Breakfast with the CEO - Ben Coogan
2022-10-05 07:30 - 09:00 (America/Denver) | Medical City Fort Worth, 900 8th Avenue, Fort Worth, TX, 76104
Please join us for the next in our popular breakfast event series . . .

Ben Coogan was named CEO of Medical City Fort Worth on July 12 ,2021.
With nearly two decades of healthcare experience, including executive and senior leadership level positions, Ben’s depth of industry knowledge will serve the hospital well in Fort Worth’s highly competitive medical district. Since 2019, he has served as COO of Medical City Dallas and Medical City Children’s Hospital with operational oversight of key service lines and facility construction. Under his leadership, the facilities underwent $56 million in capital improvements including an OR expansion, emergency department renovation and a 22-bed NICU expansion. Currently pursuing Level II Trauma status, the hospitals have also improved in outpatient experience and employee engagement scores, as well as maintained a Leapfrog Group A safety rating.

Prior to Medical City Dallas, Ben served as COO at Medical City Arlington where his leadership helped pave the way for a successful opening of the $60 million Medical City Women’s Hospital Arlington, new neurotrauma ICU and inpatient rehabilitation units, a biplane interventional radiology lab and the renovation and expansion of the emergency department, among other accomplishments.

Ben received a Bachelor of Psychology from Texas A&M University and a Master of Business Administration in Health Services Management from the University of North Texas. He serves on several Medical City Healthcare committees, is the division representative for HCA Healthcare’s Vital Voices colleague survey and is an active member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Ben and his wife Jessica currently live in Frisco with their two children, Campbell and Caroline. Jessica is an executive with the Container Store in Coppell. Campbell is age 9 and will be going into 4th grade. Caroline is age 7 and will be attending 2nd grade in the fall. We enjoy traveling when schedules permit, and the girls are very active in sports and summer camps this season.

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Cocktails with the Chiefs: Funding the Future of Healthcare in Texas
2022-10-11 18:00 - 20:00 | River Crest Country Club, 1501 Western Avenue, Fort Worth, TX, 76107
Don’t miss out on this popular event!

Reserve your ticket now for our next ACHENTX Cocktails with the Chiefs event. We’re back in Fort Worth for this program and this time, our content topic will be: Funding the Future of Healthcare in Texas: how policy, advocacy, and traditional delivery systems come together for Texans. The panel will be preceded by a networking cocktail reception.

Our guest panelists for this event will include:

Joseph DeLeon (Moderator)
President
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth
Clint Hailey
Senior Vice President & Chief Managed Care Officer
Tenet Healthcare Corporation
Scott Holliday, DO, MBA
Chairman
US Anesthesia Partners North Texas Clinical Governance Board
Rick McWhorter
Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Texas Health Resources
Anna Stelter, LMSW, MPH
Senior Director, Financial Policy
Texas Hospital Association

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Speakers Bios:

Joseph DeLeon Joseph DeLeon became president of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth in January 2018. He joined the team at Texas Health Resources in Fort Worth in 2005 and in addition to serving at Texas Health Fort Worth for 13 years he was the President at Texas Health Southwest Fort Worth from 2013 through 2017. He has led the expansion of Texas Health Fort Worth’s physical plant with the addition of the Jane and John Justin Tower and the implementation of the hospital’s first Graduate Medical Education programs in General Surgery and Internal Medicine.
In January 2013, DeLeon was named president of Texas Health Southwest. Under his leadership, Texas Health Southwest achieved the Truven 100 Top Hospital four years in a row and the Pinnacle of Excellence Award for Patient Experience from Press Ganey. The Texas Health Southwest leadership team also worked to bring Texas Health Clearfork online and become a joint replacement destination center in North Texas.
DeLeon is an active leader in the community, serving as chairman of the boards of Texas Rehabilitation Hospital and the Tarrant County March of Dimes, American Heart Association, and on the boards of North Texas Community Foundation and the Healthy Tarrant County Collaboration. He previously served as Chair of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. DeLeon has been recognized many times for his leadership of the hospital, including a 2017 Minorities in Business Award from the Fort Worth Business Press. He is a former captain of the United States Air Force Medical Services Corps and has served in health care management since 1991. A graduate of Leadership North Texas, Leadership Fort Worth and Leadership Bryan-College Station, DeLeon was previously named to the Fort Worth Business Press 40 under 40 and holds a Certificate of Leader Development from the U.S. Army War College Commandant’s National Security Program.

Clint Hailey serves as senior vice president and chief managed care officer of Tenet Healthcare Corporation, overseeing managed care strategy development, and contracting operations for all entities with all managed care companies nationally. He reports to Dan Cancelmi, Tenet’s chief financial officer. Prior to joining Tenet, Hailey was vice president of managed care for the Hospital Corporation of America’s (HCA) Texas operations, where he was responsible for directing the development of managed care strategies and negotiating contracts for 34 acute care hospitals and 26 freestanding surgery centers in Texas. Hailey earned his bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration from Texas Christian University and his juris doctorate from Texas A&M University School of Law. He is a member of both the American and Texas Bar Associations and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Scott Holliday, D.O., MBA, is a member of the USAP Board of Directors and Chairman of the USAP North Texas Clinical Governance Board where he also serves in an operations leadership role. Dr. Holliday played an integral role in the private equity backed transaction of Pinnacle Partners into US Anesthesia Partners in 2014.
Dr. Holliday received his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin and completed his medical education at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. He completed his internship and residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Holliday also completed a master’s degree in Business Administration at the University of Texas at Dallas in 2011. Dr. Holliday was appointed by the Governor of Texas in 2008 to serve on the Texas Medical Board and completed his service in 2019. Dr. Holliday is a certified anesthesiologist by the American Board of Anesthesiology

Rick McWhorter is Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Texas Health Resources. He has responsibility for overall accounting, financial reporting, financial planning and tax management; revenue cycle management and government reimbursement; hospital financial operations; physician financial operations; and financial analytics. He also oversees investments and treasury services; real estate services and facilities development; and supply chain management.
Rick assumed his current role in late 2018 after serving in numerous leadership roles since joining the system in 1990. Most recently, he was the Chief Financial Operations Officer for Texas Health, where he implemented the system’s board-approved financial sustainability policy, which establishes the prudent deployment of financial resources and provides funding to fulfill Texas Health’s Mission to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve. In addition, he implemented the system’s financial compliance and tax-exempt bond compliance programs, which monitor more than $2 billion of debt.
Over the years, Rick has provided financial oversight across the Texas Health system, as well as serving on several of the system’s joint ventures’ boards and committees. He played a significant role in the development of financial controls and processes for Southwestern Health Resources, an integrated network that blends the strengths of UT Southwestern Medical Center and Texas Health. Additionally, McWhorter represents the system as a member of the subscriber advisory and finance committees for Premier AEIX, a professional liability risk retention group with other health systems across the country.
Outside of Texas Health, Rick has previously chaired the healthcare education committee for the Texas Society of CPAs, served a three-year term on the United Way of Tarrant County board, and a three-year term on the Advisory Board of the Boy Scouts – Circle 10. He is currently serving as a member of the board and executive committee for Texas Wesleyan University and is Texas Wesleyan’s current chair for its Finance and Audit Committee.
Rick earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Texas Wesleyan University and is a licensed certified public accountant in the State of Texas. He is a certified healthcare financial professional and fellow of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

Anna Stelter, LMSW, MPH, is Senior Director, Financial Policy at Texas Hospital Association, where she monitors health care financing and supports the association’s public policy activities related to hospital payments, Medicaid, Medicare, and the state budget. She joined THA in 2021 after three years as a public health policy analyst at Texas Medical Association, where she coordinated the Texas Public Health Coalition and led the association’s behavioral health and pediatric health activities. She began her career as a policy analyst at Texas Health Institute monitoring Affordable Care Act-related coverage gains in Texas. She earned a Master of Public Health from the University of Texas School of Public Health, and a Master of Science in Social Work from The University of Texas at Austin.

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ACHETNX Annual Women's Breakfast: Empowered Women Empower Women
2022-10-13 07:00 - 21:15 | Medical City Dallas – City Hall Auditorium, 7777 Forest Lane, Dallas, TX, 75230, United States
Our very popular in-person annual Women’s Breakfast is back!!

This year we are thrilled to have a panel of dynamic and influential women CEOs who will share their stories, insights and words of wisdom. It’s definitely a program you’re not going to want to miss!

Panelists

Sharn Barbarin, MHA, FACHE
Chief Executive Officer
Medical City Arlington
Pat Driscoll (Moderator)
Professor
Texas Woman’s University – Dallas
Deborah Gage
Founder & Principal
Amida Health
Amanda Thrash, FACHE
President
Texas Health Allen

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A big thanks to Medical City Dallas for hosting this event!

Speakers’ Bios

Sharn Barbarin is Chief Executive Officer of Medical City Arlington since June 2022. Prior to joining Medial City Arlington, she was CEO at Medical City Lewisville. MCL has achieved 6th consecutive year of LeapFrog A scores, #1 ranking in Medical City Healthcare for Clinical Quality Excellence, top quartile HCAHPS performance, top quartile employee engagement, 97th percentile physician satisfaction, and 5th consecutive year of record earnings and margin performance.
A 24-year veteran of HCA Healthcare, Barbarin joined North Texas Division in 1997 as an Administrative Fellow. Barbarin served as Associate Administrator of Medical City Las Colinas, COO of Medical City McKinney and COO of Medical City Arlington prior to her current role.
Barbarin currently serves on several boards and councils including the DFW Hospital Council Board, Texas 2036’s Legislative Committee, HCA Hope Fund Board, HCA Healthcare Division Diversity and Inclusion Council, LISD Business Advisory Board, Flower Mound and Lewisville Area Chambers of Commerce Boards. She serves a Denton County Judge appointed role on the Denton County Public Health Advisory Council and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Barbarin has been honored by Dallas Business Journal, DCEO, and was named a Tulane University Outstanding Alumni. Due to her passion for development, she serves as a coach and mentor to early careerist and up and coming Healthcare Executives.
Barbarin earned her bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and her master’s degree in Health Administration from Tulane University. She and her husband, Reginald, have two sons, Courtland and Brice.

An accomplished educator and senior healthcare leader; Pat Driscoll is the former President and CEO of Home Health Services of Texas, Inc. She has more than 40 years of health care experience, including work in her private legal practice and roles in a variety of clinical, executive, consultant, and educational settings. Pat currently serves as Professor of Health Care Management at Texas Woman’s University and on a variety of Boards.

Deborah Gage is a passionate high-energy CEO and Board Director with a track record creating high-growth health tech companies. Her career focus has been with firms in the $100M+ range. She has created and led start-ups and two subsidiaries of major Corporations. Throughout her career, she has driven organic and inorganic growth and fostered dynamic, high-performance cultures. Deb served as a Board Director for three private Companies; as an Advisory Board Member for two firms; and as a Board Member for four non-profit and academic organizations. Deb is known as a business transformer having created and infused innovation, passion and purpose into start-up and existing firms to drive high-growth and value for stakeholders. She is passionate about transforming the healthcare system to improve access, consumer experience and health outcomes. She is also a trailblazer and advocate for women in leadership roles.

Amanda Thrash, FACHE, has served as president of Texas Health Allen since July 3, 2022.
Amanda has primary oversight of daily operations and responsibility for the 88-bed hospital’s annual operating plan.
Thrash previously served as vice president, professional and support services, at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano. Her tenure with Texas Health extends much further, though. She started at Texas Health Dallas as an administrative resident in 2009, moving to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano in 2010. She became administrator of Texas Health Neighborhood Care & Wellness Prosper in 2016, serving in that role for two years.

Over the span of Amanda’s career, she has focused heavily on market strategy, physician relationships and streamlining hospital operations. Most recently, Amanda has been successful in growing EMS traffic, improving perioperative efficiencies and growing the cardiovascular and robotic service lines.

In her spare time, Amanda enjoys spending time with her husband of seven years, Bucky, and their 3-year-old son, Beau. They love cheering on the TCU Horned Frogs during football season and entertaining friends in their home.

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UAB National Symposium for Healthcare Executives
2022-10-19 11:00 - 2022-10-21 12:00 | The Club, 1 Robert S Smith Drive, Birmingham, AL, 35209
This year once again ACHENTX is partnering with the University of Alabama at Birmingham to offer you this event.
Up to 9.0 ACHE Face-to-Face Credits have been approved for this event.
Dates: October 19-21
Location: The Club, Birmingham, Alabama
Presenters:

Quint Studer (Keynote) – businessman, visionary, entrepreneur, author and more
Anthony Armada, FACHE – Executive Vice President & Chief Transformation Officer, Generations Healthcare Network
Cynthia Barginere, RN, DNP, FACHE – Chief Operating Officer, IHI
Lisa Bielamowicz, MD – Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Gist Healthcare
Gayle L. Capozzalo, FACHE – Chief Executive Director, Carol Emmott Foundation
Thomas Lee, MD – Chief Medical Officer, Press Ganey
Fawn Lopez – Publisher & VP, Modern Healthcare
Bill Santulli, FACHE – Chief Operating Officer, Advocate Aurora Health
Roberta Schwartz – EVP, Houston Methodist
Michael Shabot, MD, FACS, FCCM, FACMI – Founding Partner, Relia Healthcare Advisors

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AHLCNTX's Inaugural Event: Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling
2022-10-20 17:30 - 19:30 | Methodist Southlake Medical Center, 421 East State Highway 114, Southlake, TX, 76092
ACHE of North Texas’ newly launched Asian Healthcare Leaders Community (AHLCNTX) is pleased to invite you to
their inaugural event! Asian healthcare leaders, friends, colleagues and allies are all invited to attend.

Panelists

Benson Chacko, FACHE
President
Methodist Southlake Medical Center
Ajith Pai, PharmD, FACHE
President
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth
Nimesh Patel, MD, MBA
Executive Medical Director, Methodist Health System
Neurosurgeon, Methodist Dallas Medical Center
Donna Persaud, MD, MBA
Medical Director
Parkland Health
Kean Villarta, MHSA
Manager
Children’s Health

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Thank you, Methodist Southlake for hosting this event!

Speakers’ Bios

Benson P. Chacko, FACHE, serves as President of Methodist Southlake Medical Center. In his role he provides day to day leadership for the hospital, collaboratively implements strategies, and efficiently manages hospital operations to maximize quality. Benson’s healthcare career spans two decades in various areas to include human resources, project management, ambulatory care, business development & strategy, physician relations and hospital operations. In 2018 he joined Methodist Health System as the Vice President of Operations at the systems’ flagship hospital Methodist Dallas Medical Center (MDMC), a 592-bed tertiary care facility. There he led operational improvements in many areas and expanded key service lines to include the construction of a 36-bed Progressive Care Unit, renovations of multiple patient care units and enhanced ancillary services. In his three years at MDMC he was responsible for implementing $82M of investments to enhance patient care and hospital operations. Through his executive leadership he ensured the delivery of high-quality care while maintaining efficient operations. Benson’s passion for the Methodist mission is paramount and with his growth-oriented style is committed to Methodist Health System. Prior to joining Methodist, he served in Chief Operating Officer roles in Tenet Healthcare at Des Peres Hospital in St. Louis, MO and The Hospitals of Providence-Sierra Campus in El Paso, TX. At Sierra Campus he managed a $53M, two-year renovation of the 329-bed tertiary care hospital. He relocated back to the DFW area to serve as the Interim Chief Executive Officer/Chief Operating Officer at Tenet’s joint venture hospital, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Lake Pointe. There he led the organization through a successful Joint Commission Survey, achieved the Leap Frog “A” Rating for the organization, and led the corporate transition from Tenet Healthcare to Baylor Scott & White.
A native to DFW, Benson started his career as a junior volunteer at St. Paul Medical Center in Dallas, TX. His mother was a nurse at the hospital and this exposure at an early age defined his career path to serve in healthcare. He holds a Bachelors of Healthcare Administration from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, TX, and Master of Healthcare Administration and Master of Business Administration degrees from Texas Women’s University in Dallas. Throughout his career as a healthcare executive, Benson has continued to find time to serve on professional councils with the Texas Hospital Association and serving for community nonprofits such as The Boys & Girls Club and Center Against Sexual and Family Violence. Finally, he’s had the honor of being recognized by the United States Congress for Community Service during his time at Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto, CA.

Ajith Pai, PharmD, FACHE, has served as President of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth since July, 2022. Prior to this role, Ajith served as President of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Cleburne for nearly four years.
In the role of president, Ajith oversees day to day operations, works to advance physician engagement and promote effective employee, governance, and community relations. Ajith is responsible for ensuring the achievement of the hospital’s goals for patient safety, clinical and non-clinical quality, operational performance and patient, physician, and employee engagement.
Ajith received his Doctorate of Pharmacy (PharmD) from Texas Tech School of Pharmacy and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Dallas. Additionally, he is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).
Ajith enjoys spending time with his family which includes his wife of 15 years, Myriam, their 7 year-old daughter, Elyse, their 21 month-old son Nikhil, and the newest addition, 8 month-old Yvette. He’s an avid runner and has participated in more than 15 marathons throughout the country and remains involved in the community through memberships on various boards and committees. Ajith is a proud Board member of ACHE of North Texas, was the 2020 national chair of ACHE’s Asian Healthcare Leaders Forum, continues to serve as an Asian Healthcare Leaders Community (AHLC) national committee member, and is a founding member of ACHE of North Texas’ AHLC.

Nimesh Patel, MD, MBA, has over two decades experience as a successful Dallas neurosurgeon. He is Section Chief of Neurosurgery for the Methodist Dallas Medical Center and Executive Medical Director of Methodist Health System in Dallas, where he leads a team of over a hundred physicians, nurses, and technicians committed to high quality patient care.
Dr. Patel is cited in numerous scientific publications. US News and World Report ranks him as a 5-Star Neurosurgeon, and he has been recognized among D Magazine’s Best Doctors for the past 15 years. He is a member of the Lone Star Dallas Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and also serves as the managing director of a successful Dallas based investment fund. He is the author of the soon to be released book, Beyond a White Coat: What I Wish I Knew as a Young Doctor.
In his spare time, he enjoys playing the acoustic guitar and spending time with his family.

Dr. Donna Persaud is a board-certified pediatrician and Medical Director in The Population Health Division at Parkland Health-the Dallas County safety net serving a diverse and under resourced population. She is the physician leader for the Homeless Outreach Medical Services (HOMES) program which is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) funded by HRSA. With direct responsibility for clinical quality of care for 8000+ unique individuals with 35,000 visits annually and leadership influence over several aspects of the entire division service including community primary care clinics, school- based clinics, and specialty care.

In the COVID 19 Pandemic, was the Medical Officer for the Federally Supported Community Based mega testing sites in Dallas. She provided leadership in setting up the first Parkland drive thru testing sites in North Texas and worked extensively with the health department, city of Dallas, shelter agencies and Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation (PCCI) to provide accessible testing, outreach, COVID 19 testing, vaccination and healthcare. The work resulted in a National Award for Parkland Health from America Essential Hospitals for COVID Pandemic Response. Additionally, she is the Medical Director for the Community Health Needs Initiatives- population level metric driven, multi-pronged long-range projects deployed by several clinical and community outreach teams to address health disparities.
Her publication and research focus areas are disparities in care; social determinants of health; population health registries; vaccine decision making; predictive risk driven health care for pediatric asthma and preterm delivery prevention.

She received her medical degree from the University of West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica.

Pediatric residency-University of Miami, Ambulatory Fellowship UTMB Galveston and MBA-UT Dallas. She is volunteer faculty for UTSW and Guyana Pediatrics and was a Parkland Distinguished Physician Awardee in 2011 and 2021.

Kean Villarta, MHSA, is currently a manager, program development and project management, at Children’s Health System of Texas where he leads and manages a portfolio of systemwide projects in construction, healthcare compliance and accreditation, clinical operations, and information technology.
He previously served as the Business Operations Manager at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Heart and Transplant Institute. He received his master’s degree in health systems administration from Georgetown University and his bachelor’s degree in health science from the University of Florida.
Kean is excited to work and collaborate with colleagues and leaders across the world and continue advocating for pediatric hospitals.

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ACHENTX 4th Quarter Education Event
2022-10-27 15:00 - 19:00 | Methodist Dallas Medical Center, 1441 N Beckley Avenue, Dallas, TX, 75203
These two panels have been approved for 1.5 ACHE Face-to-Face Credits each (3.0 if you attend both sessions)

3-3:30pm – Check-In & Networking
3:30-5pm – Panel 1: Fostering the Inclusion of Patient and Employees with Disabilities
5-5:30pm – Dinner & Networking
5:30-7pm – Panel 2: Behavioral Healthcare: Approaches to Increase Value for the Organization and Meet Community Needs

A special thanks to Methodist Dallas Medical Center for hosting this event!!

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Panel 1: Fostering the Inclusion of Patient and Employees with Disabilities
Corey Wilson, FACHE (Moderator)
Chief Operating Officer
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth
Rachel Brooks
Divison Director, DE&I, N TX Division
Medical City Healthcare
Francisco Gonzalez
Manager of Hospitality and Guest Relations
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas
Dr. DeLancey Johnson
Senior Vice President & Associate Chief Talent Officer
Parkland Health
Monique Roland
Manager, Integrated Disability Management Department
Texas Health Resources
Panel 2: Behavioral Healthcare: Approaches to Increase Value for the Organization and Meet Community Needs
Kenneth Hutchenrider, Jr., FACHE (Moderator)
President
Methodist Richardson Medical Center
Scott Domingue, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, CMSRN
Chief Operating Officer & Chief Nursing Officer of Behavioral Health
Texas Health Resources
Teneisha Kennard
Executive Director of Behavioral Health – Ambulatory Services
JPS Health Network
Diane Partin, LPC-S
Administrative Director of Behavior Health Outpatient Services
Medical City Green Oaks

Speakers’ Bios:

Rachel Brooks has over 10 years of experience in developing and implementing diversity, equity and inclusion programs and initiatives in higher education and nonprofit sectors.
Prior to HCA Healthcare, Rachel worked as an independent diversity, equity and inclusion consultant where she worked with several nationwide organizations working on their employee recruitment and retention efforts. In this role she helped organizations to develop strategic DEI initiatives and goals through strategic planning and assessment. Throughout her career she has specialized in creating and enhancing diversity pipeline programs in collaboration with national organizations in a variety of markets. She developed a four-part inclusive leadership series for her clients that focused on overcoming biases, cultivating authenticity in the workplace, and allyship. This series has had over 1000 participants across multiple sectors.
Rachel earned a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Master’s of Education from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and is finalizing a Doctorate of Philosophy in Education Administration at Indiana State University. She is native of Milwaukee, WI, and a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Scott Domingue, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, CMSRN, serves at the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer of Behavioral Health at Texas Health Resources. In this role, Scott is responsible for improving care provided to individuals affected by mental illness and substance use disorder throughout the Texas Health system. Scott also has operational responsibility for five inpatient psychiatric hospitals and 18 outpatient behavioral health clinics located throughout the DFW metroplex.
Scott has previously served as the Associate Chief Nursing Officer and Neurosciences Service Line Director at Texas Health Plano. Prior to joining Texas Health Resources, he served in various roles at Medical City Denton including Director of Emergency Services and Director of Medical-Surgical Services. Scott holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Louisiana- Lafayette and is currently pursuing a DNP at the University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing.

Francisco Gonzalez is the Manager of Hospitality and Guest Relations for Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas celebrating 20 years of service this year. Frank is originally from Laredo, Texas and is one of 6 siblings. Having learned a strong work ethic from his parents, but always having a strong interest in hospitality, Frank’s career began with Ruth B Cowl Rehabilitation Center. He soon moved onto Marriott Riverwalk and River center, before finally joining THD. Francisco has a passion for individuals with disabilities and has volunteered with the Special Olympics since 1980 and even started a Special Olympics bowling team called the Unstoppabowls, which was sponsored by THD. The team was together for one season but went all the way to state where the team members earned bronze, silver and gold medals. Francisco’s work with adults with disabilities goes back decades, but he has been the Project Search Liaison for 6 years. In his spare time, he enjoys outdoor activities and handing with friends. Most importantly spending time with his best dog friend, Harley.

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.

Dr. DeLancey Johnson is the Senior Vice President and Associate Chief Talent Officer for Parkland Health.
In this role, Dr. Johnson provides strategic leadership in the planning and implementing of quality-based, integrated human resources (HR) programs.
Dr. Johnson has over 20 years of HR expertise across international and domestic markets, public and private sectors, and non-profit and for-profit organizations, including multiple health systems in Texas and Florida. He is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SHRM-SCP, SPHR, sHRBP) and an active member of the North Texas chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHENTX). In addition, Dr. Johnson has recently served as Corporate Employee Relations Director for Memorial Healthcare System in Hollywood, Florida, providing consultative HR services to all leadership levels, developing, and managing diversity and inclusion strategies, and creating talent development centers to support continuous development.
Dr. Johnson serves as the 2022 President-Elect on the Board of Directors for the Mid-Cities Human Resource Association (MCHRA).
Dr. Johnson holds a Doctor of Business Administration (specializing in Human Resources Management) degree from Northcentral University in Scottsdale, Arizona, and a Master of Business Administration from Syracuse University. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts from Edward Waters University.

Teneisha Kennard is the Executive Director of Behavioral Health – Ambulatory Services at JPS Health Network.

With over a decade of experience in mental and behavioral health, Teneisha’s current role is a continuation of her life’s passion of service. In her current role as executive director, she is responsible for the operation and development of a full continuum of accessible outpatient behavioral health services. Born and raised in Fort Worth, Teneisha completed her undergraduate degree at Texas Christian University and graduate studies at The University of Texas at Arlington.

Teneisha is a licensed Social Worker with a wealth of knowledge as a practitioner, educator and administrator. Her heart for service has led her to work with some of our most vulnerable populations including people experiencing homelessness, justice system involved individuals and those facing socio-economic challenges.

Her path has resulted in progressive leadership positions and provided Teneisha the opportunity to build innovative programming, secure funding through grant writing and participate in informative research resulting in publication.

For nearly 20 years, Diane Partin, LPC-S, has devoted her life and career in serving through direct care, supervision, or in Executive Leadership, those individuals and families who live with all levels of mental illness or mental/emotional crisis in their lives. Her experience in clinical service ranges from working with the indigent population in the greater Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex; individuals, couples, and families in private practice, serving as expert in the family court systems; working alongside children and families in the foster care and adoption system; and individuals who need more acute care hospital-based programs. She has had the opportunity influence and build stellar clinical programs to meet mental health needs in our greater North Texas community. She presently serves as the Administrative Director of Behavior Health Outpatient Services at Medical City Green Oaks in Dallas, TX; and on the Board of Directors for NAMI TX, as a member of the Executive Committee and as the Region 2 Director. In her role at Medical City Green Oaks, she considers it a privileged to oversee programming both clinically and operationally, that offers patients a continuum of care as they step down from inpatient hospitalization or are needing critical care to avoid an inpatient admission through our Partial Hospitalization Program otherwise known as Day Hospital, Multiple Intensive Outpatient Services, and/or Counseling services in order to promote stability and healing.

Monique Roland is the Manager of the Integrated Disability Management Department at Texas Health Resources. Monique has been in the Integrated Disability and Absence Management environment for over 27 years, starting as a Worker’s Compensation Specialist. Her areas of expertise have evolved through the years to include, American’s with Disabilities (ADA), ADAAA, Reasonable Accommodations, Family Medical Leave (FMLA), and Modified Duty. She holds a Bachelors’ Degree in Business Management and an MBA with a Concentration in Human Resource Management. Monique takes pleasure in educating manager’s and leaders on the laws that surround Integrated Disability and Absence Management to ensure complete compliance with the laws and to make sure the employee’s experience is a positive one. Monique is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc and enjoys volunteering with her sorority.

Corey Wilson, FACHE, chief operating officer at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, is responsible for the day to day ancillary and support operations of the hospital. Prior to returning to the Texas Health family he served as vice president of Ancillary and Support Services at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland, California. While there he implemented a 340B drug discount program resulting in $5 million in annual savings and restructured the Support Services division to improve regulatory compliance and fiscal stability.
He began his career at Texas Health in 2007 as an administrative resident at Texas Health Fort Worth and then went on to serve as both the director of Planning and Business Development and support services officer at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital. Together with his team, he managed key components of the Texas Health Heart & Vascular Hospital Arlington including construction, licensure, accreditation and operations, and improving patient satisfaction scores.
In 2015, Corey returned to Texas Health Fort Worth as vice president and professional services officer. He served as project lead for the System Integration and Innovation Office where he was responsible for aligning Texas Health Physicians Group operations and improving cost. In addition, he led the coordination of a comprehensive neuroscience strategy, enhanced inpatient imaging procedures and chaired the team responsible for the development and implementation of tele-stroke services.
Corey received a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Oklahoma and a master’s degree in health administration from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and also serves on the boards of United Way of Tarrant County, North Central Texas Trauma Regional Advisory Council, and Texas Health Park Hill Surgery Center.

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2022 Healthcare Leadership Conference
2022-11-03 08:00 - 2022-11-04 17:00 | InterContinental Houston Medical Center, Houston, TX
Partnering with the Southeast Texas ACHE Chapter
Offering up to 12 approved ACHE Face-to-Face Credits
Dates: November 3-4
Location: InterContinental Houston Medical Center, Houston, TX
Keynote Speakers:

Chad Hymas, CSP, CPAE
Communications
Kirk Weisler
Chief Morale Officer

2022 ACHENTX General Membership Convocation
2022-11-10 17:30 - 21:00 | Brookhaven Country Club, 3333 Golfing Green Drive, Farmers Branch, TX, 75234
Convocation topic: Organizational Silence and Hidden Threats to Patient Safety

Date: Thursday, November 10
Time: 5:30-9pm
Location: Brookhaven Country Club, Farmers Branch, Texas

The newly launched ACHE of North Texas Foundation is proud to announce our 2022 General Membership Convocation!

We are putting the finishing touches on this program by locking in our roster of guest speakers. More details will be announced very soon about the special speakers rounding out this list!
Only a limited number of Early Bird Tickets are available.
Dinner tables are available for purchase as well. The purchasing of a dinner table not only demonstrates your support of ACHE of North Texas, but it also gives you the opportunity to offer reserved seats to whomever you wish.
A limited number of Exhibitor tables in the cocktail reception area are also available for purchase. Please contact us at info@achentx.org for more details about those. Also, if you would like to be a Presenting Sponsor for this special event, please contact us about that as well.

Guest Speakers:
Anna Lim, MD
Senior Vice President, Group Medical Officer
SCP Health
Dr. Octavio J. Diaz
Chief Medical Officer
Steward Health Care System
Dr. Gregory Johnson
Chief Executive Officer
Sound Physicians
Brad Tate, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Children’s Medical Center Plano

Speaker Bios:

Dr. Anna Lim is a Group Medical Officer for the Hospital Medicine Division at SCP Health. Her Primary responsibilities include striving for and maintaining clinical quality excellence in hospital service lines through data-driving insights into proven models of care in order to ensure scalable solutions across the continuum of care.

Boren and raised in the Midwest, Dr. Lim completed a medical degree through St. George’s University and internal medicine residency training at Mercy Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. An MBA with Healthcare Quality Certification was achieved through George Washington University in Washington, DC.

Passionate about quality care, innovation, and technology-driven solutions, Dr. Lim’s focus is to facilitate implementation of the quadruple aim (better patient outcomes, responsible costs, improved patient experience, with high provider satisfaction) for actionable strategies with prescriptive solutions.

Dr. Octavio J. Diaz is Chief Medical Officer of Steward Health Care System. In his role, Dr. Diaz is responsible for physician performance, quality outcomes, regulatory oversight, risk management and patient safety at all Steward facilities. Board certified in emergency medicine, Dr. Diaz received his undergraduate degree in Public Health from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and earned his MD degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He completed a residency in Emergency Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and received a Master of Public Health degree from Boston University School of Public Health.

Dr. Gregory Johnson serves as Chief Executive Officer for Sound Physicians’ hospital medicine service line. His areas of focus include clinical performance excellence, leadership development, clinical innovation and specialty integration. Several of his programs have received system and national awards for outstanding clinical performance. Dr. Johnson also serves as Chief Diversity Officer for Sound Physicians. His mandate is to enhance the organization’s approach to mitigating bias throughout the practice; to measurably improve organizational inclusivity; and to utilize Sound’s national scale to impact healthcare disparities.
Dr. Johnson is a graduate of Dartmouth College; the McGovern School of Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston; and he completed his residency training in both internal medicine and family practice at the Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans, where he also served as a chief resident. He also received his certification in diversity, equity and inclusion from Northwestern University. He is a Fellow in the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Physicians, and a Senior Fellow in the Society of Hospital Medicine. Finally, he maintains a clinical faculty role at his medical school alma mater.

Brad Tate, M.D., serves as Chief Medical Officer for Children’s Medical Center Plano. Dr. Tate is responsible for strengthening clinical operations at the Plano campus.
Dr. Tate is a highly acclaimed pediatric physician with expertise in pulmonology and critical care.
Dr. Tate graduated from Texas A&M University where he received a Bachelor of Science in biomedical science. He attended University of Texas Medical School at Houston where he received his Doctor of Medicine. Dr. Tate also earned his healthcare management executive Master of Business Administration from University of Texas at Dallas.

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ACHENTX Networking Blitz
2022-11-15 18:00 - 20:00 | Texas Health Harris Methodist Hurst-Euless-Bedford, 1600 Hospital Parkway, Bedford, TX, 76022
A tremendous networking opportunity for new and more seasoned members alike!

This event is for all ACHE of North Texas members who want to become more involved and/or become more connected/networked with their fellow ACHENTX members.
The ACHE North Texas Membership & Networking Committee cordially invites you to the ACHE of North Texas chapter’s next Networking Blitz. This fun event will allow members to get to know one another in meaningful ways. There will be special fun breakout sessions and activities, where personal connections will be made. The intent of this program is to bring members together to get a real in depth view of ACHENTX, to enable you to meet some of the chapter’s leadership and other fellow ACHE members, and to help you map out how to best take advantage of the plethora of local and national benefits and opportunities available to you through ACHE. It’s a way to “let us get to know you” as well and become a part of your professional network.
Our guest speaker for the evening will be Jared Shelton, FACHE (see below bio); President of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hurst-Euless-Bedford.
We are looking forward to meeting each of you and/or getting to know you better.
A light dinner will be offered.
Jared Shelton, FACHE, serves as president of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital HEB, joining the leadership team there in July 2022.
He shares leadership responsibilities with Chief Quality and Medical Officer Scott David Lloyd, M.D., and Chief Nursing Officer Julie Balluck, M.S.N., R.N., NEA-BC.
Shelton previously served six years as president of Texas Health Allen, and before that 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’s degree in health care administration from Trinity University.
Shelton is a past president for the North Texas chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has served two terms on the Texas Hospital Association’s “Council on Policy Development”. He is a graduate of the Leadership Allen Fairview Class XXVIII as well as Allen ISD Leadership Academy Class II, and is also a member of the vestry at the Church of the Incarnation in Dallas.
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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Multi-Chapter Virtual Panel: Equity of Care
2022-11-17 11:00 - 12:30 | Virtual
This virtual event has been approved for 1.5 ACHE Face-to-Face Credits!
Quality of care should not vary on the basis of the patients’ socioeconomic, ethnic, gender, or geographic background. It is known however, that there is a healthcare divide in the U.S. especially in vulnerable populations including: those lacking health insurance (or are underfunded), low-income families, racial and ethnic minorities, and LGBTQ populations. The Affordable Care Act aimed to address access and equity of care issues by expanding health insurance coverage. Deficits in access to care changes the way healthcare is delivered and financed.
To embrace diversity is a core principle of the healthcare management profession and is also an ethical and business imperative. Healthcare organizations must ensure their staff is educated on disparities to appropriately address the needs of patients from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds to provide equitable high-quality care to all. It has been shown that patient-centered care improves clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction while reducing medical errors and costs. Eliminating healthcare disparities provides a strategic component to ensure organizational excellence and long-term financial viability.

Our panel for this virtual event will include the following guest speakers:

Chara Stewart Abrams, MPH (Moderator)
System Director of Community Health and Health Equity
CHRISTUS Health

Terika Richardson, MPH, FACHE
Chief Operating Officer
Ardent Health Services

Denzil K. Ross, MBA
Chief Executive Officer
Northwest Medical Center Houghton

Vesta Sandoval, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Lovelace Medical Center

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Speakers Bios:

Chara Steward Abrams is the System Director of Community Health and Health Equity at CHRISTUS Health, where she is responsible for advancing their mission and vision by building the strategy for and operationalizing community health and health equity in Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and international hospitals. She has over 18 years of experience in healthcare and public health administration. Chara is passionate about working with communities and healthcare organizations to foster strategic partnerships and align evidence-based initiatives to improve community health investment, ensure accountability, and dismantle systemic barriers to quality healthcare. Before joining CHRISTUS Health, she was the Administrative Director for the Department of Psychology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She led clinical and research administration operations, including leading an electronic health records committee to successfully plan and implement the conversion of over 3,800 electronic mental health records, resulting in workflow and efficiency by 35%. Before joining St. Jude, she was the Director of Outreach at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). She led statewide programs to address cancer health disparities and provided a new direction based on Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR) principles, patient navigation, and advancing health policy. Chara currently serves as the National Board Secretary of the National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE). Chara holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a Master of Public Health from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health.

As chief operating officer of Ardent Health Services, Terika Richardson, MPH, FACHE, oversees the operations and strategic growth of 30 hospitals and more than 200 sites of care across six states. She leads the company’s efforts to build consumer-focused regional health networks and scale clinical and operational best practices across the Ardent system.
Richardson previously served as president of Advocate Aurora Health’s Central Chicagoland Patient Service Area where she oversaw the operations of hospitals, clinics and ambulatory operations. Under her leadership, the organization built out key service lines and developed innovative programs to address community health needs. Prior to joining Advocate Aurora in 2016, she was chief executive officer of Retreat Doctors’ Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, and served in various leadership roles for HCA and Northwell Health.
Richardson earned both an undergraduate degree in biopsychology and cognitive science and a master’s degree in public health from the University of Michigan. A fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, she serves on the board of directors for the American Hospital Association’s Innovation Committee and Institute for Diversity and Health Equity. She has been recognized as one of Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Minority Executives, among the Top 100 Women Leaders in Medicine of 2021 and Crain’s Chicago Business magazine’s 40 Under 40.

Denzil Ross, MBA is an accomplished healthcare executive who has successfully led both for-profit and nonprofit healthcare organizations. With his focus on cultivating relationships, building diverse teams, and delivering high quality patient care, Denzil is a proven and compelling leader in the healthcare systems and services industry.
Denzil is Chief Executive Officer of Northwest Medical Center Houghton, a new 150 bed hospital of the Northwest Health System in Tucson, AZ, which is part of Community Health System (CHS). Denzil was tapped to lead the opening of this hospital that will provide innovative care to patients on the east side of Tucson, a historically underserved community.
Healthcare Leadership Experience

Prior to joining CHS, Denzil served as the Chief Operating Officer of Lovelace Medical Center and the Lead Administrator of the Heart Hospital in Albuquerque, NM. In this role, he led the organization to be named to the Top 50 Cardiac Hospitals list in the US, as determined by the US World News and World Report as well as back-to-back Top Teaching Hospital recognition by the LeapFrog Group, amongst other accolades.
Prior to that, Denzil served as the Chief Operating Officer and Ethics and Compliance Officer of Metropolitan Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, TX, part of HCA Healthcare. Denzil led the organization to the top 10th percentile ranking for 5 consecutive quarters for patient satisfaction and the top 5% in the company.
Previously, Denzil served as the Associate Chief Operating Officer and Ethics and Compliance Officer at Overland Park Regional Medical Center in Overland Park, KS, another HCA Healthcare hospital, where he installed a Pediatric service line to the campus and achieved designation as a Level I, ACS verified Trauma Center.

Denzil received a Bachelor of Science, cum laude, in Computer Science and a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Healthcare Administration from Park University, Kansas City, MO. Denzil has served on the boards of Make A Wish of South/Central Texas and New Mexico, American Heart Association NM, APS Advisory Group, and Western Governors University Advisory Board.

Vesta Sandoval, M.D., is Chief Medical Officer of Lovelace Medical Center.
As an integral part of the Lovelace family, Dr. Sandoval has served as past Chief of Staff at Lovelace Medical Center, Chair of the Ethics Committee, and served as chair or member of Critical Care, Stroke, Peer Review and Credentials Committees. She also served as the Director of the intensive care unit (ICU) and Director of Respiratory services for Lovelace Westside Hospital, Lovelace Women’s Hospital and Lovelace Medical Center. She is on the Lovelace Medical Center hospital board of directors and serves as President of the Board of the Greater Albuquerque Medical Association. Dr Sandoval has served on the Medical Advisory Board to the Governor during the covid crisis to aid in vaccinations, treatment and patient transport as well as equipment and PPE distribution for the state of New Mexico. Dr. Sandoval has been a Fellow of American Chest Physicians since 2001. She was named a Top Doc by ABQ the Magazine in 2012.
Dr Sandoval was born and raised in New Mexico. Graduated from Los Lunas High School and attended collage on a basketball scholarship.
Dr. Sandoval received a bachelor of science degree from University of Texas at Arlington in Arlington, TX and a master of science degree from University of Houston at Clear Lake in Houston, TX. She earned her degree in medicine from Texas Tech University Health Science Center in Lubbock, TX. Dr. Sandoval completed her internal medicine residency at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, as well as her fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care medicine.

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Multi-Chapter Virtual Panel: Population Health Management: Justice, Access, and Financial Implications
2022-11-17 13:30 - 15:00 | Virtual
This event has been approved for 1.5 ACHE Face-to-Face Credits!
As reimbursements shift from volume based to value based, healthcare organizations are becoming more responsible for providing the resources necessary to meet the needs of a given population. Aligning quality of care with the appropriate level of care and services becomes pertinent to healthcare organizations’ bottom line. It is imperative for healthcare leaders to develop programs that offer underserved communities an opportunity for a healthier tomorrow.
Several pioneer organizations have developed population health improvement models such as Accountable Care Organizations that force them to take responsibility for the beneficiaries they are serving. As the acuity of care increases, healthcare leaders must coordinate equitable care and properly address social determinants of health. The focus is no longer treating patients, but proactively keeping patients out of the acute healthcare setting and providing care in the community.
Developing population health management into a tangible measure continues to be a challenge for all healthcare organizations across the country. How to properly reduce costs while improving the quality and access of care in communities that lack the resources and education to care for themselves and prevent acute health issues and substantive chronic disease continues to be a major hurdle in population health adoption.
Our panel for this virtual event will include the following guest speakers:
Jordan Holzbog
Director of Population Health & Partnership Services
Wise Health System
Byron W. Hunter, PhD, MPH, FACHE (Moderator)
Community/Population Health Strategist
Faith M Jones, MSN, RN, NEA-BC
Director of Care Coordination and Lean Consulting
HealthTech
Frances A. Monroe, MHA
Director, Population Health & Wellness Strategy
Memorial Hermann Health System
Dr. Trevor Rohm
Chief Medical Officer
Hereford Regional Medial Center, Hereford, Texas
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Jordan Holzbog is the Director of Population Health and Partnership Services at Wise Health System in Decatur, TX, where she oversees population health programs, including ACO and Social Determinants of Health and their community health initiative, Healthy Wise County as well as several outpatient clinic locations in the metroplex. She obtained a Masters in Healthcare Administration from Texas Tech Health Sciences Center and her undergrad from Southern Illinois University. Jordan is passionate about population health and improving outcomes while steering patients toward healthy living and resources to improve their overall health status. Jordan and her team lead the Healthy Wise County initiative, which unites healthcare providers and non-profit agencies to work together and impact patient outcomes outside the hospital and clinic settings within Wise County. She created Wise Gives Charitable Fair in partnership with Wise Health System and Acts4Others, serving 10,000+ people at the annual event in December, providing free services including food, social service assistance, haircuts, eye and physical exams, vaccines, lab work, coats and blankets, household goods and more – she even convinces Santa to make an appearance. Jordan is the chair of the Decatur ISD School Health Advisory Council, and President-elect for the Decatur Chamber of Commerce, and a founding member of Leadership Decatur. She and her husband have two sons and enjoy cooking together and spending time outdoors with their dog, Pepper!

Byron W. Hunter, PhD, MPH, FACHE is a public-health trained, hospital administrator with experience across multiple healthcare settings. Byron earned a BS in Public Health from Dillard University, which is one of the nation’s oldest HBCUs located in New Orleans, LA; a MPH from Yale University School of Public Health; and a PhD in Health Studies from Texas Woman’s University. He began his career as an Administrative Fellow and has risen through the ranks of inpatient and ambulatory leadership.

Faith Jones is the Director of Care Coordination and Lean Consulting for HealthTech. She currently implements care coordination programs focusing on the Medicare population and teaches concepts related to care coordination and team-based approach to care nationally. Ms. Jones began her healthcare career in the Navy over 40 years ago. She has worked in a variety of roles in clinical practice, education, administration, and consulting. In her leadership roles she has been responsible for the operational leadership for all clinical functions across the healthcare system including ambulatory care and community networking. She has held a variety of leadership positions in the profession of nursing having completed 7 years of service on the American Nurses Association Board of Directors as a Director at Large and the Vice President. She holds a certification from the ANCC as a Nurse Executive Advanced, is a fellow of the American Nurses Advocacy Institute and the ANA-PAC Leadership Society and is certified in Advance Care Planning and Lean for Healthcare.

Frances Monroe is a system director of population health and wellness strategy for Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston, Texas. She has over twelve years of experience in public health and hospital/clinic operations, with the last seven focused on population health strategy and operations. Frances is passionate about creating innovative strategies to expand Value-Based Care initiatives, address Social Determinants of Health, advance well-being offerings, and leverage technology and meaningful systems to expand access to healthcare services equitably. She holds a Masters in Healthcare Administration from Trinity University and a Bachelors of Science in Community Public Health from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.

Dr. Trevor Rohm currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer of Hereford Regional Medial Center in Hereford, West Texas. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine and Clinical Informatics. He serves as Medical Director for various organizations, including Medical Director and Board Chairman for the Texas Panhandle Clinical Partners Accountable Care Organization (tpcpaco.com). He is also the current CEO of the International Information Management Association (IIMA.org). He has various publications and was an integral part of helping Hardeman County Memorial Hospital successfully navigate Chapter 9 Federal Bankruptcy. His focus is value-based healthcare and using data analytics to push forward modern healthcare. He continues to see patients at the Hereford Health Clinic.

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Asian Cultural Impact on Networking Strategies
2022-12-01 17:30 - 19:30 | CHRISTUS Health, 919 Hidden Ridge, Irving, TX, 75038, United States
Join the Asian Healthcare Leaders of North Texas
for this special networking and educational event.

Our panelists will include:
Vidya Ayyr MPH, CHW
Director, Community Social Impact, Parkland Health
Founder & CEO, BrainCharge
Vanessa Lee (Moderator)
Program Manager, Strategy & Business Development
CHRISTUS Health
Viswanathan Sahadevan, MS
Chief Administrative Officer
Texas Institute for Neurological Disorders
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Speakers Bios:

Vidya Ayyr leads high-impact interventions to address the social determinants of health, with a commitment to health equity and improving the lives and livelihoods of disadvantaged, marginalized, and vulnerable populations. As the Director of Social Impact, she provides strategic oversight to Parkland’s community outreach investments, promotes innovation in data analytics, and mobilizes a team of Community Health Workers to drive an integrated approach to population health management. Prior to this role, Vidya was a part of External Affairs at Parkland where she developed public-private sector partnerships to support diverse, multi-stakeholder initiatives. Ms. Ayyr holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from University of Texas at Dallas and earned her Master of Public Health degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health, in 2011. Vidya serves on the national EPIC (EMR) Brain Trust, the Community Leadership Forum with the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, DC and is a Presidential Scholar with the George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson Foundations. Her work on social impact collaboration has been recognized by the National Root Cause Coalition, by the Institute for Patient and Family Centered Care (IPFCC), and by American Essential Hospitals (AEH) for its merit as an innovative design framework.

Vanessa Lee joined CHRISTUS Health in December 2019 as a Program Manager in Corporate Strategy. She is a collaborative, proactive leader with experience in Strategy and Business Development in large and small health systems.
Before joining CHRISTUS, Vanessa served Genesis Health System in Business Development where she began her journey to process improvement and systems thinking with experience as a Baldrige Examiner in Iowa and Illinois. In addition to bringing emerging technologies and new business to the health system, Vanessa served as a representative of the health system on multiple community initiatives including affordable housing, child community resources, behavioral health resources, and lead-based paint remediation, where she worked with community leaders, local agencies, nonprofits, and competing health systems to create working solutions for the Quad Cities’ most vulnerable populations. Locally, she serves as the Chair for the ACHE North Texas Communications Committee and in the 2022 Keller ISD strategic planning cycle. Vanessa’s business expertise is complemented by her commitment to the “guest” experience as instilled in her from her time as a Disney Cast Member. She is a decorated graduate of Texas A&M University for both her Masters of Health Administration and BS in Biomedical Sciences and is a former member of the Corps of Cadets, Squadron 20.

Viswanathan (Vishy) Sahadevan is a seasoned healthcare executive with diverse experience in corporate finance and information technology. Vishy has led several organization and fortune 500 companies improving their service levels, operating costs and delivery times. Vishy is currently the Chief Administrative Officer at the largest neurology private practice in Dallas Metroplex at Texas Institute for Neurological Disorders.
Vishy is extremely motivated and dynamic executive with a comprehensive experience of over 25+ years and is recognized as an innovative and strategic thinker and a problem-solver. Vishy is a very devoted to social work in Dallas Community and involved with several volunteering organization. Vishy is also the recipient of US President Award thrice for volunteering 500 hours or more during his tenure with Bank of America as their senior vice president.

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Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification Course
2022-12-03 09:00 - 18:00 | Virtual
ACHENTX Student Council Presents: Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification Course
Due to the high volume of requests and for those who missed one of the earlier opportunities, ACHE of North Texas’ Student Council is once again offering a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification course. (Be sure to watch future announcements for a Green Belt Certification Course as well. Note: You will need your Yellow belt first to be able to register for the Green Belt session.)
What’s included:

Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Course e-book
Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification Exam
Simulated Project

Course Instructor: Tanya Stinson
Virtual Platform: Zoom
Register Here

Hi there! My name is Tanya Stinson! It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance! I would like to tell you a little about myself. I have a master’s degree in Healthcare Quality and Safety, a Master Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma, and 14 years’ experience in leading, coaching, and mentoring professionals in completing Lean Six Sigma, Quality, Compliance, Risk and Safety projects. I have a well-rounded and knowledgeable skill set, as I have worked in various industries, such as mining, utilities, manufacturing, technology, and healthcare. I am passionate about helping others by sharing with them what I have learned and creating positive changes within any organization.
I have been working for Texas Health Resources since June 2017. Currently, I am a Supervisor of Data Governance Support for THR and before my recent promotion, I was a Performance Improvement Engineer/Coach. Since working with them, I have received several awards and accolades. Here are just a few of the recognitions I have received:
• 2020 ACHE of North Texas Mentor of the Year
• Trailblazer Award – Texas Health Arlington Memorial, 2018 for Blood Culture Contamination Reduction Project
• Quality Award (2) – Texas Health Fort Worth, 2019 for Neonatal Extubation Process Improvement Project and “Let’s Get Moving” Patient Ambulation Improvement Project
• Discoverer Award – Texas Health Resources, 2019 for ED Discharge Scheduling Improvement Project
• Transformer Award – Texas Health Resources, 2020 for Interventional Radiology Throughput Improvement Project
Outside of work, I am a wife and mother of 4 handsome young men, and I love fishing, camping, and racing just to name a few!
Thank you so much for reading, and I hope that you are as excited about the upcoming classes as I am! I look forward to meeting every one of you and growing the passion for PI!
Many blessings,
Tanya Stinson

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Breakfast with the President - Benson P. Chacko, FACHE
2022-12-06 07:30 - 09:00 | Methodist Southlake Hospital, 421 East State Highway 114, Southlake, TX, 76092
A special thanks to Benson Chacko, FACHE, and Methodist Southlake Medical Center for hosting us for this special event! Come out to hear about Benson’s career journey, as well as the Methodist Southlake Medical Center and the community they are serving.

Benson P. Chacko, FACHE, serves as President of Methodist Southlake Medical Center. In his role he provides day to day leadership for the hospital, collaboratively implements strategies, and efficiently manages hospital operations to maximize quality. Benson’s healthcare career spans two decades in various areas to include human resources, project management, ambulatory care, business development & strategy, physician relations and hospital operations. In 2018 he joined Methodist Health System as the Vice President of Operations at the systems’ flagship hospital Methodist Dallas Medical Center (MDMC), a 592-bed tertiary care facility. There he led operational improvements in many areas and expanded key service lines to include the construction of a 36-bed Progressive Care Unit, renovations of multiple patient care units and enhanced ancillary services. In his three years at MDMC he was responsible for implementing $82M of investments to enhance patient care and hospital operations. Through his executive leadership he ensured the delivery of high quality care while maintaining efficient operations. Benson’s passion for the Methodist mission is paramount and with his growth oriented style is committed to Methodist Health System. Prior to joining Methodist, he served in Chief Operating Officer roles in Tenet Healthcare at Des Peres Hospital in St. Louis, MO and The Hospitals of Providence-Sierra Campus in El Paso, TX. At Sierra Campus he managed a $53M, two-year renovation of the 329-bed tertiary care hospital. He relocated back to the DFW area to serve as the Interim Chief Executive Officer/Chief Operating Officer at Tenet’s joint venture hospital, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Lake Pointe. There he led the organization through a successful Joint Commission Survey, achieved the Leap Frog “A” Rating for the organization, and led the corporate transition from Tenet Healthcare to Baylor Scott & White.

A native to DFW, Benson started his career as a junior volunteer at St. Paul Medical Center in Dallas, TX. His mother was a nurse at the hospital and this exposure at an early age defined his career path to serve in healthcare. He holds a Bachelors of Healthcare Administration from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, TX, and Master of Healthcare Administration and Master of Business Administration degrees from Texas Women’s University in Dallas. Throughout his career as a healthcare executive, Benson has continued to find time to serve on professional councils with the Texas Hospital Association and serving for community nonprofits such as The Boys & Girls Club and Center Against Sexual and Family Violence. Finally he’s had the honor of being recognized by the United States Congress for Community Service during his time at Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto, CA.

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Leading a Culture of Safety: A Blueprint for Success
2022-12-08 11:00 - 12:30 | Virtual
This virtual panel is approved for 1.5 ACHE Face-to-Face credits.
Medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States at 220,000 to 440,000 people dying each year from preventable errors according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. Clinicians and hospital staff face a devastating impact as a result of being involved with a medical error especially in organizations without a support system in place. Moreover, only 64% of staff who responded to the 2016 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture’s hospital comparative database felt that reported mistakes led to positive changes. To help healthcare leaders achieve total system safety across the continuum, ACHE, and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement/National Patient Safety Foundation Lucian Leape Institute developed a guide “Leading a Culture of Safety: A Blueprint for Success”. This Blueprint is designed to help leaders shape, create and sustain the type of organizational culture needed to ensure patient and workforce safety and inspire healthcare leaders on the journey to zero harm.

Our Panelists:

Kenneth Rates (Moderator)
Director of Operations
McLaren Medical Group
Jonathan Baktari, M.D.
CEO
e7 Health and US Drug Test Centers
Catie Beasley
Coordinator of Quality & Safety Culture
Cook Children’s Health Care System
Richard Greenhill, DHA CPHQ, PMP, FISQua, FACHE
Assistant Professor
TTUHSC
Tracy O’Daniel
VP of Clinical Outcomes and High Reliability
Ardent

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Speakers’ Bios:

Dr. Jonathan Baktari, MD is the CEO at both e7 Health and US Drug Test Centers and the host of Baktari MD. e7 health is a preventative health and wellness company that has been called the “the Uber of preventive medicine” and was named the Best Technology Company in the Healthcare Space in 2019. US Drug Test Centers is a nationwide network of over 20,000 testing centers in the US and is revolutionizing drug and alcohol testing across the nation. Both of these groundbreaking technology companies were born out of a combination of Dr. Baktari’s expertise as a doctor, medical director and educator and his over 20 years of clinical, administrative and entrepreneurial experience. A former triple board-certified physician with specialties in internal medicine, pulmonary and critical care medicine, being a healthcare CEO is only the latest chapter in Dr. Baktari’s life mission to help others by making integrative preventative medicine available to everyone.

Catie Beasley serves as the Coordinator of Quality & Safety Culture for Cook Children’s Health System and has over 14 years of organizational culture development experience. Her background is in public health and focuses on large scale interventions that shift behaviors and habits over time. She began her quality & safety journey in 2009 as the lead trainer for the implementation of Just Culture at Cook Children’s. When Cook joined with Solutions for Patient Safety in 2012 to continue developing their formal Safety Culture work Catie lead the roll-out and training courses that guide employees and leaders to understand the impact of culture, systems and behaviors on outcomes. Throughout her years of leading safety culture work at Cook Children’s she has created countless opportunities for individuals to deepen their understanding of safety science, the interaction of people and process, human factors integration, transformational leadership, the power of peer coaching and mobilizing learning opportunities. Catie holds an M.A. in Health Education from the University of Texas in Austin and a B.A. in Sports and Exercise Science from West Texas A&M University. She loves assisting other hospitals on their journey and has served as a regional subject matter expert for the state of Texas through Solutions for Patient Safety over the last 4 years.

Richard G. Greenhill, DHA CPHQ, PMP, FISQua, FACHE is internationally recognized for his expertise in healthcare quality. He draws from 30+ years of experience working in all facets of the care delivery continuum. Greenhill holds several industry and board certifications in quality, six sigma, and project management that highlight his commitment to excellence and life-long learning. His educational accolades include a Doctorate Health Administration from Central Michigan University, Master of Science in Data Science, Texas Tech University, Master of Science in Health Administration, Master of Business Administration, University of Maryland Global Campus and Bachelor of Science Health Care Management, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.
Greenhill is ACHE Faculty for quality strategy and improvement; board certified in healthcare management and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE). He is Deputy Editor of the International Journal for Quality in Healthcare (IJCOMS), Communications and was named to the roster of International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQua) Experts in patient safety and quality improvement methodologies. In addition, he serves as a subject matter expert for hospital resilience and disaster preparedness for the World Health Organization (WHO).
He currently serves as Assistant Director for Graduate Certificates and Assistant Professor in the Department of Healthcare Management and Leadership – School of Health Professions – Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.
He is a heavily sought-after speaker, moderator, & presenter for national and international conferences. When not traveling, he spends time hiking, painting, and enjoying community events with friends in the Dallas Fort-Worth Metroplex.

As vice president for clinical outcomes high reliability, Tracy O’Daniel leads the clinical outcomes and patient safety initiatives for Ardent’s Amarillo/Harker Heights and UT Health East Texas markets. She oversees the development of a quality strategy for each organization and works closely with the quality team and hospital senior leaders to achieve their strategic plan goals and objectives. In addition, Ms. O’Daniel is also leading the rollout of the “Mission Zero: Our Culture of Safety” high reliability organization (HRO) program which she was instrumental in developing for the UT Health East Texas market.

Most recently, Ms. O’Daniel led quality, risk, patient safety and performance improvement at UT Health East Texas in Tyler, Texas, first as director then as vice president. In addition to her work on “Mission Zero,” she achieved a significant improvement in quality outcomes through her focus on achieving the best possible outcome and experience for both patient and caregiver. Before moving to East Texas, she worked in quality and clinical operations for Intermountain Healthcare in Utah.

Ms. O’Daniel received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Tyler, a Master of Science degree from Drexel University and a Master of Health Care Administration degree from Walden University. She is certified in Lean and Six Sigma, Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety.

Kenneth Rates is the Host of the podcast So You Want To Be A Healthcare Executive? His mission is to share the stories of highly successful executives in the hopes of striving you to achieve more in your career. He works in Ambulatory Care, currently holding positions at both Michigan Medicine and the University of Detroit Mercy. He is the current President-Elect for the Michigan Medical Group Management Association. Ken is a recipient of the American College of Healthcare Executives Early Careerist’s Regent Award in 2019.

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Sustainability of Healthcare Organizations: A Plan of Action
2022-12-08 13:30 - 15:00 | Virtual
The panel has been approved for 1.5 ACHE Face-to-Face Credits.

Issues surrounding sustainability for healthcare institutions into the 21stcentury in the U.S., with regards to the era of healthcare reform, are very complex. Within the scope of priorities, this discussion will emphasize the necessity of understanding the key potential and existing operational and cost problem areas for healthcare system growth and sustainability as healthcare providers continue to face future operational, reimbursement, and environmental challenges. The primary goal of this discussion is to provide an overview of the models of current successes and solutions with a focus on a realistic plan of action.

Our Panelists:

Donna Bowers (Moderator)
Regional Director for the Cardiovascular and Oncology Services Lines
UT Health East Texas Health System

Dr. Yele Aluko CMO, EY
Chief Medical Officer
EY Americas Health Advisory

Guy Cayo, FACHE, CEO, UT
Chief Executive Officer
UT Health Pittsburg (Ardent Health Services)

Dr. Suman Sinha
Chief, Pulmonary Medicine
CHRISTUS Health

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Speakers’ Bios:
Yele Aluko MD, MBA is Chief Medical Officer in EY Americas Health Advisory practice. He advises health system C-suite and senior executives on strategy and business operations and provides insight on megatrends confronting the health industry. He is a proven physician executive and corporate leader with astute understanding of strategy that develops competitive advantage for healthcare organizations. As Director of the EY Center for Health Equity he leads EY teams in the design of customized strategy, solutions and competency building for health sector value chain participants seeking to achieve Health Equity.

Prior to joining EY in October 2016, he practiced cardiovascular medicine for 25 years at Novant Health, a southeast regional integrated healthcare system where he led enterprise clinical integration strategy, operations management, and care delivery within the heart and vascular service line across the fifteen-hospital health system footprint.

He obtained his MBA from Wake Forest University School of Business, Interventional Cardiology Fellowship from University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Invasive Cardiology Fellowship from Cornell University Medical Center, General Cardiology Fellowship and an Internal Medicine Residency from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. He obtained his Doctor of Medicine from the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

He is certified by the American and Canadian Boards of Internal Medicine, and the American Boards of Cardiovascular Medicine and Interventional Cardiology. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC), and the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions (FSCAI).

He is an Advisory Board member at Harvard Business Review, Honeywell Healthcare Solutions, Children’s National Hospital and is co-chair of the Health Equity Advisory Board at the International Well Building Institute.

Donna Bowers is the Regional Director for the Cardiovascular and Oncology Services Lines at UT Health East Texas Health System. She joined UT Health East Texas in June of 2020 as the executive responsible for both services lines. With a focus on person-centered care and quality improvement, she provides strategic direction to the health care system and establishes a cohesive organizational and governance structure that supports the UT Health East Texas care continuum. In addition, she provides oversight for clinical activities and programs; ensures the ﬁnancial viability of oncology and cardiovascular initiatives; and works to establish collaborative relationships among departments, physicians, medical groups, business partners and the community.

In her previous role with SCL Health System, she served for over five years as Vice President of Oncology and Cardiovascular Services in Colorado and Montana. Before joining SCL Health, she served as Senior Vice President of Clinical Service Lines with McKesson Specialty Health, where she greatly expanded hospital business, developed the oncology service line and strategy, and built a Proton Therapy Center, among a list of accomplishments. While at Baylor Health Care System for over 30 years, she held several leadership positions, leaving as the Chief Operating Oﬃcer of Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center and Vice President of Oncology.

Donna holds a Juris Doctorate from Texas A&M Law School, and a bachelor’s degree in Health Information Management from Texas Woman’s University. She is a Licensed Attorney in the State of Texas, and a Registered Health Information Administrator. In addition, she is certified in Healthcare Privacy by the American Health Information Management Association, and is a Certified Mediator through the Dallas Dispute Mediation Services and Texas A&M Law School.

Guy Cayo, MHSA, CLSSGB, FACHE is the Chief Executive Officer at UT Health Pittsburg (Ardent Health Services).
Guy has 15 years of healthcare experience with expertise in hospital operations, strategic planning & execution, contract management, business development & physician relations, and human capital management. He has served his community by leading improvement in health, quality of life, and through volunteerism and philanthropy.

In 2021, Guy joined the UT Health East Texas region of hospitals as UT Health Pittsburg Chief Executive Officer. UT Health Pittsburg is a 25 beds critical access hospital (5 star CMS, level four trauma, level three stroke support) located in Pittsburg, TX. The campus is also home to a rural health/specialty clinic.

Guy is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He previously served as Chair of ACHE Community & Philanthropy Committee and Co-Chair of Network & Relations for ACHE South East Texas Chapter. He has one son, Cayden A. Scott. Guy has several hobbies including scuba diving, archery, swimming, and hiking. In addition, he believes he is nothing without God’s grace and favor on his life.

Born in Lansing, Michigan, Dr. Suman Sinha earned a bachelor’s in biochemistry from the University of California – San Diego, a master’s in business from the University of Phoenix, a master’s in molecular biology from San Diego State University and his medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine. Dr. Sinha is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine and critical care medicine.
Dr. Sinha is married with two daughters. He enjoys spending time with his family, playing sports, reading and music.

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Community Event: Tarrant County Food Bank
2022-12-10 09:00 - 12:00 | Tarrant County Food Bank, 2600 Cullen Street, Fort Worth, 76107
Please join us for this special opportunity to give back to our community, while networking with our ACHE peers and their families.
ACHENTX is organizing a group of volunteers to help with quality control at Tarrant Area Food Bank’s distribution center, where donated food products are sorted, inspected and repacked for distribution to a network of partner organizations in a 13-county area. Volunteers will be making a BIG impact by helping ensure our neighbors in need receive safe, quality food.
Volunteer roles can include, but are not limited to:
1. Sorting, cans, grocery items and packaged meats
2. Preparing boxes
3. Manual pallet jack operating
4. Sweeping/Mopping
5. Pallet wrapping using shrink wrap6. Taking cardboard to onsite compactor
Unless other arrangements are made, volunteers should be able to stand for extended periods of time and lift 30-40 pounds.
Minimum Age and Chaperones:
Individuals as young as 12 years old and 55 inches tall may volunteer for this event. Children ages 12-13 require one adult chaperone for every 1 to 3 children volunteering. Kids ages 14-15 years old require one adult chaperone for every 1 to 10 youth. Because Tarrant Area Food Bank is concerned about the safety of all volunteers, there are no exceptions to this policy.
Closed toed shoes must be worn by all volunteers.
Thank you for wanting to help! We look forward to seeing you there!

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Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification Course
2023-02-04 09:00 - 18:00 | Virtual
Due to the high volume of requests and for those who missed one of the earlier opportunities, ACHE of North Texas’ Student Council is once again offering a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification course. (Be sure to watch future announcements for a Green Belt Certification Course as well. Note: You will need your Yellow belt first to be able to register for the Green Belt session.)
What’s included:

Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Course e-book
Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification Exam
Simulated Project

Course Instructor: Tanya Stinson
Virtual Platform: Zoom

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Hi there! My name is Tanya Stinson! It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance! I would like to tell you a little about myself. I have a master’s degree in Healthcare Quality and Safety, a Master Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma, and 14 years’ experience in leading, coaching, and mentoring professionals in completing Lean Six Sigma, Quality, Compliance, Risk and Safety projects. I have a well-rounded and knowledgeable skill set, as I have worked in various industries, such as mining, utilities, manufacturing, technology, and healthcare. I am passionate about helping others by sharing with them what I have learned and creating positive changes within any organization.
I have been working for Texas Health Resources since June 2017. Currently, I am a Supervisor of Data Governance Support for THR and before my recent promotion, I was a Performance Improvement Engineer/Coach. Since working with them, I have received several awards and accolades. Here are just a few of the recognitions I have received:
• 2020 ACHE of North Texas Mentor of the Year
• Trailblazer Award – Texas Health Arlington Memorial, 2018 for Blood Culture Contamination Reduction Project
• Quality Award (2) – Texas Health Fort Worth, 2019 for Neonatal Extubation Process Improvement Project and “Let’s Get Moving” Patient Ambulation Improvement Project
• Discoverer Award – Texas Health Resources, 2019 for ED Discharge Scheduling Improvement Project
• Transformer Award – Texas Health Resources, 2020 for Interventional Radiology Throughput Improvement Project
Outside of work, I am a wife and mother of 4 handsome young men, and I love fishing, camping, and racing just to name a few!
Thank you so much for reading, and I hope that you are as excited about the upcoming classes as I am! I look forward to meeting every one of you and growing the passion for PI!
Many blessings,
Tanya Stinson

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Breakfast with the President - Blake Kretz, FACHE, MHA
2023-02-07 07:30 - 09:00 | Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital, 800 W. Randol Mill Rd., Arlington, TX, 76012, United States
A special thanks to Blake Kretz FACHE, and Texas Health/Arlington Memorial Hospital for hosting us for this special event! Come out to hear about Blake’s career journey, as well as the Texas Health/Arlington Memorial Hospital and the community they are serving.

Blake Kretz, FACHE, MHA is an experienced executive leader with 36 years of health care experience; thirty one of those years through diversified administrative leadership and five years of clinical experience as a certified orthopedic physician assistant. For the past seven years he has served as the hospital president at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital.
At Texas Health Arlington Memorial, Mr. Kretz led efforts to establish a comprehensive lung program, hyperbaric and wound care center. Under his leadership, the hospital is a certified Level III NICU, Level III Maternal Child and in active pursuit as a Level III Trauma Facility. Texas Health Arlington Memorial was recertified as a Cycle III Chest Pain Center and a Primary Stroke Center, Breast Imaging Center of Excellence this year.
Prior to joining Texas Health Arlington, Kretz served as President at Texas Health Cleburne and Administrator/CEO of Graham Regional Medical Center in Graham, Tx. He completed his administrative residency at HCA St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City and worked as an orthopedic physician’s assistant at Orthopedic Associates in Lewisville out of college.
Mr. Kretz believes it is important to be involved in the community and has served on the Chamber of Commerce Boards and community boards in every community he has been the Hospital President. Professionally, he serves on multiple boards, Texas Rehabilitation Hospital Arlington, Texas GI Center, and Texas Health Ambulatory Surgery Center Arlington. He has served on health care related committees, including the Texas Hospital Association Council on Policy Development and Precinct 2 Healthcare Advisory Council and is currently Chair of the DFW Hospital Council.
A native Texan, Mr. Kretz is a graduate of Harlingen High School and Abilene Christian University, and he holds a master’s degree in health care administration from Trinity University in San Antonio. In his spare time, he enjoys golf, riding his mountain bike with his son, hanging out at the river, and spending time with his family. He and his wife, Lori, have a daughter, Nicole, a son, Michael, son-in-law Brandon, and first grandchild Bentley.

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DFW Healthcare Student Summit: Advancing Healthcare in 2023
2023-02-18 08:30 - 14:30 | UTA Fort Worth, Gallery 76102, 1401 Jones Street, Fort Worth, TX, 76102
We are excited to host our 3rd Annual DFW Student Summit! In this year’s summit we will explore how the healthcare industry has navigated recent turbulence as well as discuss the path ahead. There will be engaging and informative discussions related to healthcare finance, quality improvement and Analytics, and the use of technology to achieve key quality, safety, and financial outcomes.
This event is geared toward current healthcare administration students preparing to move into a healthcare career, already in a healthcare occupation and nearing graduation, or recently graduated and employed in their first healthcare position. We welcome all those who are interested in learning more about the industry.
The agenda will consist of two panel discussions and conclude with a Keynote after lunch.
Please join us on Saturday, February 18th from 8:30am – 2:30pm at the UTA Fort Worth Center, 1401 Jones St, Fort Worth, 76102.
A special thanks to the University of Texas at Arlington for hosting this event at their Fort Worth Campus!
Event Itinerary
8:30am-8:50am: Coffee, Check-in, and Registration
8:50am-9:00am: Welcome and Introduction
9:00am-10:30am: Finance Panel – Navigating the Current Financial Landscape

Moderator – Dr. Art Gonzalez, DrPH, LFACHE – Professor of Practice and Director of MSHCAD, UTA. Panelists:
Rick McWhorter, CFO, Texas Health Resources
Tammy Walsh, FHFMA, CHFP, CRCR – CEO, Founder of Paramount Healthcare Solutions
Jason Fry, Administrator, Business Sustainability & Development, Parkland Hospital
Caroline Znaniec MBA, MS-HCA, CRIP, Healthcare Provider Operations and Revenue Integrity Solutions Leader, Protiviti

10:30am-10:50 am – Break
10:50am-12:20pm– Quality Panel – Ensuring Exceptional Care during Challenging Times

Moderator – Dr. Cynthia St John, PhD – Professor of Practice and Assistant Director of the Healthcare Administration Program, UTA
Joey Sudomir, MS, CHCIO – CIO, Texas Health Resources
Angela Vincent Michael, FACHE, CPHQ, LLSBB – Director, Process Improvement at Methodist Health System
Veronica Elliott, MSN, RN, CPHQ, LSSYB – Director, Quality Services at Methodist Southlake Medical Center
Jazz Patterson, Founder and President of Process Village
Quintin Ficklin Jr., MHCI, LLSYB – Health Informaticist at Methodist Health System

12:20pm-1:05pm – Lunch and Networking
1:05pm-1:50pm – Keynote
Speaker: Steve Love, President and CEO, DFW Hospital Council
2:00pm-2:30pm – Optional Networking
Register Here
Speakers Bios:
Veronica Elliott is a Nursing Leader with nearly 30 years in healthcare. Her experiences include bedside nursing to administrative leadership. She has been a Healthcare Quality professional for much of the past 18 years. Currently, Ms. Elliott is the Director of Quality Services at Methodist Southlake Medical Center and is passionate about improving patient safety and health outcomes. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, with a Master’s of Science in Nursing Administration. Ms. Elliott is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality and also holds her Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt.

Quintin Ficklin, Jr., serves as is a high performing healthcare professional with ten years in the healthcare industry. In his current role as a Health Informaticist at Methodist Health System, Quintin brings an extensive background and knowledge within healthcare operations, project management, health informatics, revenue cycle, patient access, protected health information, process improvement, clinical outcomes, and data analytics.
Quintin has used his wide range skill set to lead several hospital and health system initiatives throughout his career. Mr. Ficklin founded in July 2020 the QSF Jr Success Foundation. The foundation awards two scholarships to two male graduating seniors at Mr. Ficklin’s high school alma mater in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Jason Fry, MHA, MBA is a health system administrator for Parkland Health in Dallas, as part of the Business Sustainability and Development team. He provides thought leadership and manages high-impact, innovative projects to transform the operations of a critical public safety net hospital in Dallas County. He is passionate about creating and growing sustainable, value-oriented healthcare delivery models. Prior to his current role, Jason was part of the Planning and Development team at IHA Health Services in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He has held clinical roles at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, where he was awarded for distinguished meritorious service to the hospital.
Jason holds two degrees from the University of Texas at Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management, including a Master’s in Healthcare Management and Business Administration. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of Texas at Austin, where he majored in Biology. He also holds a degree in Molecular Genetics from the MD Anderson School of Health Professions.

Arthur (Art) Gonzalez, has been a healthcare executive for 49 years. He serves as Professor of Practice and Director of the Master of Science Degree in Health Care Administration Program at the University of Texas at Arlington. Retired as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a large academic Health system in Colorado, he was served as CEO of another large academic Health System in Minnesota as well.
Art is an industry leader in the use of robust process improvement, Lean, and quality improvement methods from other industries and their application in healthcare. Art earned a Doctor of Public Health degree with an emphasis in Health Services Organization and Administration from the University of Texas, School of Public Health, a Master of Science degree in Healthcare Administration from Trinity University and a Bachelor of Arts degree (Chemistry/Biology) from St. Mary’s University. He is board certified in healthcare management by the American College of Healthcare Executives.

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 promote patient safety, quality healthcare and coordination in the delivery of healthcare within the North Texas market. 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 also previously served on the Children at Risk Board for North Texas and Mothers Against Drunk Driving Dallas. He serves on the Southwest Region Board for the American Heart Association; Southwest Transplant Alliance; Cure Glaucoma Foundation Advisory Board; North Texas Eye Research Institute; the Metropolitan YMCA Board of Directors; the Board of Directors of Prism Health North Texas and the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Mr. Love has worked in healthcare management for over 40 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.

Rick McWhorter is Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Texas Health Resources. He also oversees investments and treasury services; real estate services; and supply chain management.
Over the years, Rick has provided financial oversight across the Texas Health system, as well as the development of financial processes for the Joint Operating Company hospitals of Southwestern Health Resources, Additionally, Rick represents the system as a member of the finance committee for Premier AEIX, a professional liability risk retention group with other health systems across the country.
Outside of Texas Health, he is currently serving as a member of the executive committee for Texas Wesleyan and is Texas Wesleyan’s Chairman of the Finance and Audit Committee.
Rick earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Texas Wesleyan University and is a licensed certified public accountant in the State of Texas. He is a certified healthcare financial professional and fellow of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

Angela Vincent Michael is a healthcare leader, coach and collaborator who is passionate about improving patient experience and key outcomes by engaging clinical and operational leaders on innovative process and technology changes. For over a decade, Angela has engaged healthcare cross-functional teams with a strong focus on clinical quality improvement, performance excellence, project management and clinical analytics. In her current role at a local healthcare system in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, she collaborates with leaders at all levels of the organization to advance patient care and employee engagement using the lens of improvement and analytics. Angela holds a Master’s degree in Health Finance and Management from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, and is an active member with the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) North Texas chapter.

Jazz Patterson is the Founder, President, and primary Master Black Belt of Process Village. He received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Howard University in Washington, DC, a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc., and an Advanced Master Certification of Lean Six Sigma from Villanova University. His career in Lean Six Sigma began at Vought Aircraft Industries in Dallas, TX where he worked for 9 years to improve efficiency. In 2008, he transitioned to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas where he later became the Manager of the Operational and Clinical Excellence department, a group of Lean Six Sigma Black Belts to promote and grow culture of continuous improvement. Over the 21 years of his career, he has contributed to the Lean Six Sigma training and certification of more than 1,200 employees, the supervision of over 600 projects, and cost savings of more than $34 million.

Dr. Cynthia St. John is a Professor of Practice and Assistant Director of the Healthcare Administration Department, and the management department for the University of Texas at Arlington’s College of Business. She teaches leadership, team effectiveness, and quality improvement in the MBA, Executive MBA, and Healthcare Administration programs. She is an ACUE Credentialed Educator and received faculty induction into Beta Gamma Sigma, the national business honor society, based on student recommendations and course evaluations.
In addition , she provides consulting and coaching to senior leaders. She previously served as the Chief Learning Officer for Texas Health Resources, as well as held leadership roles at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and NASA.
Cynthia has volunteered hundreds of hours annually while serving as a state and national Baldrige examiner, team leader, trainer, judge, and board member over a 20-year period. She was named a lifetime Fellow by the Quality Texas Foundation for her body of work and long-term service in performance excellence.

Joey Sudomir is a multi-faceted Healthcare CIO with a proven history of delivering high-impact results via visionary strategic planning, a well-versed industry knowledge, and a broad set of operational experiences across a diverse set of Healthcare provider settings.
Serves as the CIO at Texas Health Resources where he oversees information technology activities for the entire system. He received a Bachelors in Business Administration from Texas A&M University and an MS in Information Technology from Naveen Jindal School of Management, UT Dallas.

Tammy R. Walsh is an executive finance and operations leader with 20+ years’ experience with a focus in healthcare providing cross-industry expertise in strategy, leadership, and organizational excellence. She is the founder of Paramount Healthcare Solutions which focuses on maximizing physician performance, compensation, and reimbursement for provider organizations.
Tammy is also an adjunct professor teaching courses in Leadership and Healthcare Finance to the Master of Business Administrative Healthcare Students at Texas Christian University. She serves as the Board Chair at the University of North Texas Health Science Center MHA Advisory Board. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

Caroline Znaniec MBA, MS-HCA, CRIP, is Protiviti’s Healthcare Provider Operations and Revenue Integrity Solutions Leader. She has extensive professional consulting and industry experience in the healthcare industry. Caroline works with various healthcare provider organizations including hospitals, health systems, home care, physician specialty groups and clinics, free-standing ambulatory care providers, payers, private equity groups, and investors.
Prior to joining Protiviti, Caroline led the development and client delivery of revenue integrity consulting services for CohnReznick LLP, Grant Thornton LLP and Navigant Consulting, Inc.. Caroline has experience serving in industry roles such as Corporate Compliance Officer and Director of Revenue Integrity for integrated health systems. She is a recognized industry speaker and author in the areas of revenue integrity, revenue cycle transformation, regulatory compliance, electronic health record design, implementation and optimization, and data analytics.
She received her Master’s in Business Administration and Healthcare Administration from Wilmington University, and a Bachelors in Corporate Health Fitness from Salisbury University.

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ACHENTX's WHEN Annual Women's Conference
2023-03-03 08:30 - 14:00 | Texas Woman’s University – Dallas, 5500 Southwestern Medical Avenue, Dallas, TX, 75235
Join us for ACHENTX’s WHEN (Women’s Healthcare Executive Network) Women’s Conference Paving the Way 2023! Network with fellow women healthcare leaders and participate in break-out sessions on topical issues. Register and attend two of the four break-out sessions. Networking Breakfast and lunch will be served.
Schedule:
8:30-9:00 am – Registration & Breakfast
9:00-9:15 am – Kickoff
9:30- 10:30 am – Breakout Session 1
10:30 – 10:45 am– Break
10:45 – 11:45 am – Breakout Session 2
11:45 -12:45 pm – Network Break & Lunch
12:45-1:45 pm – Keynote Address
1:45-2:00 pm – Closing Comments
Keynote and Distinguished Speakers:
Break Out Sessions

Paving the way for mindfulness – Lara Burnside, Senior Vice President, Chief Experience Officer, JPS Health Network
Paving your resume and interview – Margaret Base, Director, Executive Talent Acquisition, Baylor Scott & White Hospital Systems
Paving your Network – Lorie Thibodeaux, President and Owner, Lorie Thibodeaux LLC
Paving a path to Overcoming Imposter Syndrome – Crystal Brown, VP and COO, Methodist Mansfield Medical Center

Keynote Address
Judy Hoberman – Judy Hoberman and Associates, President
Register Here
Speakers’ Bios:

Margaret Base leads the internal executive search team at Baylor Scott & White Health, a nationally recognized healthcare organization and the largest non-profit health system in Texas. Last year Margaret and her team led the recruitment of over 150 executives into leadership roles across BSWHealth hospitals and corporate services, as well as the Baylor Scott & White Research Institute and Health Plan.
Prior to joining BSWHealth in 2019, Margaret was an executive search consultant with Witt/Kieffer, a prominent retained executive search firm. Margaret guided health systems across the country in identifying and attracting talent for key leadership roles across the C-Suite.
Margaret’s background also includes tenure with two F500 companies, a private-equity backed healthcare services start-up, and boutique executive search firms.
In her spare time Margaret enjoys practicing and teaching yoga, spending time with her family, traveling, and reading.

Crystal Brown is a native of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. She graciously serves as the Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center in Mansfield, TX. In this role she is focused on service line development, operational efficiency, and patient experience.
Crystal has a strong passion for personal and professional development that has been sharpened with over 20 years of experience in Human Resources, Supply Chain, and Hospital Operations. She is a proud graduate of Texas Woman’s University where she received her Master’s in Business Administration. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, National Association of Health Services Executives, and serves on the board for Girls Scouts of Northeast Texas on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council Committee. She is certified in Lean Six Sigma, which has taught her to invest in human capital, eliminate waste, and maximize results.
Crystal has received numerous awards for her transformational leadership style and is passionate about teaching others what she has learned along the way. Through her authentic and down to earth approach, she can genuinely connect with people and assist them in overcoming obstacles to achieve their boldest career goals.

Lara Burnside has spent the last 25 years creating workplaces that honor and value each individual person – whether they are a patient, employee or clinician.
She started her career in human resources where she learned the importance of a people-first mentality. She built human resources departments from the ground up – one being recognized as a recipient of the Malcom Baldrige Quality Award – one of the highest national honors.
She began consulting with hospitals across the country (200 or so in total) over the course of a dozen years. At each organization she taught the value of hiring and training best practices that provide exceptional patient care. People are fueled by passion and purpose and when you tap into that, results follow.
The last decade of Lara’s career has been spent working as a senior leader in the hospital setting, where she had the privilege of creating and developing patient experience divisions that utilize best practice tactics proven to create a place where patients are partners in their care. A large focus has been on physician/clinician engagement in order to reduce burnout and increase a sense of community among care teams.
Lara’s love and desire for each person to do and be their best, has allowed an opportunity to develop training programs for leaders, employees and clinicians. The results of these programs have brought engagement levels to the highest levels nationally. On the physician side, the creation of the Patient Experience Mastery Program has brought profound results – improving every question on the patient experience survey by 6.5% top box points.
Lara has a strong desire to give back to organizations and those providing care. My expertise in valuing all people is where my heart and passion have always been.

Judy Hoberman is President of Judy Hoberman and Associates, a company focused on empowering professional women. She is an award-winning international speaker, best-selling author, trainer and leading authority on women in leadership and sales. With over 3 decades in business, she combines wisdom and humor with her behavior shaping strategies and is often described as “transformational.”
She was a TEDx speaker as well as the author of four books, including “Selling in a Skirt” and “Walking on the Glass Floor.” She was named as one of 14 Sales Pros Building Trust from LinkedIn and Coach of the Year from Powerful Professionals.
Judy’s mission…to help one woman a day by following an important philosophy- “Women Want To Be Treated Equally…Not Identically”®

Lorie Thibodeaux is a keynote speaker and systemwide Senior Manager for Dallas large County Hospital and Health System.
Building culture and teamwork-centered community in a high-risk environment is no easy task.
Lorie has powerful relationship building and program development. Lorie is dedicated problem-solver with strong speaking, teaching, and facilitation skills. She collaborates with stakeholders to achieve organizational strategic goals, meets challenging deadlines and masters complex leadership challenges.
In December 2018, Lorie wrote the proposal for the development of the WRN an Employee Resource Group for the Women at Parkland Health. Launched in October 2020, WRN addresses employee engagement, community development, advocacy and systemwide strategic initiatives to improve the diversity and inclusion space. In 2022, the Women’s Resource Network is the winner of the Diversity Impact Awards™ Top 25 ERG Award.
In 2022, Lorie Thibodeaux also was recognized and awarded the Healthcare DEI Champion by Diversity FIRST™ for creating an impact, visionary leadership, and commitment to foster change in the field of diversity and inclusion.
Lorie holds a MHA from the University of Missouri-Columbia, a Bachelor of Science Sociology from Spring Hill College, and holds certifications: ITILv3, HACP, and CPHQ. Lorie is Certified in Globally recognized diversity programs including the Certified Diversity Trainer (CDT) from the Diversity Executive Leadership Academy and the Certified Diversity Professional® and received highest certification as a Certified Diversity Executive® from the Institute for Diversity Certification. She also has certificates in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace, and Inclusive and Ethical Leadership from USF, Healthcare Leadership from Duke University and High Reliability Trainer from Press Ganey.
Lorie supports diversity, health equity, and community building efforts. She is the founding and Past DFW Chapter President for the National Association of Latino Healthcare Executives (NALHE). Recognized as the Chapter Leader of the Year 2021, she continues to serve NALHE on the Executive Board. She also serves on the ACHE Diversity Committee and is the Founding Member of the Women Healthcare Executive Network (WHEN) for the American College of Healthcare Executives- North Texas. She is also on the Jewish Family Service Board.

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After Hours Networking Event: Game Show Battle Rooms
2023-03-28 17:00 - 19:30 | Game Show Battle Rooms 4887 Alpha Rd, Suite 250 Farmers Branch, TX 75244, 4887 Alpha Rd, Suite 250, Game Show Battle Rooms 4887 Alpha Rd, Suite 250 Farmers Branch,, TX, 75244
Come out and join your ACHENTX colleagues for a unique networking and entertaining experience!

Game Show Battle Rooms is the #1 new game show experience for everyone to enjoy!

Get ready to have some fun and make some new connections in an immersive game show arena with engaging live hosts and a mix of your favorite game shows.
Snacks and drinks will be provided. Beer and hard seltzers available for purchase.

Register Here

Check out his video:

https://youtu.be/a_TimxWrDYchttps://gameshowbattlerooms.com/dallas/

New Horizons: From Graduation to Leadership
2023-04-05 18:00 - 19:30 | Children’s Health Plano – Specialty Center 2, 7211 Preston Road, Plano, TX, 75024
The ACHENTX New Horizons event is a special two-for-one opportunity. By registering for this event, you will have be able to 1) attend the virtual New Horizons event on April 5 and then in the weeks that follow that event, 2) meet one-on-one virtually with a local healthcare Human Resources representative.

PANEL DISCUSSION
Come out and hear how the following panelists have gone from graduation to leadership.

Moderator:
Jyric Sims, PhD, FACHE – Chief Executive Officer, Medical City Plano and Frisco

Panelists:
Kris Sanders, MBA – Senior Vice President, Northern Market Growth & Development, Children’s Health
Sharita Butler, MHA – Vice President of Clinical Programs, Children’s Health
Felixia Colon, MBA, FACHE – Senior Vice President of Operations and eHealth Solutions, SCP Health
Crystal Brown, MBA – Chief Operating Officer, Methodist Hospital Mansfield
Ajith Pai, PharmD, FACHE – President, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort

As noted above, registrants are eligible for a virtual mock interview and/or resume review from a healthcare recruiter after the in-person event. These meetings are for the sole purpose of career development and self-improvement. Individual meetings are not actual job interviews. You will be contacted after you register for instructions on where to send your resume. You must be a registrant for the event to be granted a mock interview/resume review session.

Thanks to Children’s Health Plano for hosting this event!

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Speakers’ Bios:
Crystal Brown, MBA, is a native of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area of North Texas. She serves as the Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center in Mansfield, TX. In this role she is focused on service line growth and development, operational efficiency, and patient experience.
Crystal has a strong passion for personal and professional development that has been sharpened with over 20 years of experience in Human Resources, Supply Chain, and Hospital Operations. She is a proud graduate of Texas Woman’s University where she received her Master’s in Business Administration. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, National Association of Health Services Executives, and serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council Committee for Girls Scouts of Northeast Texas. She is certified in Lean Six Sigma, which has taught her to invest in human capital, eliminate waste, and maximize results.
Crystal has received numerous awards for her transformational leadership style and is passionate about teaching others what she has learned along the way. Through her authentic and down to earth approach, she has the ability to genuinely connect with people and assist them in overcoming obstacles to achieve their boldest career goals.

Sharita Butler is the Vice President of Clinical Programs in the Northern Market for Children’s Health. Her primary focus is leading and implementing growth of key clinical programs and service lines to align with the organization’s strategic goals. Sharita has more than 15 years of healthcare experience within Revenue Cycle and has served in several leadership capacities in the hospital and clinic setting. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Community Health from Stephen F. Austin State University and holds a Master of Healthcare Administration from University of Texas at Arlington.
Felixia Colón, FACHE, a native of Jacksonville, FL, brings over 25 years of healthcare experience to her role as a Senior Vice President with SCP Health. Ms. Colón leads SCP Health’s robust Telehealth Core Solutions for Emergency Medicine, Hospital Medicine, and Critical Care Medicine Practices. She maintains oversight and overall accountability for her clients’ clinical performance, quality care, operational excellence, and financial stability.
Ms. Colón has served in various roles in the healthcare field. Her background includes development of a physician outreach program with a major health insurance carrier, managing multi-specialty and multi-site physician practices in emergency medicine, academic hospital medicine programs, private hospital medicine programs, transitional care medicine, eHealth/TeleNocturnist programs, and post-acute practices (SNFs/LTACs).
Ms. Colón formerly served as Senior Vice President for one of the largest independent physician practices in Texas. While there, she was responsible for the oversight of the company’s operations, contracting, business development, marketing, recruiting, and healthcare payment reform programs, which included CMS’ Bundled Payment Care Initiative (BPCI) Program.
A graduate of Nova Southeastern University, Ms. Colón holds a Master of Business Administration, with a concentration in Management. She earned a Bachelor of Health Administration from the University of North Florida. She is also a Fellow and active member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). She holds an elected Board of Directors position with the North Texas Chapter of ACHE, serving as 2023 President. She has also previously served as Vice-Chair for the Diversity & Inclusion Committee under ACHENTX.
Ajith Pai, PharmD, FACHE, has served as President of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth since July, 2022. Prior to this role, Ajith served as President of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Cleburne for nearly four years. Texas Health Southwest is a CMS 5-star rated facility, ranked #16 in Texas and #5 in DFW on the 2022-23 U.S. News and World Report Best Hospitals list, and recently was recognized on Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals 2023 – United States list.
In the role of president, Ajith oversees day to day operations, works to advance physician engagement and promote effective employee, governance, and community relations. Ajith is responsible for ensuring the achievement of the hospital’s goals for patient safety, clinical and non-clinical quality, operational performance and patient, physician, and employee engagement.
Ajith received his Doctorate of Pharmacy (PharmD) from Texas Tech School of Pharmacy and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Dallas. Additionally, he is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).
Ajith enjoys spending time with his family which includes his wife of 15 years, Myriam, their 7 year-old eldest daughter, Elyse, their 2 year-old son Nikhil, and their 1 year-old youngest daughter Yvette. He’s an avid runner and has participated in more than 15 marathons throughout the country and remains involved in the community through memberships on various boards and committees. Ajith is a proud Board member of ACHE of North Texas, and serves this year as the DEI officer: a newly created role across ACHE. Ajith was the 2020 national chair of ACHE’s Asian Healthcare Leaders Forum, continues to serve as an Asian Healthcare Leaders Community (AHLC) national committee member, and is a founding member of ACHE of North Texas’ AHLC. Ajith was also proud to receive the 2022 Regent’s Award for his work on DEI initiatives.
Kris Sanders, FACHE, serves as Senior Vice President, Northern Market Growth and Development for Children’s Health Plano. Kris oversees leadership and implementation of all market activities north of Dallas. She is responsible for the advancement of clinical programs and partnerships in this area.
Kris first joined Children’s Health in 2009 working in ambulatory services. She rejoined Children’s Health in her current role in 2022, after serving as Vice President of Operations for Envision Physician Services.
Kris graduated from Texas State University where she received a Bachelor of Healthcare Administration. She also earned a Master of Business Administration from University of Phoenix.
Jyric Sims, PhD, FACHE, was named president and chief executive officer at Medical City Plano and Medical City Frisco in 2021.
Together, both hospitals comprise over 700 acute care beds and 3,000 employees. Medical City Plano is an academic and Level 1 Trauma facility with advanced high acuity services inducing but not limited too comprehensive stroke, burn and reconstructive surgery, ECMO, and advanced cardiac care.
Dr. Sims brings more than two decades of healthcare experience to the role. Prior to this position, Dr. Sims served from 2017 to 2021 as CEO of Medical City Fort Worth, a 348-bed, acute care hospital. There, he led more than $115 million in expansions, including the addition of a patient tower with a 30-bed ER, a neuroscience/spine center and the opening of Medical City ER White Settlement.
Dr. Sims joined Medical City Healthcare’s parent company, HCA Healthcare, in 2011, serving as vice president and chief operating officer at Tulane Health System, in New Orleans, Louisiana; chief operating officer of St. Lucie Medical Center in Port St. Lucie, Florida; and associate chief operating officer at Clear Lake Regional Medical Center in Webster, Texas.
Dedicated to community service, Dr. Sims currently serves on the American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board, LSU Foundation Board as the chair of the finance committee, Plano Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and North Texas ACHE Chapter Board. He is a member of Young President’s Organization, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Dr. Sims has received numerous accolades, including 2015 Modern Healthcare Up and Comer Award, 2016 UAMS Alumnus of the Year, 2017 National Association of Healthcare Executives Young Executive of the Year, 2018 “40 Under 40” by the Fort Worth Business Press, 2021 Dallas Business Journal 40 under 40, and 2022 Becker’s Top 75 Black Healthcare Leaders to Know.
Dr. Sims holds a PhD in Public Policy from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a Master of Health Administration from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and his undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University.

Ethical Challenges in Healthcare Leadership
2023-04-06 11:00 - 12:30 | Virtual
This event has been approved for 1.5 ACHE Virtual Face-to-Face Credits
Ethical challenges arise in all aspects of healthcare and service, from the bedside to the boardroom. Hospital leaders and boards set the ethical compass of the organization by making decisions about priorities, policies and resource allocation as they determine the best ways to meet the needs of their communities, while respecting their staff and the populations they serve. Understanding the expanding paradigm of planning, creating, and maintaining an ethical healthcare organization is crucial to help identify strategies for implementing ethics initiatives within your own organization and how an organization has addressed ethical challenges. Healthcare leaders must “walk the talk” and demonstrate their commitment to ethics throughout their organization.

Moderator:
Mark S. Schnitzer, MD, FACHE
Medical Director
Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance

Panelists:
Archana Mahimkar
Senior Director Clinical Quality Improvement & Safety
Walgreens Health
Javier Montemayor
Division Ethics and Compliance Officer; North Texas HCA Facilities
Rapides Regional Medical Center – Louisiana; HCA Healthcare
Melanie Roberts
Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer
Parkland Health
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Speakers’ Bios:

As the Senior Director for Quality, Patient Experience & Safety, Archana Mahimkar is responsible for the overall quality framework delivered under Walgreens Health. In her role, Archana works cross functionally across the organization to lead development of strategies, plans and operational processes to ensure compliance with value-based care arrangements. Archana brings over 15 years of leadership and operational experience across a portfolio of industry-leading businesses and services in healthcare quality, quality improvement, clinical quality outcomes and process improvement. She has a CPHQ as well as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.
Throughout her career, Archana has worked collaboratively with healthcare providers and administrators to provide standardized, patient-centric care and improve health & quality outcomes. This has become her area of focus as she operationalizes a comprehensive quality approach for Walgreens Health to further the company’s purpose to create more joyful lives through better health. As a transformational leader, Archana is passionate in her belief that a comprehensive, holistic, patient-centric model for care gap closures is needed – one that leverages the physical, virtual & digital sites of care, allows real-time access & availability to clinicians, focuses on health equity & SDOH and partners with payors to offer customized solutions for their population quality needs.

Javier Montemayor is an accomplished Healthcare Executive with 20+ years of experience in regulatory compliance. He brings expertise in risk ranking, avoidance, and mitigation; managing quality procedures, practices and processes; contributing to patient safety through departmental regulatory assessments; credentialing; managing human resources; training and education; budget planning; and strategic planning for healthcare facilities.

As the Division Ethics and Compliance Officer for North Texas HCA Facilities and Rapides Regional Medical Center – Louisiana – HCA Healthcare is one of the nation’s leading providers of healthcare services with 182 hospitals and 2,300+ sites of care, including surgery centers, freestanding ERs, urgent care centers, home health, and physician clinics located in 20 states and the United Kingdom. Javier oversees the implementation and direction in 14+ hospitals, in two states, the HCA Corporate Compliance Program. Responsible for leading and/or providing guidance to the Facility Ethics and Compliance Officers in the day-to-day activities related to Ethics and Compliance, Privacy, ADA, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

This followed his time at Children’s Health one of the largest pediatric non-profit health systems in the U.S., where Javier was the Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer leading the Corporate Compliance Program and maintained strategic oversight of seven additional departments. He was responsible for Accreditation and Regulatory Affairs activities at the system level for three hospitals – a 490-bed pediatric academic hospital, a 72-bed community/academic pediatric hospital and a 39-bed specialty hospital; system-wide accreditation programs that included readiness of more than 52 ambulatory clinics; eight disease-specific certificated programs; and Internal Audit, Privacy, Emergency Management, Environmental Safety, Occupational Health and Policy Administration. In this role, he ensured policies and procedures, licensing, governmental and other regulatory body requirements were consistently maintained, and all areas of operations were patient-ready and in compliance with state and federal regulations. He also served as the system COVID-19 Incident Commander. Earlier at Children’s Health, Javier worked his way from Director to Vice President, Accreditation, Regulatory Affairs and Corporate Compliance.

Earlier in his career, Javier was at Texas Health Resources, one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health systems in U.S. and the largest in North Texas in terms of inpatients and outpatients served, where Javier was Director of Quality Improvement – Presbyterian Hospital of Allen (TX). He was responsible for directing, managing and monitoring all Quality and Risk Management procedures and processes for a 62-bed hospital, including patient safety and department assessments. He provided administrative oversight to Case Management, Social Services, Guest Services and Volunteer Services Departments, and served as the hospital HIPAA/Compliance Security Officer and on the corporate Compliance/Privacy Committee. Prior to this at Texas Health Resources, Javier was Director of Quality Improvement Harris Methodist Erath County Hospital in Stephenville, TX, where he was responsible for managing and directing all Quality and Risk Management procedures and processes for a 98-bed hospital.

And the Facility Compliance Officer at Southwest General Hospital in San Antonio, TX, where he was responsible for Regulatory Compliance for a 286-bed hospital, including reviewing all compliance activities, employee-related issues, conflicts of interest and patient confidentiality.

Javier earned a Master of Jurisprudence in Health Law at Loyola University Chicago, a Master of Business Administration in Health Care Management at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Texas A&M University. He was in the Class of 2017 for Dallas Regional Chamber’s Leadership Dallas program and completed a certification in Dispute Resolution at Southern Methodist University in University Park, TX. He is Just Culture certified, as well as certified in Health Care Compliance.

“The time is now or never to make a difference in today’s society; we all face difficult apprehensions and live through them but learning from them is what makes us better.”

Melanie Benitez Roberts is the Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer at Parkland Health. Parkland has been serving the Dallas community for more than 128 years as one of the largest public hospital systems in the country. The hospital averages more than 1 million patient visits annually. Services include a Level I Trauma Center, the first verified burn center in North Texas and a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The system also includes a network of community-based health centers, including primary care and women’s clinics, 5 school-based health centers and numerous outreach and education programs. Parkland is the primary teaching hospital for the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Mrs. Roberts has more than 28 years of healthcare experience in regulatory compliance, operations and quality management. She has served in various compliance roles Tenet Healthcare, Ochsner Health Plan and United Healthcare. Mrs. Roberts received her Master of Social Work degree from Tulane University and Bachelor of Science degrees in Political Science and Sociology from Loyola University New Orleans. She is Certified in Healthcare Compliance, Healthcare Privacy Compliance and Healthcare Research Compliance and is a member of the Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA) and the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE). Ms. Roberts currently serves as Chair for the North Texas Ethics and Compliance Council (NTECC).

Dr. Mark Schnitzer is an experienced Surgeon, Educator, Physician Advisor, Medical Director, and Consultant.

An interest in processes and mathematics led him to pursue an unlikely course of pre-medical study: electrical engineering. It was during his Ph.D. studies that he applied to medical school and completed his MSEE and MD concurrently. He completed his clinical training in neurological surgery and a fellowship in neurosciences critical care at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. His final year at Johns Hopkins was in the role of Assistant Chief of Service.

After fifteen years in solo, private neurosurgical practice and medical staff governance roles, he was recruited to Hawaii as the sole, full-time neurosurgeon for Kaiser Permanente with the mandate to set the groundwork for a completely internalized program. That experience led to his invitation to serve as the inaugural medical director of neurosciences and an ambitious project to unify the neurosciences programs across the government hospitals in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Once this unification was well underway, the program was handed off to the Cleveland Clinic. Subsequently, he served as the inaugural CMO for a start-up telemedicine company in Dubai and as an adjunct associate professor in a graduate program for healthcare administration.

He returned to the USA after four years in the Middle East and took on the role of physician advisor for SSM Health. Initially accountable for one hospital, he was elevated to a regional, multi-hospital role where he was accountable for insurance denial management including education of clinicians in evidence-based medicine and responsible stewardship as well as holding numerous roles in quality improvement projects.
Most recently, he has taken on the role of medical director for a large accountable care organization based in Dallas, TX.

Dr. Schnitzer is a Fellow of the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians and is board certified in healthcare quality and management with added qualification as a Physician Advisor. He is a certified professional in healthcare quality by the National Association for Healthcare Quality and is certified by the American Society for Quality as a Six Sigma Black Belt. Additionally, he is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Dr. Schnitzer has provided a number of invited publications and presentations in the areas of healthcare informatics, patient safety, and responsible stewardship and he serves as a senior examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

Dr. Schnitzer considers himself an interface professional, like most clinicians who have transitioned into healthcare leadership roles. He maintains a state of constant inquiry and curiosity with the ever-present thought, “There is something I do not know, the knowing of which could change everything.”

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Telemedicine in the Healthcare Delivery System
2023-04-06 13:30 - 15:00 | Virtual
This event has been approved for 1.5 ACHE Virtual Face-to-Face Credits!

Telemedicine has become a healthcare access imperative. Its innovative benefits are of vital interest amid the implementation of most healthcare regulations. Telemedicine uses a variety of forms of electronic communication technology to provide a convenient method to deliver healthcare services and education. The program surveys its current uses and organizational deployment of telemedicine. The discussion includes adoption and innovation across clinical and patient perspective. Technical, operational, regulatory, and financial/reimbursement aspects of the development of telemedicine programs will be investigated. The expanding role that telemedicine holds in daily medicine and its direction into the future of the healthcare delivery system will be explored.

Moderator:
Nick Kagal, FACHE
Leader of Client Success
SpinSci Technologies

Panelists:
Mae Centeno, DNP, APRN, ACNS-BC
Chief Nursing Officer, Virtual Care Delivery Channel
Texas Health Resources
Julie Hall-Barrow, EdD
President
Maxwell Telecare
Vicki Nolan, LVN MAPD LSSYB
System Director, Clinical Excellence & Virtual Care
CHRISTUS Health
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Speakers Bios:
Julie Hall-Barrow serves as the President of Maxwell Telecare, spearheading the organization’s development and implementation of innovative care delivery models. She oversees strategic growth of the Network; a collaborative network of health providers, including community physicians as well as other like-minded providers, who work together to keep independent providers independent.

Since joining Maxwell Telecare in March of 2021, Julie has recruited strategic leaders to provide expertise in management and acquisitions, operations, technology, and launched services in Texas and Minnesota. She is a well-known expert in the field of telemedicine, remote patient monitoring and digital products aimed at improving access and health outcomes. Her leadership in facilitating collaboration between national technology and health care organizations has earned her accolades from industry publications, including recognition among the Most Powerful Women in Health Care IT by Health Data Management and the Achievement in Innovation in D CEO’s Excellence in Healthcare Awards.

Prior to joining Maxwell Telecare, Julie held executive leadership positions focused on health care transformation, joint ventures, increasing access to care through technology and overseeing the largest school telemedicine program in the country. In addition she launched behavioral national and regional mental health initiatives that included obtaining millions of dollars for care and infrastructure. She oversaw the building of new pediatric healthcare facilities in North and South Texas. She continues to advance the telemedicine field through research and education as an active member and Fellow of the American Telemedicine Association.

Julie holds a Doctor of Education (EdD) in higher education administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a Master of Science in Kinesiology from University of North Texas.

Mae Centeno, DNP, APRN, ACNS-BC serves as the Chief Nursing Officer for the Virtual Care Delivery Channel at Texas Health Resources. She has over 30 years of critical care nursing, advanced practice, and nurse executive experience.

Dr. Centeno has implemented several care models to identify high-risk patients, scale scarce resources as well as increase bed capacity.

She is passionate about transforming health care, incorporating technology in the care delivery model, providing access to affordable, equitable, quality, and safe care.

Mae is married with two children and is passionate about spending time with her family and traveling.

Nick Kagal served as the Vice President of Marketing & Business Development and is now the leader of Client Success for SpinSci Technologies, a healthcare technology solutions provider focused on driving patient engagement. Nick previously led Customer Success for the Western United States for Premier Inc.’s Performance Services division supporting informatics solutions and services focused on cost, quality, and safety. He has over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry and has held leadership roles with several Dallas/Fort Worth health systems including Parkland Health & Hospital System, HCA, and HealthSouth.

Nick received his BA in Biology & Psychology from Austin College and an MBA from Texas A&M University. He is a Fellow in both the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and the Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and is a board member of DFW HIMSS. Nick lives in Plano, Texas, and is an avid sports fan, a weekend warrior athlete, a long-distance cyclist, and plays guitar & bass in the local cover band Sonic Dissonance.

Vicki Nolen has oversight for clinical improvement, virtual care and telemedicine for the 26 acute care hospitals and 105+ physician offices, as well as CHRISTUS Health’s international ministries in Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. She has led the development of new models for providing innovative care through telemedicine both within the hospital setting and for outpatient ambulatory visits. She is a licensed vocational nurse and was her school’s valedictorian, but then went on to get a number of advanced degrees and is in the process of a PhD in Psychology. The majority of her 20+ years of healthcare experience has been in process improvement, operational excellence, strategy, operations, and digital/virtual strategic development. In 2021 she received the award for Outstanding Healthcare Innovator by D Magazine’s CEO Excellence in Healthcare awards.

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Boba with the A(HLC) Tea-m
2023-04-13 17:30 - 19:30 | 9 Rabbits Bakery, 2546 Royal Lane, Dallas, TX, 75229
It’s time to get bubbly!

Date: April 13, 2023
Location: 9 Rabbits Bakery
Address: 2546 Royal Ln, Dallas, TX 75229
Parking: Free to park in front of the boba shop and/or plaza.
Tickets: Free
Join the AHLC (Asian Healthcare Leaders Community) of North Texas for a tea-rrific hour and get to know the leaders and fellow members. Learn more about our upcoming events and ways to get involved. The drinks are free for the event attendees as long as you mention “AHLC” at checkout. Have a sip at the AHLC table!
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Breakfast with the EVP & CCO - Dr. Sam Bagchi
2023-04-18 07:30 - 09:00 | CHRISTUS Health, 919 Hidden Ridge, Irving, TX, 75038, United States
Join us for the next in our popular breakfast series!

Sam Bagchi, M.D. is passionate about helping patients get timely, effective, and efficient care, building a solid reputation for successful informatics and quality initiatives in leading U.S. health systems. For more than twenty years, his quest to bring together clinical and quality strategies with the promise of health technology has consistently uncovered new best-practices—many now serving as a guide for other healthcare organizations navigating the industry’s shift to value-based care.
As the CHRISTUS Health Executive Vice President, System Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Bagchi is responsible for helping caregivers effectively and safely deliver the best possible evidenced-based care across the health system. Dr. Bagchi also serves as a Trustee for Texas Hospital Association and is a member of the American Hospital Association Region 7 Policy Board.
A board certified internal medicine physician, Dr. Bagchi previously served as Chief Quality and Medical Officer for Ascension Presence Health System in Chicago, which is a $2.5B, 12-hospital health system. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer for Methodist Health System, a seven-hospital health system in Dallas, Texas. He was recruited to Methodist to build a clinical informatics platform and department around the organization’s quality and patient safety initiatives. Dr. Bagchi earned his medical degree from Indiana University and completed the Internal Medicine residency program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where he served as a Harvard teaching fellow.

A huge thanks to Dr. Bagchi and CHRISTUS Health for hosting this event!

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Dinner and Learn: Diversity & Inclusion with UT Southwestern
2023-04-20 17:30 - 20:00 | UT Southwestern Pegasus Building, 3000 Pegasus Park Drive, #LP6.202, Dallas, Texas, 75247
Please join us for a panel discussion with UT Southwestern Division of Diversity and Inclusion to learn more about D&I in the workspace and in healthcare.
Itinerary:
5:30-6pm: Guest arrival/check-in/pick up dinner
6-7pm: D&I panel discussion
7-8pm: Dessert reception/networking

Panelists:
Mary Bandoh, Manager of Diversity & Inclusion, Office of Institutional Equity & Access, UT Southwestern
Keneshia Colwell, Senior Diversity & Inclusion Specialist, Office of Institutional Equity & Access, UT Southwestern
Sharbari Dey, Director for Diversity & Inclusion, Office of Institutional Equity & Access, UT Southwestern

Moderator:
Tatiana Gonzalez, Intern, Division of Diversity and Inclusion, UT Southwestern

Dinner will be provided upon arrival with dessert to follow during the reception.

Thanks to UT Southwestern for hosting this event!

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Speakers Bios:

Mary Bandoh serves as the Manager of Diversity & Inclusion in the Office of Institutional Equity & Access. In this role, she oversees the BRG Mentorship Programs, leads Business Resource Groups through signature event planning, facilitates DEI trainings, and writes and edits content for 3 internal DEI publications. Before she came to UT Southwestern, Mary practiced in the field of immigration law for nearly a decade, and worked at a manufacturing company where she helped to develop the company’s first-ever DEI committee and programming. She holds a J.D. from Washington University School of Law. She is a proud mom to 9-month-old Audrey and dog mom to a 3-year-old, 8-pound fluff ball named Teddy.

Keneshia Colwell is the Senior Diversity & Inclusion Specialist for the Office of Institutional & Access. She is responsible for ensuring that diversity and inclusion are essential components of UT Southwestern’s tripartite mission to discover, educate, and heal through intentional high-impact programming, facilitating education and skill-building trainings, furthering institutional community outreach efforts, assisting with management of UTSW’s six business resource groups, and serving as the creative engineer for our division’s ‘Uncovered’ employee podcast. Prior to her current role, Keneshia worked as an Equal Opportunity Specialist conducting workplace investigations, provided religious and disability related accommodations, and facilitated trainings for leaders and managers. Keneshia also spent time at UT Austin helping handle employee experience concerns in the Office for Inclusion and Equity. In addition to her professional experience, Keneshia is a graduating master’s student at Southern Methodist University focusing on the role religion plays in social injustice.

Sharbari Dey is the Director for Diversity and Inclusion in the Office of Institutional Equity and Access at UT Southwestern. In this role she brings expertise in facilitation, policy impacts on employee lifecycle and designing evidence-based initiatives to advance high trust environments in the workplace. Her areas of interest include gender/racial equity, diversity metrics, professional learning and development of equitable policies. Prior to UT Southwestern, Sharbari worked in diversity roles at three large public higher education institutions: Louisiana State University, Virginia Tech and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has also worked in the corporate D&I environment overseeing global programs across Asia, Australia, Europe and Africa. Dey has MSWs from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in India and Louisiana State University, and her doctoral degree from North Carolina State University in Educational Leadership Policy and Human Development.

Tatiana Gonzalez is an intern with the Division of Diversity and Inclusion. She has two years of experience as a care coordinator and has a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from the University of Florida. She is now pursuing a master’s degree in health administration at UNTHSC. She believes that the healthcare system can build trust with the community through diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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Cocktails with the Chiefs: Realizing the Benefits of AI in Healthcare: Best Practices and Pitfalls to Avoid
2023-04-25 18:00 - 20:00 | Stirr in Addison, 5100 Belt Line Road, Suite 540, Dallas, TX, 75254
Reserve your ticket now for our next ACHENTX Cocktails with the Chiefs event. We’re back in Dallas for this program and this time, our content topic will be: Realizing the Benefits of AI in Healthcare: Best Practices and Pitfalls to Avoid. The panel will be preceded by a networking cocktail reception being hosted by the law firm, BakerHostetler.

Our panel will include the following speakers.

Moderator:
James Sherer
Partner & Co-lead of Emerging Technology Team
BakerHostetler

Panelists:
Julie Balluck
Chief Nursing Officer
Texas Health HEB

Emily Fedeles
Vice President, Assistant General Counsel Privacy
Medidata Solutions

Albert Karam
Vice President, Data Strategy & Analytics
Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation

Rob Nelson
Vice President & Head, Healthcare Transformation & Innovation Solutions
RCG Global Service

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A special thanks to BakerHostetler for hosting this event!
Speakers Bios:
Dr. Julie Balluck, RN has a career spanning over two decades with roles including direct care nurse, charge nurse, nurse manager, director, Associate Chief Nursing Officer and her current position, Chief Nursing Officer at Texas Health Hurst Euless Bedford (HEB). She is an AONL nurse director fellow and Nursing Executive Advanced-Board Certified by ANCC. She completed her Honors in Nursing Diploma at Sheridan College School of Nursing in Mississauga, Ontario, BSN at Metropolitan (Ryerson) University in Toronto, Ontario, and MSN at the University of Texas at Arlington. In May 2022, she completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice (Administration) program at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Houston, Texas.
She is an experienced nursing leader who strives to introduce new ideas to continuously improve and connect teams to achieve desired outcomes in our rapidly changing health care environment. She has authored and co-authored publications in the field of peri anesthesia nursing, the use of ADKAR in change management during the pandemic and leadership development for novice nurse leaders. She is a mentor to staff nurses and both emerging and experienced leaders in healthcare, with a special passion for students. Her vision is to develop multidisciplinary staff accountability through collaborative partnerships to create a quality healthcare consumer experience.
She has been recognized for her leadership by receiving the Texas Nurses Association, Districts 3 & 4 Great 100 Nurse, D Magazine Nursing Excellence Award for Surgery and Leadership, the Clinical Excellence Award from the University of Texas at Arlington and Community Service Award from the University of Texas Health Science Center, Cizik School of Nursing. She is a member of the American Nurses Association, American Organization of Nurse Executives – North Texas Chapter and ACHE of North Texas.
“What we know matters, but who we are matters more” –Brene Brown
Emily Fedeles serves as VP, Associate General Counsel of Privacy, at Medidata, where she advises internal and external stakeholders on privacy, data protection, risk, and risk mitigation issues. She also focuses on related data security and emergent technology-driven issues. Prior to her current role, Emily served as Chief Data Privacy Counsel at Colgate-Palmolive Company, where she was responsible for the establishment and maintenance of a comprehensive global data privacy compliance program for 30 brands worldwide. Before going in-house, Emily was an eDiscovery, Privacy, and Litigation associate at law firms in New York City; Geneva, Switzerland; and Tampa, Florida where she counseled a wide range of clients on issues ranging from discovery management processes, records and information governance, data privacy and security, artificial intelligence, and products liability litigation. She graduated from Emory University School of Law with a JD and from Emory University with a bachelor’s degree, and holds a CIPP/E certification.
Albert Karam is the VP of Data Strategy and Analytics for Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation, a nonprofit data science and technology company in Dallas Texas. He is a mathematician by trade with a Masters in Mathematics, Business Analytics and MBA with a healthcare administration concentration. With over a decade of healthcare analytics experience in both the hospital and payor spaces, Albert oversees all Data Science and predictive modeling for PCCI, having implemented over a dozen predictive models for Parkland Health, the safety net hospital in for Dallas County.
Dr. Rob Nelson is an innovative, results-driven leader with more than 20+ years of global experience in marketing, business/performance transformation, strategic business development, solution-product development/management, consulting and operations. His industry experience includes high -tech Fortune 30 corporations, startup/ pre-IPO’s, international not-for-profit organizations, and small privately held firm’s healthcare, high-tech, not-for-profit, higher education, consulting and a variety of others. Rob has an established record of establishing full-spectrum marketing, go-to-market, strategy, product, and business development and transformation strategies (including Leadership, Strategy and Management Systems) that help organizations achieve performance transformation and deliver strategic, operational, and financial results that ensure market leadership. He has also served as a Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer, Head of Business Development in addition to Operations leadership roles.
Rob has extensive experience in large scale transformations, digital transformations and culture transformations as well as a focus on all things “go to market and innovation”. He has led four different consulting practices, including the global Strategy, Leadership and Performance Transformation practice for General Electric which had a focus on the implementation of the culture-driven-performance model comprised strategy activation, productivity systems, management systems and leadership systems to drive high performance.
Rob’s employment portfolio includes IBM, GE, Motorola, Amazon.com (Pre-IPO), a privately held technology firm, two trade organizations and his own firm. His doctoral work focused on strategic transformation of firms through creation and market-orientation via cultural transformation to yield higher business performance, long-term. He has also led three business / enterprise Program Management Offices at high tech firms including Motorola and GE. Prior, Rob served as both enlisted and officer ranks with more than a decade of service in the United States Navy in communications, intelligence, surface warfare, and combat logistics.
Active in the academic and entrepreneurship community, Rob also teaches strategic marketing, strategy and business innovation at the MBA/Masters Levels at the Stuart School of Management, Illinois Institute of Technology and at the Jack Welch Management Institute. His highly regarded work involves live projects with companies including many innovative and award-winning start-ups in the Chicago area.
Rob holds a Doctor of Business Administration in Strategic Marketing from Grenoble Ecole de Management with dissertation on the implementation of market orientation Strategic Marketing involving the transformation of organizations to deliver higher performance. His MBA is in Management and Strategic Marketing from the Kellogg School of Management and his BA is in Political Science and Leadership from the University of Oklahoma, earned on scholarship while in the Navy. He holds certificates in Global Leadership and Strategy from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and is Pragmatic Marketing and trained in Miller Herman conceptual selling. He also holds executive certificates in :
• Innovation: How Leaders Create the Future (Dartmouth, Tuck School of business – April 2021)
• Digital Marketing Strategies: AI, Automation, Data and Analytic, Kellogg School of Management (2020)
• AI and Strategies for Leading Business Transformation, Kellogg School of Management (2020)
• Global Strategy, Leadership from Thunderbird School of Management
• Program on Negotiation for Senior Executives, Harvard Law School
• Blue Ocean Strategy (Blue Ocean Academy – 2021)
In his personal time, Rob practices mixed martial arts including Muay Thai Kick Boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts and enjoys hiking, biking, sailing, kayaking and spending time with his pets.
Gittings Global – NE89710
A consensus builder focused on project delivery and matter success, James Sherer develops deep client relationships, responsively and pragmatically addressing client needs and requirements with subject-matter expertise while helping to develop and execute on long-term, years-long client strategies.
James co-leads the Emerging Technology team of BakerHostetler’s Digital Assets and Data Management group while directing the firm’s Artificial Intelligence and Information Governance engagements. His work spans litigation, transactions and regulatory enforcement while helping clients confront discovery management process issues; enterprise risk management; records and information governance; data privacy, security and bank secrecy; artificial intelligence and algorithmic transparency; technology integration issues; and related merger and acquisition, asset purchase and divestiture diligence.
Prior to joining BakerHostetler, James worked as in-house litigator and privacy and eDiscovery professional with a Fortune 500 company, and previously practiced litigation in New York. He holds an M.B.A., his CIPP/US, CIPP/E, CIPM, FIP and PLS data privacy professional credentials, the CIP and IGP information governance designations, the UCLA Extension Global Cyber Institute’s Cybersecurity Certification, and the CEDS and CMLAW-EPC eDiscovery specialist credentials. James is also a member of The Sedona Conference® Working Groups One, Six and Eleven; and writes and presents on e-discovery, information governance, privacy, investigation and merger and acquisition issues.

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Second Quarter ACHENTX Education Event
2023-04-27 15:00 - 19:00 | SpinSci Technologies LLC, 14850 Quorum Drive #150, Dallas, TX, 75254
These panels have been approved for 1.50 ACHE Face-to-Face Credits Each (3.00 if you attend both).

Itinerary for the day:
3-3:30pm – Check-In & Networking
3:30-5pm – Panel 1: Managing for Morale— Effective Management Techniques to Retain Your Staff
5-5:30pm – Networking Break
5:30-7pm – Panel 2: Developing Mentoring and Coaching Skills
Thanks to Spin Sci for hosting this event!

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Panel 1: Managing for Morale— Effective Management Techniques to Retain Your Staff

Moderator: Nick Kagal, FACHE; Leader of Client Success, SpinSci Technologies
Panelists:
Katie Bata Heeter, FACHE; Baylor Scott & White Health System; SVP – Human Resources Strategic Business Services
Kathi Cox; Texas Health Resources, COO; Ambulatory & Virtual Channel
Priti Jain; Texas Health Physicians Group; Regional Director of Specialty Clinics

Panel 2: Developing Mentoring and Coaching Skills

Moderator: Dr. Jennifer “J” Alexander, FACHE; UTSW; Operations Manager of Imaging Systems & Services

Panelists:
John E. Phillips, FACHE; Methodist Dallas Medical Center; President
Jackie Sifuentes, MBA, LSSYB; Children’s Health; Manager of Patient Capacity Ambulatory Services
Tanya Stinson, MHQS, CMBB, MCBA, CRP; Leaning Towards Change, LLC; Founder/Owner/Coach/Consultant

Speakers’ Bios:

Dr. Jennifer “J” Alexander is the Operations Manager for Imaging Services at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Serving, collaborating, and mentoring healthcare professionals is Dr. Alexander’s passion. She frequently attends healthcare conferences and events since she is a passionate scholar. Dr. Alexander has also spoken at colleges, universities, and other events on networking, creating connections, and the valuable social media tool LinkedIn. She routinely posts healthcare-related content on social media to inform her followers about the fast-evolving healthcare market and the branding and exposure needed to stay relevant.

She has earned a doctorate in healthcare administration from the Virginia University of Lynchburg and an MBA and an MHA from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a Certified Radiology Administrator with AHRA.

Katie Bata Heeter is senior vice president of human resources strategic business services at Baylor Scott & White Health, the largest not-forprofit health system in Texas. The system’s integrated delivery network includes Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and its leading digital health platform, MyBSWHealth. Through 51 hospitals and more than 1,100 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care, as well as an array of virtual and in-home services.

In her role, Bata Heeter oversees implementation of HR programs that support system leaders in advancing the mission of Baylor Scott & White Health. Previously, she served as vice president of strategic business services.

Prior to joining Baylor Scott & White, Bata Heeter served in multiple human resources leadership roles including vice president and regional executive director at Advocate Aurora Health and its predecessor, Advocate Health Care. She also previously served as vice president and chief human resource officer at Sherman Health Systems and as human resource director at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital.

Bata Heeter received her bachelor’s degree in business from Eastern Illinois University and a master’s degree in business management from Northern Illinois University.

photo, headshot, pic
Kathi Cox is the Chief Operating Officer of the Ambulatory and Virtual Channel at Texas Health. She is charged with forging innovative new models of care for North Texans.

Kathi started her career with Texas Health almost 30 years ago and advanced through positions of increasing responsibility in hospital operations, information technology and patient and family experience. This diverse background has provided her a wealth of knowledge across the continuum of care that has been paramount to her work to establish a seamless experience for consumers across the Texas Health ecosystem. Her work now includes building and supporting new models of care using both physical and virtual interactions. She brings a passion for the consumer experience and using technology to streamline operations.

Kathi is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and holds an MBA from Western Governors University. In her spare time you will find her playing board games with friends, smoking meat and making sausage or in the fall cheering on her Texas Longhorns or Dallas Cowboys.

Priti Jain is an innovative leader, able to produce actionable insights through lean process improvement, and engage multi-disciplinary teams to achieve results. She is passionate about mentoring and helping others grow on their healthcare journey. Her expertise spans establishing a quality and risk management program at a hospital level, driving strategic project deployment at system level, as well as leading service line and ambulatory practice operations.

Priti’s accomplishments include leading system level improvement projects yielding substantial savings, decreasing Serious Safety Events (SSE)s such as deaths and severe harm, as well as operational dashboard development and deployment at several facilities. In her current role, as the (Regional) Director of Specialty Care Operations with Texas Health Physicians Group, she thrives in engaging specialists and practice care teams to optimize patient throughput, outcomes, safety, and optimal experience.

Priti believes in giving back to the community, and has been an active member of the ACHE of NTX chapter, most recently as the chair of the membership and networking committee. She also engages in several local community based organizations like Southlake Association of Gift & Talented and District Advisory Council with Carroll ISD. On the personal front, Priti enjoys staying active indoors and outdoors, reading, cooking, and spending time with her family.

Nick Kagal served as the Vice President of Marketing & Business Development and is now the leader of Client Success for SpinSci Technologies, a healthcare technology solutions provider focused on driving patient engagement. Nick previously led Customer Success for the Western United States for Premier Inc.’s Performance Services division supporting informatics solutions and services focused on cost, quality, and safety. He has over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry and has held leadership roles with several Dallas/Fort Worth health systems including Parkland Health & Hospital System, HCA, and HealthSouth.

Nick received his BA in Biology & Psychology from Austin College and an MBA from Texas A&M University. He is a Fellow in both the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and the Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and is a board member of DFW HIMSS. Nick lives in Plano, Texas, and is an avid sports fan, a weekend warrior athlete, a long-distance cyclist, and plays guitar & bass in the local cover band Sonic Dissonance.

John Phillips, FACHE, serves as president of Methodist Dallas Medical Center.

Since stepping into the role in 2018, Phillips has guided the hospital through accomplishments including recruitment of additional medical staff members to meet the growing needs of the hospitals service area, further development of the Da Vinci minimally invasive surgical program, established the MHS Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Program and numerous hospital expansion and renovation projects providing the hospital’s patients access to high-quality healthcare services. Under his direction, Methodist Dallas
has received accreditations as an American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Facility, Level I Trauma re-designation and Level III maternal and neonatal intensive care designation.

Phillips has been a member of the Methodist Health System family since 2011. Philips served seven years as president of Methodist Mansfield Medical Center, a 254-bed non-profit acute care hospital. Under his leadership in Mansfield, the hospital achieved Magnet designation for excellence in nursing and opened the $118-million Amon G. Carter Foundation Heart and Vascular Center as well as a new patient tower and $11.8-million professional office building.

Prior to joining Methodist, Phillips served as Chief Operating Officer at CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System in Texarkana and Chief Operating Officer at Davis Regional Medical Center in North Carolina.

Phillips earned a Bachelors in Physical Therapy from UT Southwestern, an MBA from Hardin-Simmons University and a Master of Health Care Administration from Trinity University. Outside of his role at Methodist Dallas, Phillips, his wife and two children enjoy family vacations, hiking and traveling.

Jackie Sifuentes, MBA, serves as Manager of Patient Capacity in Ambulatory Services at Children’s Health in Dallas, Texas. She works with ambulatory department leadership and frontline service representatives to improve and streamline patient appointment request scheduling, provider appointment utilization, patient experience, and increase patient access to ambulatory care.

Jackie is a graduate of the UT Southwestern Aspiring Leaders program, is EPIC Cadence and Lean Six Sigma certified. She earned her master’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Healthcare Administration from Texas Woman’s University in Dallas, Texas and a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Southern Methodist University also in Dallas, Texas.

Prior to joining Children’s Health, Mrs. Sifuentes was with UT Southwestern for over nine years and has an array of experience in the laboratory, clinical and business administrative setting. She started out exploring her Chemistry degree from SMU in a lab setting in the Touchstone Diabetes Lab. Later, she felt the need to build on her people skills which lead to becoming a Clinical Staff Assistant in the Internal Medicine Subspecialty Clinic. With that experience she then transitioned to the Central Registration role verifying insurance for outpatient clinics & learning more about managed care. Her Aspiring Leaders project led her to discover process improvement & project management skills within EPIC which she then further developed in her role as a scheduling capacity analyst II. She aims to leverage this experience in the ambulatory access strategy & capacity team growth as these two organization’s partner through the Joint Pediatric Enterprise.

Outside of work, she pours into the National Association of Latino Healthcare Executives (NALHE) DFW Chapter by serving as President, has served as president-elect, and spearheaded the founding of the National La Mesa Emerging Leaders mentorship program. She also serves on the Hispanic Alumni of SMU board. As a leader of several organizations, Ms. Sifuentes’s hope is to inspire other Latinos to pursue health care leadership positions to help provide access and representation in underserved communities.

Originally born in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua Mexico and raised in El Paso, Texas, nothing fills Jackie more than watching a West Texas sunrise.

Tanya Stinson is a Performance Improvement Engineer. She has a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Quality and Safety and is a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Tanya has 14 years of experience in leading large Lean Six Sigma transformational initiatives along with training, coaching, and certifying others (clinical and non-clinical) in leading performance, process, and quality improvement projects. She is extremely passionate about making positive changes that will improve outcomes for the consumer, employees, and leadership, as well as empower project leaders through coaching and mentoring that will help others to become successful and grow the PI culture. She has worked in various Quality and PI settings, inside and outside of healthcare. Tanya was awarded the 2020 ACHENTX Mentor of the Year award and recently started her own consulting firm, Leaning Towards Change, LLC, and is training, coaching, and mentoring students and leaders in getting their Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, Green Belt, and Black Belt certifications as well as work with organizations to reduce their defects, wastes, inefficiencies, and costs therefore improving quality, cost, efficiency, safety, and productivity.

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