for underserved populations. He is passionate about advancing testing pathways that are precise, efficient, and capable of informing meaningful clinical decisions.
With extensive experience across research and industry, Dr. Kruzel has managed an FDA clinical trial site and contributed to the commercialization of a novel therapeutic within a startup environment. He has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and presented at regional and national conferences, and he continues to pursue scholarship focused on diagnostic access, payer engagement, and innovative testing models.
He is an active member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP), and the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). Dr. Kruzel earned his medical degree from McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and holds a Master of Business Administration from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University.

Jared Lange, FACHE, joined Parkland Health & Hospital System in March 2019 as an Administrator and was subsequently promoted to Director of Business Sustainability and Development before assuming his current role as Vice President of Operational Transformation. In this capacity, he oversees several enterprise-wide non-clinical support functions, including Labor Optimization and Operational Excellence, Operations Data Services, the Enterprise Project Management Office, the Ambulatory Operations Business Office, and the Patient Access Center.
Prior to joining Parkland, Jared held consulting and operational leadership roles across the healthcare industry. He served as a Senior Operations Consultant at CallisonRTKL, where he helped define future-state operational processes to support the conceptual design of a new healthcare facility. Earlier in his career, Jared spent seven years with Crothall Healthcare in a variety of hospital support service leadership roles nationwide.
Jared earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Wabash College and a Master of Business Administration from The University of Texas at Dallas. He also holds a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification from Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers. Jared serves as a Board Member and Officer for the ACHE of North Texas Chapter and is President of the Wabash College DFW Alumni Board of Governors.

Joel Soto, Sr. serves as Director of Laboratory and Pathology Operations at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center. With over two decades of experience at the intersection of clinical science and executive leadership, Joel has built a reputation for walking into complex, high-stakes environments and improving them — operationally, culturally, and strategically.
As a senior laboratory executive within Methodist Health System, Joel has been consistently reliable in closing the gap between vision and execution. He has rebuilt teams from the ground up, redesigned workflows, driven measurable clinical outcomes, and repositioned the laboratory as a competitive advantage and a strategic pillar of patient are. His work spans the full enterprise: financial performance, workforce development, regulatory compliance, and cross-functional clinical integration at the highest levels.
Concurrently, Joel founded a real estate investment firm where the same principles of disciplined capital allocation, calculated risk, and relentless execution apply. That entrepreneurial experience has sharpened his instincts in ways no leadership course can replicate, and it is that dual lens as operator and executive that makes his perspective distinct.
Joel’s conviction is straightforward: emerging technology only becomes transformational when it is met with the right leadership discipline to deploy it with intention to elevate patient outcomes, strengthen clinical operations, and advance the standard of care.

Monisha Veerapaneni is a healthcare AI governance and enterprise transformation leader focused on scaling responsible AI adoption across integrated healthcare systems. With a triple background spanning medicine, healthcare management, and health informatics — alongside a decade of clinical research experience — she brings an interdisciplinary perspective that connects frontline clinical realities with enterprise operations, governance, and digital innovation. She has worked across urban and rural healthcare systems on both the provider and payer sides, leading multiple multi-million-dollar strategic initiatives.

She currently leads artificial intelligence governance and operations across a large integrated health system spanning the clinical enterprise, health plan, and medical school. Partnering with senior executive leadership, she guides enterprise-wide AI governance, workforce enablement through system-wide education, and the responsible implementation of enterprise and platform AI initiatives, including Epic AI. She also serves on the organization’s AI governance committee, where her work focuses on building the governance and operational infrastructure required for scalable, compliant, and clinically grounded AI adoption.

Beyond her professional work, Monisha serves on the Board of Directors of a North Texas STEM nonprofit supporting more than 840,000 students across 1,200 sites through strategic guidance and partnerships. She is the co-author of Orchestration Sovereignty: Why Enterprises Must Control Their AI Future, where she co-developed an enterprise framework for AI governance and responsible adoption. Monisha is also the host of the Orchestration Sovereignty podcast and creator of the A3Nexus: AI Orchestration newsletter, where she writes on enterprise AI governance and the evolving future of responsible AI integration. She has additionally shared her perspectives on healthcare AI through industry panels, research publications, and executive discussions centered on enterprise transformation and organizational readiness for AI adoption.

Monisha pursued medical training in New Mexico, where she developed an early interest in systems-level healthcare transformation through her frontline clinical experiences. During this time, she co-authored a nationally featured front-page publication on systemic loxoscelism for EM Resident, the national magazine of the Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association (EMRA), graduated from the EMRA Leadership Academy, and held multiple leadership roles focused on physician well-being and healthcare leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her frontline experiences during the pandemic ultimately shaped her transition toward enterprise healthcare transformation, inspiring a broader focus on improving healthcare delivery, workforce systems, operations, and technology implementation at an organizational scale.

Monisha holds graduate degrees from Boston University and Saint Louis University, along with executive and AI-focused training from institutions including Harvard Business School, Stanford University, Cornell University, and Johns Hopkins University. Leveraging her Lean Six Sigma Black Belt in Healthcare alongside training in project, product, and agile management, she applies a systems-oriented approach to enterprise transformation and AI implementation. A DFW native, Monisha earned her BS in Interdisciplinary Healthcare Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas, graduating with Collegium V Honors.

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Breakfast with the CEO - Imamu “Mu” Tomlinson, MD, MBA
2026-06-09 07:30 - 09:00 | Vituity, 5215 N O'Connor Blvd, Suite 1600, Irving, TX, 75039
Leading Beyond Limits and Defying the Odds

Imamu “Mu” Tomlinson, MD, MBA, is the Chief Executive Officer of Vituity, one of the nation’s largest physician-owned, multispecialty partnerships, delivering care to over 13 million patients across emergency medicine, hospital medicine, anesthesia, radiology, urgent care, and more. He is also a practicing emergency physician.
He is the author of Less Than One Percent. This leadership book challenges conventional definitions of success and examines how societal labels and artificial barriers limit potential, particularly for those historically underrepresented in leadership. He also hosts the Less Than One Percent podcast, where he speaks with leaders across healthcare, business, sports, and culture about resilience, disruption, and building impact beyond traditional paths.
A former collegiate basketball player with Jamaican-Canadian roots, Dr. Tomlinson brings a global and deeply personal lens to leadership. He is a vocal advocate for physician ownership, frontline-driven innovation, and inclusive leadership models that better reflect the communities healthcare serves.
Beyond the C-suite, he is committed to developing the next generation of leaders through mentorship, philanthropy, and community investment. This is realized through Vituity Cares, the non-profit arm of Vituity that brings clinical services and care to communities in need, and also funds scholarships and other programs to foster tomorrow’s generations. His work reflects a simple belief. Excellence is everywhere. Opportunity is not.

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The Inlaid Mosaic: Inclusive Leadership & Safe Healthcare Environments
2026-06-17 17:00 - 20:00 | Moody Outpatient Center at Parkland Hospital, 5151 Maple Avenue, Dallas, TX, 75235, United States
Explore how inclusive leadership fosters psychologically safe healthcare environments support workforce well-being & equitable patient care.

Join healthcare leaders from ACHE of North Texas, NALHE, and NAHSE for The Inlaid Mosaic: Inclusive Leadership & Safe Healthcare Environments, a dynamic panel discussion focused on advancing inclusive leadership in healthcare. This event will explore how psychological safety, workforce belonging, and leadership accountability shape stronger teams and improve patient trust and care outcomes.
Designed for healthcare professionals, students, and community partners, this session offers practical insights and real-world perspectives to support professional growth, strengthen workplace culture, and advance equitable, patient-centered care.
Moderator: Timothy Wilson, MA (he/him)
Head of Program Integrity
Parkland Health
Panelists:
Laurýn Tamar Minter de Porres, Ph.D. (she/hers/ella)
Administrative Director Workforce Impact, Office of Talent Management
Parkland Hospital
Court Wakefield (they/them)
Vice President, Digital and Transformation
Marketing and Communications
Jeffrey Place MBA, MSN, RN, NE-BC (he/him)
Vice President Patient Care
Baylor Medical Center/BSWH
Lillana (Lilly) Chavez, MOT, MBA, OTR/L (she/her)
Occupational Therapist
Parkland Health

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Speakers’ Bios:
Courtney Wakefield is a healthcare marketing and digital transformation executive with nearly 20 years of experience driving innovation at the intersection of strategy, technology, and mission-driven care. They currently serve as Vice President of Digital and MarCom Transformation at Children’s Health, where they have spent nine years leading marketing and digital strategy for the region’s largest pediatric healthcare system. A passionate advocate for health equity, Courtney serves on the Board of Directors of the Resource Center, Dallas’ largest LGBTQ+ community center, and previously served as Marketing Chair for Black Tie Dinner, the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ fundraising dinner.

Jeffrey Place is a highly experienced healthcare professional with a strong background in nursing administration and leadership within acute care settings for more than 37 years. Educational background: Jeffrey received an Associate degree in Nursing from the State University of New York in 1980. After moving to Texas later in 1980, Jeffrey received a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and an MBA. In addition, he completed a Nurse Executive Fellowship at SMU in 2013. Executive roles: Vice President overseeing Patient Care Services including Medical, Surgical, Oncology, Nursing Support Services, Environmental Services, Nutrition Services, oversight of system Transfer Center with leadership spanning over 1,500 full-time employees and multiple hospital systems since 2015. Current Executive role: Vice President Patient Care Women’s and Children’s, Oncology, Wound Care, Apheresis, Infusion, OETC, Dialysis, and Vascular Access Services: Early career roles: Served in various clinical and administrative nursing positions including clinical manager, nursing supervisor, and staff nurse from 1980 through 1990

Dr. Laurýn Tamar Minter de Porres (she/hers/ella) is a political scientist and organizational strategist with more than 15 years of experience designing workplace systems that center belonging, accessibility, and cultural responsiveness. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of New Orleans, a Master of Arts in Latin American Studies (Psychology) from Tulane University, and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Spanish from Fisk University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude.
Originally from Rochester, New York, Dr. Minter relocated to Dallas, Texas in 2023 to serve as the Administrative Director of Workforce Impact at Parkland Health. Dr. Minter de Porres leads enterprise-wide workforce equity strategy for one of the largest safety-net hospital systems in the country. Her work spans recruitment and retention reform, anti-ableism infrastructure, trauma-informed workplace design, and culturally congruent hiring practices. She authored the organization’s first anti-ableism and accessibility strategic plan, launched a pilot interviewing process for individuals with Autism spectrum disorder and other neurodiversities, and led a comprehensive lactation room and sensory friendly room equity initiative grounded in federal compliance and workforce data.
Her academic and professional expertise includes African American and Caribbean/Afro-Latino identity politics, behavioral psychology, LGBTQ+ youth programming and policy, and voting/elections. She is receptive trilingual in English, Spanish, and French (francais quebecois) and has delivered more than 25 keynotes and training sessions nationwide on youth programming, workforce inclusion, and cultural identity.
Dr. Minter de Porres is also the principal consultant of de Porres Enterprises and the founder of Salons by Laurýn. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She lives in Dallas with her wife, Miranda, and their dog Beignet Roux.
Lillana “Lilly” Chavez, MOT, MBA, OTR/L (She/Her) is a licensed Occupational Therapist at Parkland Health with over five years of experience across acute care, outpatient, and home health settings. She recently earned her MBA from Texas Woman’s University, with an emphasis in Healthcare Administration, and is passionate about advancing health equity, patient access, and inclusive, system-level change in healthcare.
Lilly serves as Co-Chair of the LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group at Parkland Health, Chair of the Community, Culture & Inclusion (CCI) Committee for the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) North Texas Chapter and Co-Chair for Co-Chair of the Sponsorship & Fundraising Committee for the National Association of Latino Healthcare Executives (NALHE). She also previously served as Chair of the PRIDE Community within CCI, where she supported efforts to advance LGBTQ+ representation and foster more inclusive, psychologically safe environments for healthcare professionals.
Recognized with the Parkland ICARE Equity Award (March 2026), Lilly is committed to amplifying diverse voices and bridging the gap between frontline care and leadership to advance equitable, affirming care for all.
Timothy Wilson is the Head of Program Integrity for Parkland Health, where he leads enterprise efforts to safeguard public funds and strengthen accountability across managed care operations within Parkland Community Health Plan (PCHP). His work centers on driving financial discipline, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence in one of the nation’s most complex healthcare environments.
With deep experience across Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and commercial health plans, Timothy has built a reputation for translating strategy into execution, aligning financial, operational, and clinical claim priorities to improve performance and protect healthcare resources.
Prior to Parkland, he served as Senior Vice President of Population Health Management at P3 Health Partners and held a key leadership role at Children’s Health, where he helped launch the system’s health plan.
Timothy is a nationally recognized healthcare executive, speaker, and mentor. He serves on the Editorial Board of Healthcare Executive magazine and is President Elect of the National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE) Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter. He also serves on the boards of NAHSE DFW and the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) of North Texas, advancing leadership development and strengthening the future of healthcare leadership.
A compelling voice on program integrity, value based care, and executive leadership, Timothy brings real world insight, sharp perspective, and a results driven approach to every stage.

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Women's Networking Event: Power & Presence: Sip. Shop, & Connect
2026-06-25 17:30 - 19:30 | Las Colinas Country Club, 4400 N O'Connor Road, Irving, TX, 75062, United States
Join healthcare professionals & leaders from across DFW for an inspiring evening of connection, conversation, networking, & personal growth

Power & Presence: Sip, Shop & Connect is an evening designed to bring together healthcare professionals and leaders from across the DFW area for meaningful networking, authentic conversations, and personal growth. Hosted by the ACHE of North Texas Women’s Healthcare Executive Network and Women in Healthcare, this event offers attendees the opportunity to build valuable connections, gain inspiration from fellow leaders, and invest in both their professional presence and personal development in a fun, welcoming atmosphere.
Food and one drink ticket is included. Free parking is available in the parking lots.

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Introduction to ACHE Fellowship Virtual Event
2026-07-13 17:00 - 18:00 | Virtual
Demonstrate your commitment to your healthcare career by becoming an ACHE Fellow (FACHE).

Are you a healthcare professional working on your graduate degree? Perhaps you have the years of experience under your belt, are active in your profession and community and are looking for a way to differentiate yourself from your peers? Earning your board certification in healthcare management from ACHE is an excellent way to do that. The ACHENTX Advancement Committee wants to support you on your journey. Join this informative session as we discuss the pathway and requirements to earning your certification, share some details about the Board of Governors exam process, provide some tidbits about the separate Board of Governors Exam Review course (which will be offered later this year by the Advancement Committee and led by local industry professionals).
Speakers:
Day-Vene Gilliam, FACHE
SVP of National Network Optimization & Business Development
Anthem BCBSElevance Health
Warren Poquiz
Operations
Children’s Health System of Texas
Chirag Gosai
Senior Project Manager
Texas Health Resources
Sejal Patel, FACHE
Director of Operations
US Anesthesia Partners

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ACHE of North Texas Better Together
2026-07-16 17:30 - 20:00 | Methodist Dallas Medical Center, 221 W Colorado Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75208
Join us for an engaging evening of networking, collaboration, and community connection at Better Together: Building Bridges Across Healthcare. This event will bring together healthcare leaders, professionals, and community organizations from across North Texas to foster meaningful partnerships, exchange ideas, and explore opportunities to collectively advance healthcare innovation, equity, and community impact.
Attendees will have the opportunity to expand their professional network, connect with cross-sector leaders, and participate in conversations focused on strengthening the future of healthcare through collaboration. The evening will also feature a showcase of participating organizations and professional associations, including HLA; NCQA; CV Roman; Women in Healthcare; HIMSS; HFMA; HQA; Armanino Advisory; Catalyst Health Group; CareerSpring; NALHE DFW; NAHSE; and ACHENTX’s WHEN, AHLC, PRIDE; and more.

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