North Texas Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives

ACHENTX Networking Blitz
2023-05-16 17:30 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | Texas Health Resources, 612 E Lamar Blvd., Arlington, TX, 76011
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 Networking & Membership Committees 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 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.
We will start with informal networking between 5:30-6pm, and at 6pm, we will dive into the more structured portion of the evening.
Our guest speaker for the evening will be Kris Sanders, MBA, FACHE – Senior Vice President, Northern Market Growth & Development, Children’s Health.
We are looking forward to meeting each of you and/or getting to know you better.
A light dinner will be offered.
Kris Sanders, MBA, FACHE, currently serves as Senior Vice President, Northern Market Growth and Development. Kris oversees the leadership and implementation of all Northern Market activity. She is responsible for helping to advance the clinical programs and partnerships, as well as helping cultivate relationships in the community – poising and preparing the Plano campus and Northern Market operations to care for many future generations.
Kris is a Children’s Health alum, having worked in Ambulatory Services with responsibilities in both Plano and Dallas. Kris has extensive experience in operations, process and performance improvement, business development, and people leadership, all within the health care industry. She previously worked at Envision Physician Services, which she joined as Vice President of Operations in March 2016. Other previous non-Children’s Health roles include opportunities at Methodist Health System and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Kris is a board-certified Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix and received a bachelor’s in health care administration from Texas State University. She also serves as a board member for ACHE North Texas, Live Oak Surgery Center, and Colin County Child Advocacy Center. Currently she is enrolled in Leadership Plano, Class 39. Kris is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated as well where she serves the community of Colin County.
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ACHE of North Texas BOG Exam Review
2023-05-19 08:30 - 16:30 | Texas Health Harris Methodist Hurst-Euless-Bedford, 1600 Hospital Parkway Bedford, TX 76022, Bedford, TX, 76022
Are you a healthcare management professional who wants to demonstrate your commitment to your healthcare career?

The ACHENTX Advancement Committee announces our 2023 Board of Governors Exam Review Course. This course is designed to support our members on the path to achieving FACHE designation. This program will provide the opportunity to learn from Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) on how to successfully pass the BOG exam and will include exam drills.

If you have been putting off beginning the process to achieve FACHE designation, we invite you to register today.

BOG Review Session (All Knowledge Areas)
Date and Time: Friday, May 19, 2023, from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Location: Texas Health Harris Methodist Hurst-Euless-Bedford
1600 Hospital Parkway
Bedford, TX 76022

Review of all BOG Knowledge Areas by SMEs
o Healthcare
o Management, Leadership and Business
o Finance
o Human Resources
o Quality
o Healthcare Technology and Information Management
o Governance and Organizational Structure
o Professionalism and Ethics
o Laws and Regulations

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Subject Matter Experts’ Bios:
Healthcare
Lee Ann Benson serves as the Senior Vice President of Maternal-Child Program Development for Children’s Health and UT Southwestern Joint Pediatric Enterprise (JPE). In this role, Lee Ann is responsible for leading strategic planning, development and execution of the Maternal-Child Program including Maternal Fetal Medicine, Neonatology and Obstetrics.
Prior to joining Children’s Health in 2022, Lee Ann served as the Vice President of the East Valley Market for Phoenix Children’s.
Lee Ann graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration. Lee Ann earned a Master of Science in Health Administration and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Lee Ann is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Outside of work, Lee Ann enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband Beau and 6-year old twins, Lynlee and Reid.
Laws & Regulation
Salma Khaleq is the Vice President of Commercial and Individual at Elevance Health, Inc. Salma’s passion for justice and equity work stems from her background as an immigrant to the United States and her experience seeing the harmful intersections of the immigration and criminal legal systems, along with her experience as a healthcare professional concerned about solutions to structural determinants of health.
Prior to joining Elevance Health, Salma was a former lawyer and held several Vice President roles at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois.
Health Information Technology (HIT)
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.
Finance
April Audain has been with Parkland Health for a decade. In her current role she is VP Finance. She oversees two teams: one that handles the financial administration of the Medical Services Agreement (MSA) between UT Southwestern and Parkland and the second Financial Planning & Analytics. She completed her undergraduate work at the University of Texas at Austin, where she majored in Biology and also holds a degree in Healthcare Administration from Texas Woman’s University. She has worked in healthcare finance for almost twenty years and has been an active member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) on various committees and a Fellow for over a decade.
Human Resources

Merridth D. Simpson is the Assistant Vice President of Human Resources for Cook Children’s Health Care System. Serving the community for more than 100 years, the non-profit is comprised of nine companies and over 9,000 employees. Merridth has system-wide responsibility and oversight for the Employee Relations, Talent Acquisition and Occupational Health divisions. She partners with the organization to provide consultative support and counsel, and aligns HR strategies with system needs to enhance business outcomes.
Merridth previously served as Director of Human Resources for Methodist Charlton Medical Center, part of the non-profit Methodist Health System. She oversaw programs and policies covering talent acquisition, compensation, benefits, employee relations, performance management, leadership development and compliance with federal and state employment laws. She also served on the health system’s Intentional Inclusion & Diversity (II&D) Council, and Best Southwest Workforce committee.
Prior to Methodist, Merridth served as the Diversity and Inclusion Manager at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center where she led the strategic development and implementation of the Institution’s diversity and inclusion strategy, impacting 15,000 faculty and staff. Merridth ensured that diversity, equity and inclusion were essential components of the Institution’s core missions of research, education, and patient care, and implemented the Institution’s first Business Resource Groups (BRGs).
Before joining UT Southwestern, Merridth held leadership roles spanning communications, human resources and diversity at Raytheon, an aerospace and defense contractor, in their Intelligence and Information Systems (IIS) business segment.
While at Raytheon Merridth handled workforce planning of nearly 3,000 engineers, scientists and technical professionals. She spearheaded community outreach efforts in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), grew the maturity of nine Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), and steered multiple diversity councils.
Merridth is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, Society for Diversity and National Association of Health Services Executives. She serves on the Greater Dallas Advisory Board of the Texas Diversity Council, and previously served on the Board of Management for the Lakewest YMCA of Dallas.

Governance & Organizational Structure
Marva Goins, PharmD, MBA, DPLA, FACHE is currently the Pharmacy Director for Texas Health Harris Methodist Southwest Fort Worth and Texas Health Hospital Clearfork in Fort Worth, TX. She has been in this role since December 2013. Marva’s career is marked by continuous growth and expansion of responsibilities. Prior to joining Texas Health Resources, she served in pharmacy leadership at Baylor Scott & White (formerly Baylor Healthcare System), and a several years as a clinical pharmacist in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Baylor University Medical Center Dallas, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Driscoll Childrens Hospital (Corpus Christi, TX), and staff Clinical Pharmacist at Doctors Regional Medical Center (Corpus Christi, TX) and William Beaumont Hospital (Royal Oak, Michigan).
Her commitment to the healthcare professions is demonstrated in her role as a Pharmacy Student Preceptor (Pharmacy Administration)for University of North Texas Health Science Center College of Pharmacy and University of Texas Austin. Marva is an active member of ACHE of North Texas serving on the Advancement Committee. As a Fellow of ACHE, she is honored to encourage and support the advancement of future ACHE fellow through her work on the Advancement Committee.
Marva earned a Doctor of Pharmacy from Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy, a Masters of Business Administration Healthcare Management New England College in New Hampshire, Diplomat of Pharmacy Leadership from American Society of Health System Pharmacist (ASHP) Foundation. She, also, completed an ASHP accredited Pharmacy Practice Residency at Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital in Milwaukee, WI.
Quality
Brenda Slade MSN, MHA, RN-BC, CPHQ
Director, Quality, Patient Safety & Risk Management
Texas Health Resources Harris Methodist Hospital – Hurst-Euless-Bedford
Brenda’s education includes a Master of Nursing and a Master of HealthCare Administration. As a registered nurse for 28 years her clinical practice focused on the care of acute care medical-surgical patients. She has held nursing leadership roles including Administrative Supervisor, Nurse Manager and Director of Nursing prior to transitioning into Quality, Patient Safety and Risk Management. Currently Brenda serves as the Director of Quality, Patient Safety and Risk Management for Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford where she supports the team charged with helping hospital leaders and staff in their ongoing quality and patient safety work as well as on their journey to high reliability. When not at work Brenda enjoys spending time with her family, dogs, and serving the community as a member of the board of directors for Taylor’s Dream, a non-profit supporting child living with childhood cancer.
Professionalism & Ethics
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.”
Leadership, Management & Business
Dr. Matt Richardson was appointed as the Director of Public Health for Denton County in the summer of 2014. Dr. Richardson previously served as Director with the City of Amarillo and Potter/Randall Counties for 9 years. Dr. Richardson has authored peer-reviewed publications, testified to the Texas Legislature regarding public health issues and continues to advocate for public health practice and resources for Denton County and the state of Texas.
He has a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Abilene Christian University and both Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Public Health from the University of North Texas. He is currently board certified and Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Dr. Richardson also serves as an accreditation site reviewer for public health programs in universities across the US.
Matt lives in Argyle with his wife of 27 years and their two daughters.

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Post-Legislative Session Update & Healthcare Impact to North Texas
2023-06-20 18:00 - 20:00 | Moody Outpatient Center at Parkland Hospital, 5151 Maple Avenue, Dallas, TX, 75235, United States
This discussion will focus on the most recent Texas legislative session and its impact on the health care community in North Texas. The panel will be comprised of healthcare policy experts in our region.

Panelists:

Dustin Anthamatten-Dominguez
Vice President of Operations, Corporate
Methodist Health System

Dan Blizzard
Vice President, Strategic Priorities
Methodist Health System

John Hawkins
President & Chief Executive Officer
Texas Hospital Association

Edna Z. Ruano
Public Policy Advisor
Parkland Health & Hospital System

Richard K. Scotch
Professor of Sociology and Public Policy & Political Economy
University of Texas at Dallas

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Speakers’ Bios:

Dustin Anthamatten-Dominguez currently serves as the Vice President of Operations, Corporate for Methodist Health System, a 12, soon to be 13-hospital health system serving the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Dustin previously served as Methodist Charlton Medical Center’s Vice President of Finance/CFO (2014), Vice President of Operations/COO (2015), and in a dual role of Vice President of Operations and Finance/COO & CFO (2021).

In addition to his current role, Dustin serves on several boards of directors including Methodist Transitional Care Center, Methodist Rehabilitation Hospital, Texas Oncology & Methodist Cancer Centers, the American College of Health Care Executives of North Texas (ACHENTX), the North Texas Healthcare Laundry Cooperative, Mammogram Poster Girls, Girls, Inc., and Collin County College. He was the 2021 President of ACHENTX and a professor for New York University’s (NYU) Masters in Healthcare in Administration (MHA) program.

Recently he was recognized as 2022’s 40 under 40 by the Dallas Business Journal, selected for the Leadership Dallas Class of 2021 by the Dallas Regional Chamber, recognized as 2020’s Young Healthcare Executive of the Year by the Dallas-Ft. Worth Hospital Council, awarded both 2019’s Early Careerist of the Year and Mentor of the Year by the ACHENTX, and was selected for the Leadership Southwest Class of 2017.

Prior to his roles at MHS, Dustin began his career at Fidelity Investments, holding roles as an investment advisor, financial analyst, and was also as an adjunct instructor of economics at both the high school and undergraduate levels. He transitioned to healthcare in 2012 at UT Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW) and operated in progressive roles until he was the Manager of the Office of Financial and Capital Planning, where he developed large projects which supported the growth of UTSW.

Dustin holds a Bachelors in Business Administration, a Bachelor of Science in Economics, a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA), and a Master’s of Arts in Economics from the University of Texas at Arlington. In addition, he holds a graduate certificate in advanced technical accounting, is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), and is a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt (LSSYB).

Dan Blizzard is an accomplished corporate executive with broad experience advancing organizational goals across a range of public, private and non-profit organizations. Recognized for his business acumen, emotional intelligence, mental agility and ethical standards, he has been a valued contributor to numerous leadership teams in building corporate value, enhancing operational performance, and strengthening community relations.

Dan began his career in materials management and logistics, first at Houston Lighting and Power Company and then with assignments in Dallas and the U.K. for Integral Corporation, a cable-in-conduit manufacturing company. After establishing the foundation of his career in operations and logistics with these companies, he obtained an MBA in production operations management from the University of North Texas.

While attending graduate school, he was recruited to join Span Instruments in Plano, Texas, a manufacturer of instrumentation devices, as vice president of materials. There he led a team of more than 60 in overseeing procurement, inventory management, production planning, logistics HR and customer service.

In 1995 Dan was recruited as director of supply chain management by PrimeCo Personal Communications in Westlake, Texas, a startup wireless venture of Bell Atlantic, NYNEX, US West and Air Touch Communications. There he spent the next four years creating teams, systems and processes to support the rapid launch of the business.

With his background and track record in building operational capability, he was recruited in 1999 to Belo Corp. in Dallas, a publicly-traded media company, to manage a variety of operational functions as well as key corporate initiatives, including leading the company’s increasingly important civic mission to revitalize downtown Dallas. Over the following nine years Dan served in multiple high profile roles leading government relations, the company’s extensive real estate portfolio, strengthening internal operations and affirming Belo’s legacy as a civic leader and champion for urban planning.

In 2008, as Belo’s core business required increased focus in the face of challenging economic and market conditions, Dan was made senior vice president and a member of the Management Committee to help lead the spinoff of the company’s $700M publishing division. In 2009 he was elevated to board secretary and assistant treasurer, charged with facilitating communication among senior management, board members and shareholders, as well as managing a variety of operational and corporate financial functions.

In 2015, Dan joined Methodist Health System in Dallas as vice president strategic priorities and is responsible for government relations and real estate and he serves on several joint venture partnership boards.

In addition to his MBA, Dan holds a BSBA in management from Oklahoma State University. He previously served on numerous Civic boards and advisory committees in support of revitalizing downtown Dallas. Dan and his wife, Helaine, are empty nesters and enjoy living in uptown Dallas.

John M. Hawkins took the helm as president and chief executive officer of the Texas Hospital Association on Jan. 1, 2022. He is the organization’s sixth CEO since its inception in 1930. A longtime advocacy veteran, Hawkins has more than 35 years of experience in legislative, leadership and policy circles and has deep knowledge of health care and hospital funding issues. As CEO, he represents the Texas hospital industry locally and nationally and helps ensure hospitals have the resources they need to deliver the highest quality health care to all Texans.

Over the years, Hawkins has fostered critical relationships among business, consumer and medical communities and continues to position THA as a thought leader and single, powerful voice for Texas hospitals.

Prior to being named CEO, Hawkins served as THA’s senior vice president of advocacy and public policy since 2004. With a long tenure at the association, his team consistently secured important resources for Texas health care, including hospital Medicaid rates, funding for trauma and behavioral health services, funding for workforce training and protections for the state’s critical safety net Medicaid supplemental payment programs. Hawkins’ team also was an integral force during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to secure staffing, supplies, vaccines and flexibilities for hospitals to keep patients safe.

Before to joining THA, Hawkins had a key role in streamlining state agencies at the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, where he managed teams of analysts and testified on issues for the commission. He also gained early experience as a legislative staffer in the Texas House of Representatives and as a legislative liaison at the Texas Department of Information Resources.

In 2020, Hawkins completed a six-month immersive hospital residency program at Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest, where he gained hands-on hospital operations experience, shadowing leadership, interacting with staff and participating in governing board activities.

Hawkins graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in government. He is married to Cami Hawkins, CEO of Marathon Kids, and they have two children, Madi and Jack.

Edna Z. Ruano, a first-generation American, is a government relations and communications executive whose career spans the federal and county governments, nonprofits, and corporate. After serving in Washington, DC, she continued her public service in her hometown, Dallas, at Parkland Health, one of the largest public hospital systems in the country which serves the most vulnerable in the community to the U.S. President when in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. In her government relations role, she advocates on legislative and regulatory initiatives impacting Parkland and the patients it serves at the county, state, and federal government levels. During her tenure in the healthcare industry, she experienced a global pandemic and public health emergency, COVID-19, and saw how it transformed hospital operations, shaped employees’ resiliency, and informed public policy.

In the nation’s capital, she served in President Barack Obama’s administration as a national security appointee at the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. She served in communications leadership roles covering global public health, immigration benefits, and immigration enforcement.

In the nonprofit arena at Carter BloodCare, the largest not-for-profit community blood center in Texas, and the New America Alliance, a national organization comprised of prominent Latino business leaders committed to economic empowerment and philanthropy, she used her communications expertise to persuade and influence – from changing behaviors and perceptions to positioning thought leaders among influential, high-profile audiences.

As the first bilingual corporate spokesperson for Southwest Airlines, a Fortune 200 company, she developed and led the first multicultural public relations efforts and infrastructure to increase brand visibility among Hispanic consumers, along with growing its presence among African American and Asian audiences. Working at the airline pre- and post-9/11, she experienced firsthand the impact national security had on the industry.

In 2003, Edna made a bold and calculated career move to focus on writing and communications – a life-long passion and source of many recognitions and accolades. Keenly aware of the growing influence and power of the Hispanic community and media, she chose to lead in a completely new arena – communications – after first cutting her teeth in the airline’s audit department. Prior to her career transition, she began her financial career at Deloitte, one of the nation’s “Big Four” leading professional services firms.

Edna graduated magna cum laude and honors in business from Southern Methodist University. She is a former Certified Public Accountant. Edna is proud to be bicultural and bilingual.

Richard K. Scotch is Professor of Sociology and Public Policy & Political Economy at the University of Texas at Dallas. His teaching includes courses on medical sociology, public health, social stratification, and social and health policy, while his research focuses on a variety of social policy topics related to disability, health, and education.

Dr. Scotch received his B.A. with honors from the University of Chicago in 1973 and his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in sociology from Harvard University in 1975 and 1982 respectively. Prior to joining the UTD faculty in 1983, Dr. Scotch worked on the evaluation staff of the Virginia Division for Children and as an analyst with the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. In 1982-1983, Dr. Scotch served as a Congressional Science Fellow in the office of U.S. Representative Paul Simon (D-Ill).

Dr. Scotch is the author of several books and numerous articles and monographs on social policy reform and social movements in disability, health care, education, and human services including. From Good Will to Civil Rights, Disability and Community, Disability Protests: Contentious Politics 1970-1999. His 2020 book, coauthored with Pam Block and Allison Carey, is Allies and Obstacles: Disability Activism and Parents of Children with Disabilities; the book received “best book” awards from the North Central Sociological Association and the Section on Disability in Society of the American Sociological Association. His current research projects include a follow-up edited volume of narratives by activist parents of children with disabilities, interviews with political candidates with disabilities, and a five year study with Dohyeong Kim that examines social and community barriers experienced by burn injury survivors.

Dr. Scotch serves as a reviewer for numerous professional journals, university presses, private foundations, and government agencies. He has been active in the local health and human service community in North Texas for four decades, working with agencies that include the North Texas Behavioral Health Authority, Collin County, Dallas County, the Dallas Healthy Start Initiative, the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, Educational First Steps, the Texas Pride Impact Funds, and Parkland Health and Hospital System.

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Community Event: Feed the City Rockwall
2023-07-15 08:30 - 10:30 | On the Border, 747 I-30 Frontage Rd, Rockwall, TX, 75087
ACHENTX members, friends and families come out and join us as we make sandwiches for people in need.
Date: Saturday, July 15
Time: 8:30-10:30am
Location: Feed the City Rockwall/On the Border
747 I-30 Frontage Rd
Rockwall, TX 75087
Who can attend? Anyone! This is a fun event atmosphere for all ages.
What to wear? The color orange represents “Hunger Awareness,” otherwise closed-toes shoes required.
What to bring? We recommend each person attending bring enough supplies for 25-30 sandwiches

1 loaf sliced bread (prefer wheat)
1 package deli meat (turkey, chicken, ham) nothing from a deli counter
1 packaged pre-sliced cheese
1 family size bag potato chips
1 bag tangerines
1 box Ziploc sandwich bags

Donations are welcome! Whether or not you are able to attend, if you would like to make a donation to Feed the City, you may do so by clicking on Make a Donation button on the Eventbrite tickets page.
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WHAT IS FEED THE CITY?
The first Feed The City happened in Dallas, Texas on Saturday, January 10, 2015. It was created after TangoTab broke the Guinness World Record for the Most People Making Sandwiches Simultaneously. Many participants wanted to do something similar on a regular basis and months following the event… Feed The City was launched.

Feed The City is a monthly volunteer opportunity where individuals come together at a local venue to make lunches for people in need. The lunches consist of sandwiches, chips, and fruit. Feed The City events are open to all.

There have been nearly 1,000 Feed The City events that have welcomed over 75,000 volunteers in 5 countries, 11 states, and 53 cities that have provided over 3 MILLION meals to people in need. The event is led and hosted by volunteers who are dedicated to the fight against hunger. Companies, religious groups, schools, organizations have also hosted pop-up events in their communities.

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Better Together - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Mixer
2023-07-20 17:30 - 20:00 | CHRISTUS Health, 919 Hidden Ridge, Irving, TX, 75038
The North Texas chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHENTX) works closely with its diverse partner groups to advance executive diversity. To recognize this essential collaboration, ACHE North Texas’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee has coordinated this event with local chapters of healthcare organizations with one mission—we are better together. The National Association for Latino Healthcare Executives (NALHE), the National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE), Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS), North Texas Association for Healthcare Quality (NTAHQ), and Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) along with ACHENTX and it’s Asian Healthcare Leaders Community of North Texas (AHLC) and Women’s Healthcare Executives’ Network (WHEN), will co-host a reception for members of these organizations and others who are interested in learning more about the individual and collective work of these groups.

Keynote Presentation by:

Richard G. Greenhill, DHA, CPHQ, HACP-CMS, PMP, FACHE is an internationally recognized healthcare quality leader and Director of the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management Program in the School of Health Professions at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. His career spans more than 30 years beginning in clinical and anatomic laboratory medicine to private sector multi-sectoral senior leadership [defense/not-for-profit/for-profit/federal/academia]. He honorably retired from the U.S. Navy after a robust career serving around the globe in support of Navy and Military Medicine.

Dr. Greenhill is American College of Healthcare Executives Faculty, board certified in healthcare management and Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE). He is a Content Expert for the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ), an International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQua) Expert for patient safety and quality improvement, and Deputy Editor of the International Journal for Quality in Healthcare (IJCOMS), Communications. Additionally, he serves as an expert with the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterrean Regional Office, Cairo Egypt for Hospital Resilience and Disaster Preparedness.

He has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, textbooks, and publications to advance healthcare delivery both nationally and globally. He holds several industry and board certifications that highlight his commitment to professional excellence and life-long learning. His current research includes health equity implementation frameworks, high-reliability culture for patient safety, as well as machine learning and artificial intelligence integration into healthcare delivery operations.
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AHLCNTX:
The Asian Healthcare Leaders Community of NTX aims to increase representation of Asian-Americans in healthcare leadership in various healthcare settings and at all career stages. The AHLCNTX community addresses this mission through targeted education, networking, casual conversations, publications, social media spotlights and community visibility initiatives designed to provide opportunities for personal and professional growth.

HFMA:
HFMA is the nation’s leading membership organization for healthcare financial management executives and leaders. More than 34,000 members, ranging from CFOs to controllers to accountants consider HFMA a respected thought leader on top trends and issues facing the healthcare industry. HFMA members can be found in all areas of the healthcare system including hospitals, managed care organizations, physician practices, accounting firms and insurance companies.

HIMSS:
Healthcare Information Management Systems Society is a professional organization for healthcare and IT professionals providing leadership, professional development, education, and networking opportunities. The Mission of HIMSS is to reform the global health ecosystem through the power of information and technology.

NALHE:
The National Association of Latino Healthcare Executives is a national organization led by Latino/Latina executive leaders of U.S. hospitals and healthcare organizations and experts in the fields of health care policy and practice. NALHE was founded in 2005 to increase senior-level Latino/Latina representation in hospitals and health systems in the United States. Our goal is to create a future workforce of highly talented Latino/Latina healthcare executives who can meet the challenge of delivering and improving healthcare in our diverse communities.

NAHSE:
The National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE) is a non-profit association of Black health care executives founded in 1968 for the purpose of promoting the advancement and development of Black health care leaders, and elevating the quality of health care services rendered to minority and underserved communities. NAHSE’s purpose is to ensure greater participation of minority groups in the health field. Its basic objective is to develop and maintain a strong viable national body to effectively have input in the national health care delivery system.

NTAHQ:
The North Texas Association for Healthcare Quality (NTAHQ) is committed to excellence in healthcare through developing and promoting professional expertise in the art and science of healthcare quality. Additionally, NTAHQ provides opportunity for collaboration with area colleagues.

WHEN:
Our ACHE of North Texas Women’s Healthcare Executives’ Network (WHEN) started in 2018 – offering educational and networking opportunities specifically geared toward women working in and around the healthcare industry. These programs include our popular annual Women’s Conferences and annual Women’s Breakfasts – and other periodic gatherings spread throughout the year as well.
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Bubbles and Baseball
2023-07-21 19:05 - 22:05 | Globe Life Field, Globe Life Field 734 Stadium Drive, Arlington, TX, 76011
This event is bring brought to by ACHENTX’s WHEN & our host, SBL Architecture.

This event offers an opportunity to network with women in various stages of leadership, highlighting the accomplishments of our wonderful female leaders in healthcare, and also promoting successful businesswomen in our own backyard. The mixer is also open to all, helping everyone gain experience and connections!

It will be the Texas Rangers versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. The event will be taking place in the private Globe Life Field suite of SBL Architecture. Space is limited so register early!

Thanks to SBL Architecture for their gracious hospitality in hosting this event!

Register Here

Managing for Morale—Effective Management Techniques to Retain Your Staff
2023-07-27 15:00 - 17:00 | Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Waxahachie, 2400 N Interstate 35E, Waxahachie, TX, 75165
This panel has been approved for 1.5 ACHE Face-to-Face Credits.
Join us for this special event in Waxahachie, focusing on something all leaders deal with – how to effectively manage the morale of your team and retain your staff.

Agenda:
3-3:30pm – Check-In & Networking
3:30-5pm – Panel Presentation
Moderator:
Will Turner, FACHE
President
Baylor Scott & White Health Waxahachie
Panelists:
Dr. DeLancey Johnson, FACHE
Senior Vice President and Associate Chief Talent Officer
Parkland Health
Rachel Parscale
Director for HR Operations
Tenet Health
Kevin Stevenson, DHA, MBA, FACHE
Director of Strategic Operations
Ascension Providence

A special thanks to Will Turner and Baylor Scott & White Health Waxahachie for hosting this event!

Register Here
Speakers’ Bios:

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 implementation 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).
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.

Rachel Parscale is an HR professional with nearly 20 years of healthcare experience that spans across various service lines.
She considers herself to be a ‘multipotentialite’ given her wide variety of career experience in healthcare spanning across service lines ranging from transplant, IT, PMO, and HR. These various career opportunities have been key in equipping her to becoming skilled in building relationships, consensus and strategic partnerships needed to move large-scale and challenging initiatives forward.
She currently works for Tenet Health. A for-profit multinational healthcare services company based in Dallas, Texas. Tenet Health operates 65 hospitals and over 450 healthcare facilities through its brands, subsidiaries, joint ventures, and partnerships, including United Surgical Partners International. Tenet Health has over 110K employees.
Rachel’s current role at Tenet is the system director for HR operations, which encompasses the employee lifecycle from onboarding to separation. HR operations has many facets as a COE within HR including, but not limited to, policy and procedures, compliance, HR operations system support, companywide movement, and educational assistance.
2022 was one of Rachel’s biggest career achievements. She onboarded 2 entirely new teams: 8 operations analysts at headquarters and 26 level 1-2 support team members in our global business center in the Philippines. All were trained within a matter of months in preparation for one of the largest HR system implementations the organization has seen.
During the height of covid, Rachel served as the HR Director at BSWMC Sunnyvale. One of the top challenges she faced at this time was staffing. Rachel implemented multiple initiatives to keep staff and leaders engaged, encouraged, and supported throughout some of the most challenging times in our history of healthcare. A couple of those initiatives included implementing a professional development program for the facility leadership team and launching ‘you asked, we listened’ campaign, which allowed staff to share what would make their workday better and implementing those initiatives at the facility.
In 2019, Rachel served as a division HR leader for CHI St. Luke’s, which is part of CommonSpirit Health. As covid swept through our nation, Rachel launched multiple division wide initiatives, such as staffing pools, implementing employee relief fund initiatives, setting up organized hotel housing for staff, so they could keep their families safe as well as organizing childcare at daycares for families who had to work, but had no one to keep their children.
Rachel has always had a calling for healthcare and helping others, but one of her strongest passions is utilizing her career experience for developing talent, helping individuals tap into key strengths, and growing their leadership skills in effort to equip them for success in their next career opportunity.

Dr. Kevin W. Stevenson, FACHE serves as the Director of Strategic Operations for Ascension Providence in Waco, where he oversees strategic development, service lines and numerous ancillary departments. He has served in various healthcare leadership roles throughout his 34 year career in five states. A native of Dallas, he earned a BBA and MBA from Baylor University and a Doctorate in Healthcare Administration from the Virginia University of Lynchburg.
Kevin earned his FACHE in 2001 and serves as the Past President of the ACHE of Central Texas Chapter, is a member of the Regent’s Advisory Council for Central and South Texas and served as the President of the ACHE-North Texas Chapter in 2018. Kevin was awarded the ACHE’s Exemplary Service Award in 2020 and the ACHE for Central and South Texas Regent’s Senior-Level Healthcare Executive Award in 2022.
Kevin serves on the board of directors for the Waco Rotary Club, Leadership Waco Alumni Association and Waco Cattle Barons Ball, is a member of the City of Waco Zoning Board of Adjustment, as President of the Alumni and Volunteer Corporation for the Texas Rho Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, on the governance committee of the Texas EMS, Trauma & Acute Care Foundation, and co-chaired this year’s Waco American Heart Association Go Red for Women event with his wife, Michelle.
Kevin is the host of the ‘I Don’t Care with Dr. Kevin Stevenson’ podcast where he talks about healthcare and leadership with guests from across the globe, is a rabid Baylor sports fan and tailgater, and enjoys traveling, smoking a variety of meats and playing golf. He and Michelle have three cats, two daughters and one son-in-law.
Will Turner has been the president of Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Waxahachie since 2018. Will first joined the Baylor Scott & White family in 2012 serving in various leadership roles in Waco and Carrollton before joining the Waxahachie team. He has held a number of leadership positions across the enterprise, including oversight of both hospital and clinic operations.
He holds an MBA in healthcare administration from Baylor University, as well as an MBA in management and entrepreneurship and a Bachelor of Arts in biochemistry from Texas Tech University. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and is a member of the Texas Hospital Association.
Will is honored to serve on a number of community boards including the Waxahachie Chamber, Red Oak Chamber, DFW Hospital Council, and the Meals on Wheels of North Central

Please note this is a repeat of the same topic offered in north Dallas in April. All are welcome to attend this new panel in Waxahachie,
but ACHE national only allows Face-to-Face credits for one of these sessions.

Register Here

Breakfast with the EVP & COO - Edmundo Castañeda, FACHE
2023-08-01 07:30 - 09:00 | Parkland Hospital, 5200 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, 75235
Be sure to join us for the next in our popular Breakfast Event series – Edmundo Castañeda, FACHE, EVP & COO, Parkland Health.

Edmundo Castañeda, FACHE, was named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Parkland Health in January 2022. Edmundo directs all health services delivery operations while developing and implementing short-term tactics within long term strategies that provide high quality and cost effective health care to Parkland patients and which support the objectives and relationships of a teaching hospital.
He comes to Parkland with more than 20 years of experience in healthcare leadership, administration and operations, serving as the CEO of hospitals with increasing scope and complexity in the Triad, Tenet, and Dignity Health systems since 2005.
He most recently worked for Dignity Health, part of CommonSpirit Health, in the greater Sacramento area. There he served as President of Mercy General Hospital since 2012 and also Woodland Memorial Hospital since 2020. During his tenure with Dignity Health, he collaborated with approximately 1,000 active staff physicians to help the system sustain the market leading position in cardiovascular services, grow acute rehab services and operate two physician joint-ventured outpatient centers. He also oversaw a 112-unit assisted living facility.
Edmundo, who is fluent in Spanish, is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. He earned his Master of Healthcare Administration from Texas State University, San Marcos, TX; and his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Trinity University in San Antonio.

Register Here

Boba with the A(HLC) Tea-m
2023-08-02 17:30 - 19:30 | Dingtea Arlington, 2425 Southeast Green Oaks Boulevard, #Ste 115, Arlington, TX, 76018
Let’s have a sip at the AHLC table again! Register for our upcoming boba social!

Your $5 registration fee will include your complimentary boba onsite.
Join the AHLC (Asian Healthcare Leaders Community) of North Texas for our second casual fun hour of networking and enjoying each others’ company.

Register Here

After Hours Rangers Game - Networking Event
2023-08-14 19:00 - 22:00 | Globe Life Field, Globe Life Field 734 Stadium Drive, Arlington, TX, 76011
Join us for a casual evening at the ballpark and enjoy a fantastic view of the game from the suite of our host, SBL Architecture, Inc., while the Rangers take on the Los Angeles Angels.
Foods and beverages will be served.
The suite will be open to guests at 6:30 PM, and first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.
SPACE IS VERY LIMITED AND AVAILABLE ON A FIRST COME/FIRST SERVED BASIS, SO REGISTER TODAY!!!

A big thanks to SBL Architecture for their ongoing support of ACHENTX and for hosting this event for us!

SBL Architecture, Inc. is a healthcare architectural, interior design and planning/consulting firm located in Arlington, Texas. Since 1994, SBL has worked on thousands of projects — with extensive experience in new construction, expansion, master planning and rehabilitation of older healthcare facilities. Healthcare design is their focus and their passion.

Register Here

AHLC Pop-Up Lunch at Asian Mint
2023-08-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Asian Mint, 11617 North Central Expressway #Suite 135, Dallas, TX, 75243
You are invited to come share your lunch hour with Asian Healthcare Leaders to build community, swap stories and learn something new about diverse representation in healthcare leadership! We only have 10 spots at this location, so please be sure to reserve your seat at this community table!
Please note: Lunch will be user pay.
There are two AHLC lunches taking place in the Metroplex at this same time. By registering for this event, you will be signing up to go to Asian Mint location in Dallas at 75 and Forest Lane.
Asian Mint
11617 N Central Expressway, Unit 135
Dallas, TX 75243

The conversation leaders at this location will be:
Aditi Mulgaonkar
Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Archana Mahimkar
Senior Director Clinical Quality Improvement & Safety
Walgreens Health
Sejal Patel
Director of Operations
US Anesthesia Partners

Register Here

Conversation Leaders’ Bios:

Archana Mahimkar, Senior Director Clinical Quality Improvement & Safety, Walgreens Health
As the Senior Director for Quality, Patient Experience & Safety, Archana 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.

Aditi Mulgaonkar is an Assistant Professor in the department of Radiology at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX since September 2022. She earned her doctorate (PhD) in August 2012 in the field of Pharmaceutical Sciences from Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Pharmacy, Richmond, VA. Her doctoral research was focused on drug metabolism/transporters mediated drug interactions and pharmacokinetics. After graduation she pursued a postdoctoral Oakridge Institute for Science and education (ORISE) fellowship from 2012-2013 with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in collaboration with the Drug Interaction database® (DIDB) at University of Washington, Seattle, WA. The year-long fellowship included an evaluation of the new drug applications approved by FDA in 2012 with respect to drug-transporter/enzyme-mediated drug interactions, and changes in drug pharmacokinetics with organ (kidney/liver) impairment. With her specific expertise in drug transporters and pharmacokinetics she continued to work through 2014 with the DIDB team for the curation and analysis of reported clinically relevant drug transporter based drug-drug interactions.
Her interest towards pursuing research in molecular imaging technologies led her to join Dr. Xiankai Sun’s team in the Department of Radiology at UTSW as a postdoctoral researcher in July 2014. Since then, she has progressed in her career at UTSW from a trainee to being a research faculty since 2019. Her research interests include design of efficient radiolabeled probes based on macro-molecules such as metal-based nanoparticles, and monoclonal antibodies for imaging with nuclear medicine modalities such as positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Her research has supported development of efficient translational strategies for diagnosis and/or treatment of cancers and other disease conditions. With her previous experience in pharmacological science, she has advanced her expertise in the rapidly emerging fields of infection imaging, inflammation imaging, and immunological PET imaging. Her research experience spanning over a decade has resulted in over 20 publications in highly reputed scientific journals, > 17 scientific poster presentations at well-recognized international conferences, and > 930 citations. Through her tenure as an academician, Aditi has mentored > 9 student trainees, 4 research staff, and trained other junior peers for conducting research.
Aditi is also the Assistant Regulatory Affairs Officer in the Cyclotron and Radiochemistry Program (CRP) at UTSW since 2016. In this role she actively assists in managing the CRP’s quality assurance operations to facilitate production of radiotracers for clinical trials and applications, perform regulatory filings, and maintain facility compliance.
Through her career, Aditi has developed a combination of skills in diverse fields including pharmaceutical sciences, radiological sciences, and regulatory affairs, all converging towards achievement of improved patient outcomes. She further wishes to continue her contribution towards improvement in disease management by engaging in the cutting-edge field of imaging science.

Sejal Patel is an exceptionally skilled healthcare professional who brings a wealth of expertise in healthcare administration. With a master’s degree in health administration and certifications in Lean Six Sigma (LSSYB) and Medical Technology (MT-ASCP), she possesses a comprehensive understanding of process improvement methodologies and clinical laboratory operations. Throughout her career, she has held prominent positions in various healthcare organizations, including non-profit Level I trauma center, for-profit acute care hospital, cancer center, and physician-owned, physician-led, and physician co-managed healthcare organizations. In these roles, she has successfully streamlined operational processes, optimized resource utilization, and implemented robust quality management systems. Patel’s proficiency in healthcare administration, coupled with her analytical mindset and unwavering dedication to excellence, has made her an invaluable asset in driving operational efficiencies and achieving exceptional patient care outcomes.

Register Here

AHLC Pop-Up Lunch at Malai Kitchen
2023-08-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Malai Kitchen, 1161 E Southlake Blvd #220, Southlake, TX, 76092
You are invited to come share your lunch hour with Asian Healthcare Leaders to build community, swap stories and learn something new about diverse representation in healthcare leadership! We only have 10 spots at this location, so please be sure to reserve your seat at this community table!
Please note: Lunch will be user pay.
There are two AHLC lunches taking place in the Metroplex at this same time. By registering for this event, you will be signing up to go to Malai Kitchen in Southlake.

Malai Kitchen
1161 E Southlake Blvd #220
Southlake TX 76092

The conversation leaders at this location will be:
Neha Kunte
CEO
MNK Infotech, Inc.
Vanessa Lee
Clinical Program Consultant
UnitedHealthcare
Angela Vincent Michael, FACHE
Director, Performance Improvement
Methodist Health System
Register Here
Conversation Leaders’ Bios:

Neha Kunte is the owner of MNK Infotech, Inc. an award-winning IT company in the Dallas Ft-Worth region. She is an accomplished executive and international thought leader with a proven ability to create, develop and deploy new sales/ marketing strategies that can change a company’s overall business and financial objectives.
As a local community leader, she is an advocate for small business success and has demonstrated her passion by leading local area organizations on small business policy and economic development strategies. She has been appointed to numerous state/local civic boards and commissions to further the advancement of minority community representation on health care, land use and women’s issues. Neha has led numerous international trade delegations for local Asian American businesses to Asia and India where she applied her multilingual skills and diaspora commercial diplomacy expertise for U.S. based small businesses to be successful in emerging Asian countries.
For her efforts she has received local and regional awards on her community leadership and passion for diversity and inclusion. In 2020, Neha served as the Chairwoman for the Asian Chamber of Texas and has led the transformation for the state’s largest Asian American Chamber of Commerce to meet the demands of a 21st century global economy. She is a proud wife, mother of two and tries to keep a healthy work life balance by enjoying Indian Classical dance and being a Henna Artist.
She holds bachelor’s degree in financial accounting from Mumbai University and speaks 6 languages, English, Hindi, Japanese, Marathi, Gujrati and Sanskrit.

Vanessa Lee joined UnitedHealthcare in December 2022 as a Clinical Program Consultant working in prior authorization strategy across all lines of business.
She is a collaborative, proactive leader with experience in Strategy and Business Development in large and small health systems as well as large insurers. Her most recent role was as a Program Manager in Corporate Strategy with CHRISTUS Health. 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 various roles in the North Texas Chapter of ACHE. 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.

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. Her passion for healthcare improvement is cemented firmly in her experience as the advocate and care navigator for her mom (oncology) and daughter (prematurity). As a young millennial female healthcare leader, whose ethnicity and origin have ties to India, Nigeria, Canada, and America, Angela also believes in gently and peacefully influencing an inclusive and equitable culture for all.
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. She thrives on connecting healthcare leaders via her engagement with the Asian Healthcare Leaders Community NTX, ACHENTX Education Committee, and the DFWHC Performance Improvement committee.
Angela’s world revolves around her family, her husband, their 11 year old daughter, 8 year old son and two dogs, Spot and Snow! Her all-time favorite quote is by Dr. Nelson Mandela, “I never fail. I am either winning or learning”.

Register Here

Third Quarter ACHENTX Education Event
2023-08-24 15:00 - 19:00 | Methodist Mansfield Medical Center, 2700 E Broad Street, Mansfield, TX, 76063
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: Women Leaders and Gender Parity in Healthcare Leadership
5-5:30pm – Networking Break
5:30-7pm – Panel 2: The Role of Data and Advanced Analytics in Transforming Healthcare
Thanks to Methodist Mansfield for hosting this event!

Register Here

Panel 1: Women Leaders and Gender Parity in Healthcare Leadership
Moderator:
Felixia Colón, FACHE
Senior Vice President
SCP Health
ACHENTX President

Panelists:
Crystal Brown
Vice President of Operations
Methodist Mansfield Medical Center
Lenetra King
Chief Executive Officer
Watch Me EXCEL®
Cassandra Self
Program Director, Clinical Supply Services
Texas Health Resources
Lorie Thibodeaux
President and Owner
Lorie Thibodeaux LLC

Panel 2: The Role of Data and Advanced Analytics in Transforming Healthcare
Moderator:
Nayan Patel
Manging Director, IT Strategy
Avis Advisors
Panelists:
Vikram Bollu
AVP Planning & Data Mgmt, Strategic Planning
Medical City Healthcare
Kelly Faulkner
System Dir, Health Outcomes & Analytics
Christus Health
John Vo
System Dir, Clinical Data Management
Methodist Health System
Register Here

Speakers Bios:

Vikram Bollu, FACHE has more than a decade of experience in the provider analytics space and is passionate about using (data & technology) in conjunction with (people & processes) to achieve clinical, financial, operational efficiencies and an elevated care experience. Vikram recently relocated to Dallas from Nashville, TN and is the AVP of Strategic Planning and Data Management at Medical City Healthcare’s division office.
Vikram began his career at the Corporate office of HCA Healthcare (Nashville, TN) starting in the Clinical Services Group where he administered the quality systems for the company’s ASCs & Physician practices along with supporting hospital Clinical quality and performance measures. In his next role with the Capital Deployment Group, he supported the Capital planning and strategy for projects >$5M across the 180+ hospital enterprise for an approximate $4B annual spend.
Vikram has a bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering, graduate degrees in Information systems management (MSBA) and Health administration (MHA) from the University of Memphis and is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB). He is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and most recently served as the President of the ACHE Middle Tennessee chapter. Other volunteer experience includes serving on the Board of Examiners for Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence (Baldrige Excellence framework) and Second Harvest food bank in middle TN. Vikram is married with two daughters and enjoys family activities and volunteering in the community.

Crystal Brown is a native of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. 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 & 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 and serves on the Women Healthcare Executives Network Committee, National Association of Health Services Executives, and the Girls Scouts of Northeast Texas serving on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council Committee.
Crystal has received numerous awards for her transformational leadership style and is passionate about teaching others what she has learned. She often volunteers at local events, conferences, and colleges to donate her time and expertise to the growth & development of girls and women.

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). Currently, she serves as President of for the North Texas Chapter of ACHE. She has also served as an elected Board position with ACHENTX and as ACHENTX’s Vice-Chair for the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

Kelly Faulkner is a strategic healthcare outcomes and analytics leader with a passion for shaping
the future of healthcare. The convergence of technology, analytics, social connectivity, and consumer awareness is bringing about new possibilities for user experience with data-driven inferences at the forefront of both consumer and provider innovations! Kelly revels in thinking of ways to create value from opportunities such as wearables, precision medicine, and the Internet of Things (IOT) built on a solid foundation of data integrity, governance, and communication.

Kelly started as a math and science enthusiast first delving into engineering followed by experimental psychology, initially working with TAIEP rats – studying effects similar to Multiple Sclerosis. While it was fun feeding them Fruit Loops, subjecting them to compulsory brain surgery was not so much. She found she enjoyed experimenting with people and human systems much more – no brain surgery required. So, she turned to cognitive psychology, analyzing the data all the way, eventually co-authoring 3 peer-reviewed papers in this field alone and she hasn’t stopped since, serving in progressive leadership roles for over a decade.

For example, in an early consulting role she had the good fortune to support a national program for homeless mothers; working alongside these courageous women to determine which interventions yielded the best results for them. This work eventually led to a unique opportunity as a systems analyst and measurement coordinator for a 13-hospital health system in St. Louis (Yes, she’s a Cardinals fan!), implementing a Preventable Harm initiative, akin to the national CMS Hospital Engagement Network (HEN) initiative. Here she also worked with researchers to develop an algorithm successful in the alerting of patients with 9X higher risks of mortality.

Continuing her work on national initiatives, Kelly joined the American Hospital Association (AHA) where she was supporting the efforts of national clinical experts, building teams, and developing analytic programs that served hospitals in over 40 states, resulting in nation-wide reductions in Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections in both acute and long term care settings.

Kelly attributes much of her success to a conviction for developing strong teams and an adherence to academic research methodologies when building and designing systems that work! Therefore, when she was presented with an opportunity to build a new analytics team for the largest Catholic health system in Illinois – she couldn’t refuse. Here she successfully transformed the quality and analytics departments, including the launch of new system-wide application efforts all within her first 12 months. These efforts resulted in 20+ new system dashboards with a five-fold increase in stakeholder access to the system’s analytic SharePoint site.

Over the last several years Kelly has expanded her knowledge and expertise working on exciting new opportunities through her 5-year consulting business, including data governance, program implementation, national surveillance, and dynamic market-based telehealth ProForma calculators – supporting both government and independent clients. These experiences continue to drive her interest and passion for helping others use information through innovative systems designs that better serve providers, patients, and communities.

As an avid learner and adventurer, Kelly also enjoys reading new tech blogs, watching Sci-Fi (Star Wars), traveling pretty much anywhere (latest adventure – Iceland), wine tasting (all red), and beginning metalsmithing (favorite piece – a copper etched necklace).

Lenetra King, FACHE is principal at Watch Me EXCEL®, a pioneering leadership development firm that works with organizations to deeply engage, develop, and retain exceptional leaders, especially those from underrepresented populations.

She brings to client engagements more than 15 years’ experience as a C Suite executive where she led significant culture and operational turnarounds as well as multi-million dollar revenue and expense initiatives in hospitals around the country. With her deep and rich expertise, she created LeadAmplifyEXCEL®, a proprietary framework that helps leaders amplify their personal brand, maximize their leadership performance and drive results for their companies.

In 2022, Lenetra joined the Department of Health Services Administration at the University of Alabama at Birmingham as Executive in Residence. She is a sought-after speaker frequently called on to share her perspectives, especially related to the intersection of race and gender in leadership. She is the author of Unwritten Insights: A Career Playbook for Leaders of Color.

Her passion for entrepreneurship is matched by a deep community commitment where she is an advocate for healthcare equity and the elimination of racial disparities, mental health access, youth development and education. Lenetra is a graduate of Leadership Fort Worth, has served on the Board of Directors for the Greater Tarrant County Boys and Girls Clubs and was recently elected to a second term on the Florida A&M University Foundation Board of Directors. Additionally, she holds memberships with the American College of Healthcare Executives, the National Association of Health Services Executives, and the ICF North Texas Chapter.

Lenetra received a B.S. from Florida A&M University, MSHA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and MBA from Rockhurst University.

She enjoys friend and family time and being dedicated to her son’s various activities including chess, taekwondo, and basketball.

Nayan Patel is a Managing Director at Avis Advisors with expertise in IT strategy, governance, M&A, and service management operations. He has held executive leadership roles at Neudesic (an IBM Company), Baptist Health, Valley Baptist Medical Center, The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano, and Baylor Scott & White Health supporting physician, nursing and community leaders.

As a senior tech executive, Nayan is passionate about leveraging a transparent leadership style that advocates the use of technology to improve the health of humans.

He has 25+ years of experience in the IT industry leading successful large-scale projects, change management and IT Operations through COVID. Nayan is a pragmatic thinker with an appetite for improving the end user experience while delivering high quality service to clinical, business, and technology operations. He has led multiple enterprise initiatives, modernized IT infrastructure, completed M&A of two hospitals, implemented EHRs (electronic health records), established ITIL processes for enhanced IT incident response, app availability, and customer service and developed a cloud migration strategy for a business continuity and disaster recovery process.

Nayan is a proud faculty member of CHIME University, and routinely mentors early careerists through ACHE, CHIME, HIMSS and other national Health IT associations. A firm believer in giving back to the community, he is a board member of the Southern Methodist University (SMU) IT Operations Management (ITOM) Advisory Board, Medtronic Hospital IT Advisory Board, the University of Texas-Dallas Healthcare Management Advisory Council, and Dallas Fort Worth HIMSS.

Cassandra Self, MSHA, FACHE currently serves as a Program Director of Clinical Supply Services at Texas Health Resources in north Texas. She joined ACHE in 2019 and earned her Fellow status in 2021. She has worked in the healthcare industry for over fifteen years in various administrative capacities throughout Texas. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration at Texas A&M Corpus Christi, her Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from Texas Tech University Health Science Center and is currently working on her Doctorate of Healthcare Administration through Oklahoma State University. Cassandra and her husband Zeb live in north Texas and have five children ranging in age from 2 to 18 years old.
Along with being a member of the ACHE North Texas Chapter, Cassandra currently serves as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee chair. She volunteers with her eldest son’s band as the band historian, is a region lead for Soft Bones, Inc and is a proud citizen of the Muscogee Nation.

Lorie Thibodeaux, based in Dallas Fort Worth, is a systemwide Senior Manager for Dallas large County Hospital and Health System with experience in closing a Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA). She led enterprise-wide projects, executive project meetings with the board of managers, leadership, department heads, providers, and other clinicians to discuss strategic goals.

Building a safe culture and teamwork-centered community in a high-risk environment is no easy task. It requires buy-in from key stakeholders and mastering complex leadership challenges.

Lorie demonstrates strong motivation and leadership to help drive our organization into being a safer place. She is an established result-oriented leader with a passion for community development and advocacy. She has powerful relationship building, marketing, and program development. Lorie is dedicated problem-solver with strong speaking, teaching, and facilitation skills. She collaborates with all levels of stakeholders to achieve organizational strategic goals while meeting challenging deadlines.

In December 2018, Lorie wrote the proposal for the development of an Employee Resource Group for the Women’s Group at Parkland Health. This program addresses employee engagement, community development, advocacy and other systemwide strategic initiatives to improve the diversity and inclusion space. In 2022, Lorie Thibodeaux 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. In 2023, Lorie Thibodeaux was recognized as the Women of the Year by the Texas Diversity Council.

Lorie holds an MHA from the University of Missouri-Columbia, a Bachelor of Science from Spring Hill College, and holds certifications: ITILv3, HACP, and CPHQ. Lorie is also certified in Certified Diversity Trainer from the Diversity Executive Leadership Academy. She also has certificates in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace, in Inclusive and Ethical Leadership from USF, and in Healthcare Leadership from Duke University.

Lorie enjoys making an impact in the Dallas-Fort Worth community and supports, diversity, health equity, and community building efforts. She is the founding and Immediate 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 also served on the Jewish Family Service Board.

John Vo is the Director of Clinical Data Management at Methodist Health System. He manages all the clinical data for Methodist Health System and regulatory submissions. His responsibilities include data management, measurement, reporting, analysis, and decision support for all areas of the hospitals. He has a MS in nursing administration and is a lean six sigma green belt. He has over 20 years of healthcare experience and is a critical care registered nurse by background. He enjoys vacationing with his family and camping with his son.

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After Hours Networking Event - Texas Rangers vs Minnesota Twins
2023-09-01 19:00 - 22:00 | Globe Life Field, Globe Life Field 734 Stadium Drive, Arlington, TX, 76011
Join us for a casual evening at the ballpark and enjoy a fantastic view of the game from the suite of our host, SBL Architecture, Inc., while the Rangers take on the Minnesota Twins.
Complimentary foods and beverages will be provided by SBL.
The suite will be open to guests at 6:30 PM, and first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.
SPACE IS VERY LIMITED AND AVAILABLE ON A FIRST COME/FIRST SERVED BASIS, SO REGISTER TODAY!!!

A big thanks to SBL Architecture for their ongoing support of ACHENTX and for hosting this event for us!

SBL Architecture, Inc. is a healthcare architectural, interior design and planning/consulting firm located in Arlington, Texas. Since 1994, SBL has worked on thousands of projects — with extensive experience in new construction, expansion, master planning and rehabilitation of older healthcare facilities. Healthcare design is their focus and their passion.

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Certified Lean Six Sigma 2-Hour White Belt Certification Course
2023-09-11 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual
Curious on what it takes to become a change maker? Want to learn about process improvement and how to eliminate wastes, errors, defects, and inefficiencies from day-to-day work?
ACHE of North Texas is proud to present a 2-Hour Online Lean Six Sigma White Belt Certification Course.
There are 5 Lean Six Sigma levels: White, Yellow, Green, Black and Master Black. The first level is the White Belt. It is the foundational course. You are not required to take the White Belt course before the Yellow, but if you have very little knowledge of Lean Six Sigma and want to learn more about the foundational aspects of Lean and Six Sigma, you may want to take the White Belt course first.
The 2-Hour Online Lean Six Sigma White Belt Certification Course will teach you all about Lean and Six Sigma. You will learn who the founders are of the two methods, as well as what a process is, and how the two methods were combined and work very well together.
Lean and Six Sigma have been proven to be very successful methods to eliminate wastes, errors, inefficiencies, and defects for many, many years. You can apply these methods, tools, and techniques in your home and work lives. This foundational course is 100% online, is coached/taught in a live Zoom meeting by Certified Master Black Belt, Tanya Stinson. Tanya will support you throughout the entire course. Once the course is completed, there will be an online, open book exam that will be required to be completed. You must pass the certification exam with at least a 70 to get your LSSWB certificate.
What’s included:
• Discuss foundational aspects of Lean and Six Sigma
• Learn how to complete a Waste Walk
• Lean Six Sigma White Belt Course e-book
• Lean Six Sigma White Belt Certification Exam
• Lean Six Sigma White Belt Certificate via Email
Course Coach/Instructor: Tanya Stinson, MHQS, CLSSMBB, MCBA, CRP
Founder/CEO/Master Consultant of Leaning Towards Change, LLC
Supervisor of Data Governance at Texas Health Resources
Virtual Platform: Zoom
Tanya Stinson is very passionate about Performance/Process Improvement and Change Management. Her Motto is “Changing the World, One Improvement at a Time.” Tanya is a Certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt has a Master’s degree in Healthcare Quality and Safety, a Master Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma, and 15+ years’ experience in leading, coaching, and mentoring professionals in completing Lean Six Sigma, Quality, Compliance, Risk and Safety initiatives. Tanya has well-rounded and knowledgeable skill sets, as she has worked in various industries, such as mining, utilities, manufacturing, technology, and healthcare. Tanya is passionate about helping others by sharing with them what she has learned and helping to create positive changes within any organization.
Tanya has been working for Texas Health Resources since June 2017. Currently, she is a Supervisor of Data Governance Support for Texas Health Resources. Tanya was a Performance Engineer/Coach for Texas Health Resources for 4 years. To help others to grow on their PI journeys, Tanya started a woman owned small business in 2000 called Leaning Towards Change, LLC. Since moving to the DFW area and starting her small business, Tanya has successfully coached and certified over 100 White Belts, over 500 Yellow Belts, and over 100 Green Belts. Below are just a few of her awards/accolades:
• Womelle Magazine: She’s Possible – Top 25 Female Influencers of 2023
• 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, Tanya is a wife and mother of 4 handsome young men. She loves to fish, go camping, and loves classic cars!
Tanya is thankful that you have chosen to read about her accomplishments, and she looks forward to helping you on your PI journey! She hopes you will love Process/Performance Improvement and Change Management as much as she does!

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Wellbeing in Healthcare at the Individual, Team and System Levels: What you can do to improve self-care and support those around you.
2023-09-12 17:30 - 19:30 | Methodist Dallas Medical Center Hitt Auditorium, 221 W Colorado Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75203
Come join us as our panelists discuss best practices for assessing and addressing wellbeing at every level in healthcare. As we manage the stigma against mental health, we will share experiences and resources available to you, your team, and the system as a whole.

Jessica George (Moderator)
Trauma Psychologist, Psychosocial Director for Trauma & Emergency Services
Parkland Health
Matthew Hoffman, DMin, BCC
Director, Faith in Action Initiatives
Baylor Scott and White
Stacey R. Merlin, MS, MA, CCTP, BCC
Program Manager for SPARKS (Supporting PARKland Staff)
Parkland Health
Katie Sardone, PhD, PMH-C
Licensed Psychologist
Owner, Behavioral Health Dallas, PLLC
Past President, Dallas Psychological Association

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Speakers Bios:

Jessica George is a trauma psychologist and the Psychosocial Director for Trauma and Emergency Services at Parkland Health. Dr. George’s first job as a licensed psychologist was as the first Parkland psychologist in the Dallas County Jail in 2009. She was promoted to Trauma Psychologist on the main campus in 2011, leading the trauma psychosocial team in providing services for trauma patients and their families. In 2020, she expanded her services to include the Emergency Department. As a founding steering committee member for Parkland’s peer support program, SPARKS, she is focused on developing staff support and wellness initiatives across the institution. Dr. George’s clinical expertise and interest lies in determining effective strategies for supporting patients, families, visitors, and staff through stress and trauma. Dr. George is passionate about making Parkland the most trauma-informed environment possible.

As a Board Certified Chaplain, Matthew Hoffman serves as the Director of Baylor Scott and White’s Faith in Action Initiatives. In this role, beyond giving oversight to the system’s humanitarian aid and medical missions arm, he oversees the staff spiritual care support program, “Sacred Vocation.” Through his oversight of the Sacred Vocation Program, he has taken thousands of staff members, over the last 10 years through its small group experience, aiding their exploration and understanding of compassion fatigue and vocational burnout while fostering increased meaning and purpose through a pursuit of self-care. He has recently completed his doctoral studies focusing on the spirituality of work and wellbeing of healthcare professionals through his dissertation entitled, “Pandemic Theology: Exploring the Spirituality that Emerged from Those Who Worked on COVID Units.” Dr. Hoffman is committed to a pursuit of helping make healthcare a healthy context for healing professionals to thrive within.

Stacey Merlin has been in healthcare for 30 years and has dedicated 14 years at Parkland Health in Dallas, Texas. She started as an inspirational spiritual leader (Chaplain) and transitioned to her role as program manager for SPARKS (Supporting PARKland Staff). She dedicated her time to supporting the workforce that cares for our patient population.

Her focus on the health and well-being of the workforce led to Stacey receiving the “Shero Award” in 2018 from the Dallas County Hospital Police Department and a Parkland nominee for Employee of the Year in 2020 by the Dallas-For Worth Hospital Council.

Stacey is a certified clinical trauma professional with the International Associate of Trauma Professionals and a member of Temple Emanuel in Dallas, where she serves on the Shine the Light on Mental Health Advisory Board and is also an active member in the Caring Line.

Stacey’s chaplaincy has created a passion for staff support and trauma-informed care. The amount of stress experienced by healthcare workers became overwhelming during the pandemic and has continued with a rise in workplace violence, which has engaged her dedication and commitment to supporting the Parkland workforce.

Stacey has been married 41 years to her husband Ricky, the biggest Atlanta Braves baseball team fan. She has a wonderful daughter, Stephanie, a feline behaviorist, in Orlando, Florida. Stacey loves to spend time with her husband and dog, Rockafella, but it is her little brother, JD, better known as “MoonBeam,” that gives her the greatest joy!

Dr. Katie Sardone is a Clinical and Consulting Psychologist and the founder of Behavioral Health Dallas, PLLC. She specializes in providing psychotherapy to individuals and couples and consultation services to medical practices. Dr. Sardone supervises psychology students at UT Southwestern Medical Center in the Psychiatry Department and routinely teaches, trains, and coaches physicians at various medical centers. Dr. Sardone is the Past President of the Dallas Psychological Association.
Dr. Sardone received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, an APA-accredited program, where she received advanced training in health psychology intervention, psychological assessment, psychotherapy and medical resident education. Dr. Sardone completed her APA-accredited internship at Baylor University Medical Center’s Women’s Health Department where she specialized in providing individualized care for women in antepartum, postpartum, and outpatient clinics, as well as mothers of infants in the NICU. Following her formal training, Dr. Sardone completed an APA-accredited Postdoctoral fellowship at Children’s Medical Center Dallas where she specialized in providing intervention with infants, children, parents and families managing medical, developmental and emotional disorders. Following fellowship, Dr. Sardone held a faculty appointment at UT Southwestern in the Family Medicine and Psychiatry departments focused on medical resident education, program development and behavioral health consultation. She has also earned a certificate in the specialty of Perinatal Mental Health from Postpartum Support International.

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Connect, Learn & Serve: Fall Networking Blitz
2023-09-19 17:30 - 19:30 | Medical City Heart & Spine, 11970 N Central Expy, Dallas, TX, 75243
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 Committees 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 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 better as well and become a part of your professional network.
Our guest speaker for the evening will be Patrick Brown, FACHE – Senior Vice President, Surgery Partners.
We are looking forward to meeting each of you and/or getting to know you better!
A light dinner will be offered. A special thanks to Medical City Heart & Spine for hosting this event!

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Patrick Brown currently serves as a Senior Vice President at Surgery Partners, Inc. where he has operational, financial, and strategic oversight for physician-owned, specialty hospitals and ASC’s across 4 states. Prior to joining Surgery Partners, Patrick served as the Vice President, Chief Operating Officer for Methodist Charlton Medical Center and Methodist Mansfield Medical Center. While at Methodist, Patrick had oversight for over $90M worth of expansion projects and led the double-digit growth and development of several of the hospital’s key service lines. Prior to working at Methodist Health System, he held executive leadership roles at Texas Health Resources and Tenet Healthcare. While serving in those roles, his responsibilities included business strategy, service line development, physician recruitment, and ACO enhancement.

In 2020, Patrick was named the Young Healthcare Executive of the Year for the ACHENTX chapter and in 2022 he was named the Young Healthcare Executive of the Year by the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council. He is the chapter President of NAHSE-DFW and he also serves as the Secretary of the ACHENTX chapter. Additionally, Patrick serves as a mentor, advisor, and investor for healthcare start-ups across the country.

With over 17 years of progressive healthcare leadership experience in operations, human resources, supply chain, strategy and business development roles across multiple states, Patrick is committed to servant leadership, service excellence, and integrity.

Patrick earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, FL and an MBA from Mercer University in Macon, GA. He is a Fellow and board certified in healthcare management by the American College of Healthcare Executives.

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Multi-Chapter Education Event
2023-09-22 08:00 - 16:00 | Methodist Dallas Medical Center Hitt Auditorium, 221 W Colorado Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75203
Approved for up to 6.0 ACHE Face-to-Face Credits

Once again ACHE of North Texas, the East Texas ACHE Forum and the Texas Midwest Healthcare Executives are joining forces to offer our members great educational content and a tremendous cross-chapter networking opportunity.
Each panel has been approved for 1.5 ACHE Face-to-Face Credits (6.0 credits if you attend all four).

Special thanks to Methodist Dallas Medical Center for hosting their venue and Aramark for hosting the food & beverages for this event!
8-8:30am: Registration & Networking
8:30-10am: Panel 1: The Promise and Perils of Precision Medicine
Panelists:
Mark Kruzel, MD, MBA, Associate Medical Director in Oncology, Quest Advanced Diagnostics
Susan McClure, Chief Executive Officer, Genome Creative
Dr. Mark Schnitzer (Moderator), Surgeon, Educator, Physician Advisor, Medical Director, Consultant, and Executive Coach
David Winter, President & Chairman of the Board, HealthTexas Provider Network
10-10:15am: Break
10:15am-11:45pm: Panel 2: Utilization of PA/NP Workforce in the Current Healthcare Environment
Panelists:
Steven Hunter, DMSc, MBA, PA-C, Director of Advanced Practice Professionals (APPs), Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospitals
J. Clayton Lawrence, (Moderator), Regional President, Sound Physicians
Christopher McLarty, DNP, Associate Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer, Ambulatory Services
Amy Quinn DNP, APRN, FNP-C, Advanced Practice Clinician/CTC APC Leader, Beaumont Adult Medicine , Christus Trinity Clinic
11:45-12:45pm: Lunch
12:45-2:15pm: Panel 3: Legalized Possession and Use of Cannabis: A Legal and Ethical Dilemma for Healthcare Organizations
Panelists:
Richard Cheng, Healthcare & Cannabis Regulatory Transactional Attorney, Weaver Johnson & Nelson, PLLC
Dr. Darina A. Douchi, CEO & Founder, Curativo Enterprises, LLC
Eric S. Gaines (Moderator), North Texas Regional Director of Outpatient & Retail Pharmacy, Baylor Scott & White Health Enterprise, Inc.
Robert Head, Co-Founder, Hemp for Victory
W. Stephen Love, President & Chief Executive Officer, Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council
2:15-2:30pm: Break
2:30-4pm: Panel 4: Human Trafficking and the Impact on Healthcare
Panelists:
Kiara Rodriguez, Outreach Specialist, Unbound Now
Sheyla Camacho, Public Health Educator, Victim Intervention Program (VIP)/Rape Crisis Center, Parkland Health
Carrie Shiratom RN,MSN,FNP-C,ACNP-C, Co-Founder, Reclaim611
Andrew Smith, FACHE, (Moderator) Strategy Leader for the Scheduling Customer Journey, Baylor Scott & White Health

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Speakers Bios:

Sheyla Camacho has an extensive background working and volunteering within the domestic violence field since 2009. She is a Public Health Educator for the Victim Intervention Program/ Rape Crisis Center at Parkland Health since 2020. She is dedicated and passionate about bringing the hard conversation of domestic abuse and other topics to various groups and agencies throughout our community, in both English and Spanish. Her bright personality and extensive knowledge allow Sheyla to connect with students, partners, families, and survivors alike. Sheyla received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio. She is also Mental Health First Aid USA and Youth Mental Health First Aid USA certified and recently received her CHW experience license. She is excited to continue raising awareness about trauma informed care, various traumas, its widespread impact, and accessibility to resources to all members of our community.

Richard Cheng focuses on corporate transactions and advises clients on regulatory matters in the healthcare and cannabis industries. Richard represents a variety of cannabis-related clients and was an equity partner and chair of the hemp/hemp cannabinoid products practice at a global AmLaw100 law firm. Richard has been named a Top 200 Cannabis Lawyer by Cannabis Law Journal and has been named a Top 250 Cannabis Legal Expert by Databird Research Journal. Lastly, Richard teaches cannabis law as an adjunct faculty at UNT Dallas College of Law.

Dr. Darina A. Douchi, is a retired Major from U.S. Army and a Nebraska licensed pharmacist with over 2 decades with wide varieties of expertise in the field of Pharmacy and Healthcare policies. She is a wealth of knowledge in the field of Clinical Pharmacy – Pain and Psychiatric medicine focusing on the Army Worrier Transition Unit (WTU) Soldiers and alternative medicine.
Since retiring from the US Army, Dr. Douchi has dedicated her focus on Federal Defense Contracting and Health IT; lobbying and working closely with industry disruptors to place the best and latest emerging Health Care Technologies in the hands of patients.

Eric S. Gaines, PharmD, MSc, FACHE is a proven pharmacy leader who specializes in operational efficiency and cost-effective health resources utilization. He currently serves as the North Texas Region Director of Outpatient and Retail Pharmacy for Baylor Scott & White Health Enterprise, Inc. He is responsible for multi-site operations, maintaining financial efficiency in drug delivery, and improving patient satisfaction through innovative medication delivery services.
Prior to his current role, Eric has served as Director of Pharmacy Services for Baylor Medical Medical Center at Garland and has worked in various roles throughout his career including, pharmacy manager, clinical pharmacist, and area supervisor for a national drug chain. He has also served as chairperson and adjunct faculty for the ASHP accredited Pharmacy Technology program at Richland College.
Dr. Gaines, a Tallahassee, Florida native, earned a masters in Pharmacoeconomics from The University of Florida as well as completed his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Florida A&M University. He is an active member of the Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research.
Outside of work, he enjoys traveling with his wife, Nakia, and two children Gavin, and Gabrielle.

Robert Head is a distinguished US Army veteran who served in Iraq from 2002 to 2007. A Texas A&M University graduate, he ventured into the cannabis industry in 2015, managing a successful farm in Maine before focusing on activism. Recognized as a top activist by Texas Norml, Robert co-founded “Hemp for Victory” during the pandemic—a 501C3 organization dedicated to raising awareness and engaging with VA, military, and healthcare leaders. Today, he spearheads discussions on cannabis and its impact on the veteran population, leaving an indelible mark on both industries.

Dr. Steven Hunter is the Director of Advanced Practice Professionals (APPs) for Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospitals. In his role, he provides regional oversight of APPs in various cardiovascular surgical specialties and service lines inclusive of ambulatory, inpatient, and intraoperative functions. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated dedication to the field to develop and promote APPs with system-wide service line strategic planning, change management, budgeting, program accreditation, and operational achievements.
Steven has achieved multiple academic milestones. He earned his Bachelor of Health Science (BHS) in 2010, minoring in Biology, and fulfilled the requirements for Master of Physician Assistant Science (MPAS) in 2011, at Gannon University. Additionally, he holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), and Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) degrees, with Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification in Healthcare.
Steven enjoys being active outside his role involving the profession, and volunteering within the community. Being an avid member for other PA organizations, he currently serves on the Program Advisory Committee for a local PA Program and assists on the House of Delegates B-05 taskforce for core PA leadership skills and competency development with the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA). Furthermore, he was recently elected Director-at-Large for the Texas Academy of Physician Assistants Board of Directors and serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Living for Zachary non-profit organization in north Texas.
Steven also continues to maintain numerous professional memberships and affiliations among many organizations, in addition to AAPA, including the Texas Academy of Physician Assistants (TAPA), Advanced Practice Provider Executives (APPex), American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), and the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).

Mark Kruzel, MD, MBA; serves as Associate Medical Director in Oncology at Quest Advanced Diagnostics. Dr. Kruzel’s role bridges the gap from assay development, validation to clinical utility and he provides guidance on the appropriate utilization of testing. Recently, Dr. Kruzel has developed clinical care pathways for oncology focusing on providing access to testing in an efficacious and guideline driven manner.

Dr. Kruzel has extensive research and industry experience ranging from managing an FDA trial site to commercializing a pharmaceutical compound for a start-up company. He has published numerous peer reviewed journal articles as well as presented abstracts at both local and national conferences. Through his role at Quest, Dr. Kruzel has developed key opinion leader strategies which help Quest advance in the field of precision medicine.

Dr. Kruzel received his medical degree from The University of Texas at Houston – McGovern School of Medicine; he received his Master of Business Administration from Cox Business School at Southern Methodist University. He is an active member of American Society of Clinical Oncology, Association for Molecular Pathology and American College of Healthcare Executives

J. Clayton Lawrence currently serves as Sound Physicians’ Region President of Operations. In this role, Clayton is responsible for leading a team of clinical and business professionals serving a territory spanning 11 states and nearly 100 hospital partnerships. Clayton aligns with hospital stakeholders and other partners to drive critical strategic and operational effectiveness. Along with ensuring highly reliable hospital medicine and emergency medicine programs, under his leadership, Clayton’s teams produce unmatched performance and outcomes while providing a measurable ROI for hospital partners. Clayton has been a key operations executive with Sound Physicians for over 8 years.

Clayton brings over 22 years of both hospital management and physician practice leadership experience. Clayton has served various operational roles including hospital operations and physician practice operations. Prior to joining Sound Physicians in January 2015, Clayton served as Regional Vice President of Operations for Vein Clinics of America, where he was accountable for expanding the organization’s footprint in Atlanta, DFW and Houston. In addition, Clayton has served in various administrative roles for several hospitals including both CEO and COO roles. Clayton began his healthcare career as a paramedic, where he received valuable exposure to the care-delivery side of healthcare.

A graduate of Tulane University, Clayton earned his Masters of Healthcare Administration, and received his undergraduate degree from Arkansas State University. He is an active member of ACHE North Texas Chapter and has achieved FACHE designation.

Stephen Love is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council which promotes collaboration, cooperation, and advocacy on behalf of its 90 member hospitals. The Hospital Council also has approximately 100 Associate Members (business and industry), including prominent accounting, legal and consulting firms. The primary mission is to drive evidence-based improvement in patient care and health equity in North Texas. He was the United Nations Association Award Winner in 2018 for Global Goals. He served as 2015 Chair for the Conference of Metropolitan and Regional Hospitals Association in the United States. He received the 2020 D CEO’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He also received the Dallas Medical Society’s Millard J. and Robert L. Health Award for a non-physician providing outstanding leadership to the community. He 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 45 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.

Susan McClure is on a mission to help people understand how their lives are changing thanks to our increased understanding of our own DNA. Her life’s work is centered around helping people make informed decisions about their health by improving their health literacy.
Susan is the founder and CEO of Genome Creative — a media consulting company committed to that mission. She was also the founder and publisher of Genome magazine (published from 2014-2018) — a first-in-class consumer magazine covering all aspects of the movement toward precision medicine and the genomic revolution making it possible.
Prior to its launch, she spent 10 years as the publisher of CURE — a magazine for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers. During her tenure at CURE, she served as vice president of patient engagement for McKesson Specialty Health. Under Susan’s direction, she and her team were honored for outstanding journalism by many professional media organizations, including Folio, the American Society of Magazine Editors, the American Cancer Society, Magazine Publishers of America, and Media Industry News.
In 2016, Susan was honored by Folio as one of the “Top Women in Media” and was invited by the Personalized Medicine Coalition to its board of directors — the first journalist to receive such an honor. She also serves as a founding board member of FT3 (From Testing to Targeted Treatments) — a global, open, and collaborative multi-stakeholder program intended to build synergies and accelerate pragmatic efforts to make personalized medicine an accessible reality for all patients who could benefit from it. She co-leads the program’s education and awareness working group.
Dr. Christopher McLarty serves as Associate Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for Ambulatory Services. He is also responsible for leading the Office of Advanced Practice Providers, representing nearly 900 Physician Assistants and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses across the Health System. Dr. McLarty completed undergraduate studies at the City Colleges of Chicago before completing a master’s degree in nursing with concentration as an Acute Care and Emergency Nurse Practitioner at Loyola University Chicago. He later earned the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Arizona State University. During his career, Dr. McLarty has taken on roles in emergency services, multi-site clinical operations, and academic health system leadership. He is an active member of several professional organizations, and currently serves as a Board Member for Texas Nurse Practitioners (TNP).

Amy Quinn, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
With over 15 years in nursing, I began my journey as a critical care nurse with the pursuit to lead the way to improve patient outcomes, and healthcare delivery, and develop my skills in nursing leadership. My passion for primary and preventive healthcare led me to advance my education and become a family nurse practitioner. I have been practicing in internal medicine for the past 10 years and now serve as the advanced practice clinician leader for CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic (CTC) and chair of the CTC advanced practice clinician’s council. I am also a member of the CTC credentialing and quality committee. As the dynamics of healthcare continue to evolve, I am passionate about the advocacy and utilization of advanced practice providers to meet the demands of patient needs and access.

Kiara Rodriguez is a Fort Worth native with over 4 years of experience working with survivors with trauma. She has focused on the issue of human trafficking since graduating with her bachelor’s degree in 2015. Kiara is excited to be a part of Unbound Now’s team as their outreach specialist raising awareness for human trafficking in her own community.

Carrie Schirato lives in Plano, Texas. She is a wife, a mother of five, and a nurse practitioner. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Baylor University and her Masters and Post-masters certificate from the University of Texas at Arlington. She has worked in the Emergency Department since 2005 and has spent the last decade working in a level 1 trauma center in Dallas Texas.
In 2017, she co-founded an anti-human trafficking non-profit organization called Reclaim611, with two of her long-time friends and colleagues. As medical professionals they are passionate about helping their own profession learn how to recognize, respond, report and reclaim the lives of victims of human trafficking. They understand the utmost importance of a multidisciplinary community approach and are dedicated to providing streamline responses to these very complex and traumatized victims, as they deserve the best care possible! Reclaim611 unites and equips front-line providers to step into the fight to end human trafficking!

Dr. Mark Schnitzer is an experienced Surgeon, Educator, Physician Advisor, Medical Director,
Consultant, and Executive Coach. 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. Subsequently, he took on the role of medical director for a large accountable care organization based in Dallas, TX for 3 years before embarking as an executive coach as a means to help other healthcare leaders as they pursue their journey.
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.”

Andrew Smith, FACHE, currently serves as the strategy leader for the scheduling customer journey at Baylor Scott & White Health; however, he starts a new position with Sutter Health in California next week as system Vice President for Patient Access. Andrew has held various roles at Baylor Scott & White over the past 12 years, ranging from clinic operations to enterprise strategy development. Andrew is a Fellow of ACHE and attended Saint Louis University for both his undergraduate and graduate degrees.

David Winter serves HealthTexas Provider Network, a 1000 + physician organization in partnership with Baylor Scott & White Health, as President and Chairman of the Board. He also is in the private practice of internal medicine at the Tom Landry Center on the campus of Baylor University Medical Center.

He received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, completed an internship and residency at Baylor University Medical Center, and has been awarded a Masters of Science in Medical Management from the University of Texas at Dallas. He has been honored with a Mastership in the American College of Physicians and has served that organization as Governor of the Northern District of Texas and Board member of the national PAC. He has been recognized with the Significant Sig Award of Sigma Chi fraternity and is listed in The Most Powerful Dallas 500 Business Leaders by D CEO Magazine in 2016-2019.

Dr. Winter enjoys teaching as an attending physician in the Internal Medicine Department at Baylor University Medical Center, is on the Clinical Faculty of Southwestern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center and is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Management at the University of Texas at Dallas.

He serves on the Board of the Baylor Scott & White Health Care System, the Board of the Heart Hospital at Baylor Plano, the Board of the Heart Hospital at Baylor Denton, the Board of Managers of BSWH Quality Alliance, a Member of the BSWH Clinical Leadership Council, a Member of the System Professional Oversight Committee of BSWH, Member of the BSWH System Corporate Compliance Committee, Co-Chair of the BSWH Clinical Strategic Advisory Council, and Past Co-Chair and Member of the Board of Governors of the Baylor Scott & White Medical Group.

He is the President of the Discovery Foundation, a health care philanthropy organization. Dr. Winter is also founder of Baylor Scott & White’s concierge medicine program. He is the founder and past President of MedProvider and a founding member of HealthTexas Provider Network, a division of BSWH. In addition, he was the originator of MedBuilding, a health care real estate investment trust.

As a medical writer he has published a book, numerous scientific articles and papers and serves on the Editorial Staff of the Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings.

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Paving the Way from Clinician to Healthcare Executive: The unique challenges our clinical providers face when moving into executive roles, and how do we effectively promote, develop and support
2023-10-03 18:00 - 20:00 | The PalmWood Events & Conference, 640 Taylor St #1300, Fort Worth, TX, 76102
Please join us for the next in our popular Cocktails with the Chiefs event series, this time we’re back in Fort Worth at The PalmWood.
A huge thanks to our hosts for this event, RCG Global Services!

Our panel for this discussion will include:

Daniel L. Beckles MD, PhD, FACS, FACC, FCCP
Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Baylor Scott & White Health
Adjunct Clinical Professor, Texas A&M University’s Department of Education/School of Medicine
Clinical Professor, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor’s Mayborn College of Health Sciences
Dr. Noreen Butte
Pediatrician
Trailblazer in the fields of Healthcare Informatics and Biopharmaceuticals
Stephanie Copeland, MD, MBA, CPHQ, FAAP, CPXP
Regional Medical Director for Quality and Risk Adjustment
OptumCare North/West Texas Region, WellMed/USMD
National Medical Director – Quality Performance Management/Optum Clinical performance
Dr. John Marcucci
SVP Chief Medical Officer – DFW East Region
Baylor Scott & White Health
Dr. Rob Nelson (Moderator)
VP & Head, Healthcare Transformation & Innovation
RCG Global Services
Mark S. Schnitzer, MD, FACHE
Surgeon, Educator, Physician Advisor, Medical Director,
Consultant, and Executive Coach
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Speaker’s Bios:

Dr. Daniel L. Beckles is a cardiothoracic surgeon at Baylor Scott & White Health, an adjunct clinical Professor at Texas A&M University, Department of Education/School of Medicine, and a Clinical Professor at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Mayborn College of Health Sciences. He specializes in the comprehensive care of advanced heart diseases, lung diseases, atrial fibrillation, heart transplantation, ventricular assist devices, and ECMO.
He is an academic surgeon with accolades in clinical excellence, teaching, innovation, and community involvement. He obtained his BSc and MSc in biochemistry and chemistry from Stony Brook University in New York. He received his MD from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn, New York, and stayed there for his general surgery residency. He also completed a Ph.D. degree in Cardiovascular Molecular Biology. He was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) medical honor society, received the medical school Golden Apple Teaching Award and the Outstanding Performance award as a surgical resident in Graduate Medical Education for the Department of Surgery.
He completed his cardiothoracic surgery residency at the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center/Parkland Medical Center in Dallas, and a Minimally Invasive Surgery fellowship at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital-Harvard Medical School, Boston.
He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery (DABS) and a Diplomate of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), a fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC), and a fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians (FCCP).
In 2008, he was an Assistant Professor of cardiothoracic surgery and Surgical Director of Lung Transplantation at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. He moved to Texas after Hurricane IKE devastated Galveston. He was the Director of Minimally Invasive Cardiac and thoracic surgery and co-director of transplantation at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. In 2015, he was recruited as Chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and inaugural Herman and Olive Pascarella Endowed Professorship in Cardiovascular Surgery Research at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences Center, Brooklyn, New York City.
He is a member of the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation, the International Society of Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery, the American Society of Transplantation, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, the Heart Failure Society of America, the Association of Academic Surgeons, and the European Association of Cardiothoracic Surgeons. He has over 30 peer-reviewed publications, co-authored three textbook chapters, and is a co-inventor on 2 United States Patents.
He is an American College of Healthcare Executives member and a subject matter expert for Enhanced Recovery after Cardiac Surgery. He serves on the medical advisory board for Nuwellis Inc. and Noigel Inc. and is a consultant for Edwards Life Sciences, Inc. He is past President of the Board of Managers for SUNY Downstate Medical School Alumni Association and current Chief Medical Officer for the Trinbago Progressive Association and its international medical mission trips.
He was a Caribbean American Healthcare Awards Honoree in 2017 (Caribbean Life New York). He has been nominated over the last decade for New York Top Doctor and Texas Top Doctor awards. He continues mentoring the next generation of students and doctors nationally and internationally.

Dr. Noreen Butte, a distinguished pediatrician, has etched her name as a trailblazer in the fields of Healthcare Informatics and Biopharmaceuticals. With an unyielding commitment to innovation and excellence, she has adeptly navigated multifaceted roles, transforming mere insights into revolutionary strategies and propelling brand initiatives to unparalleled success. Recognized for her formidable prowess in Healthcare Informatics, she seamlessly bridges the worlds of medicine and technology, leading breakthrough product launches, and forging transformative alliances amongst consumers, providers, and payers. This expertise is further augmented by her profound grasp of Population Health and her avant-garde approach to integra􀆟ng Artificial Intelligence in healthcare.
Dr. Butte’s therapeutic expertise is vast and unparalleled, encompassing areas such as Vaccines, Chronic Care Diseases, and Oncology. Her leadership transcends conventional boundaries; she is both a catalyst for change and a beacon of mentorship and visionary direction. Under her guidance, teams have not only soared to unprecedented heights but have also redefined excellence in healthcare. Her exceptional communication skills amplify brand narratives, ensuring they resonate deeply and meaningfully within the healthcare community.
Treading uncharted territories in Digital Healthcare, Precision Medicine, and Pharma, Dr. Bu􀆩e’s collaborations are as expansive as they are impactful. From influential ties with IDNs and elite acute care institutions to strategic alliances with governmental healthcare entities, her network is both enviable and influential. With an unwavering passion and dedication to pioneering transformative advancements, Dr. Bu􀆩e remains a visionary leader, reshaping the contours of the dynamic landscape of global healthcare.

Dr. Stephanie Copeland serves concurrently as both a National Medical Director for the Optum Clinical Performance team (since May of 2023) and as the Regional Medical Director for Quality and Risk Adjustment for the OptumCare North Texas Region (including WellMed and USMD), a role she has held since March of 2022. She has been the medical director for the WellMed regional quality team since 2018 and has worked for the company for 20 years through an acquisition of the USMD Health System. She is also involved in various committees and projects throughout the organization.
Prior to that, she served as Chief Quality Officer at USMD Health System from 2013 to 2018 and served in various leadership roles at USMD/MCNT.
Dr. Copeland attended Abilene Christian University and graduated medical school at UT Southwestern in Dallas. She completed her residency at UT Southwestern in Dallas where she also served as chief resident. She completed a Master’s in Business Administration at the University of Texas at Dallas. She has also previously served as a volunteer private practice clinical assistant professor at UT Southwestern Medical School and previously served as the Chair of the AMGA Quality Improvement Council. She is also a member of the AMGA Board of Directors and the AMGA Foundation Board, where she serves as Chair. She is also the AMGA Quality Liaison for USMD/WellMed DFW. She also serves at her local church and coordinates volunteers from her church for Many Helping Hands, a non-profit that ministers to the homeless in Irving, Texas.
She enjoys spending time with her husband, Benjamin, and her daughter, Isabella and their dog, Luna. She also likes hiking, reading, writing, artistic endeavors, and traveling.

Dr. John Marcucci graduated from UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and completed residency in Emergency Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center / Parkland Hospital. He has been with Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Plano since 2004. First, serving as the Emergency Department Medical Director, and then in 2010 became the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer.

Dr. Marcucci took on an expanded role with Baylor Scott & White in 2019 as the Regional Chief Medical Officer of the DFW – East Region overseeing four full-service community hospitals and two specialty heart hospitals.

Dr. Rob Nelson is a seasoned leader with over 20 years of global experience in roles ranging from marketing and business development to operations. With a background spanning Fortune 30 tech companies, startups, and nonprofits, Rob specializes in organizational transformation and strategy execution. He has led multiple consulting practices, including a consulting practice for General Electric focused on performance transformation.

His leadership experience includes roles at IBM, GE, Motorola, and Amazon.com (Pre-IPO), Quorum Health Resources/Community Health System among others. He also served in various capacities in the U.S. Navy for over a decade. Academically, Rob is an active Professor of Marketing, Strategy and Innovation at the Stuart School of Management at Illinois Tech and the Jack Welch Management Institute, focusing on strategic marketing and business innovation for more than a decade. He has was named Assoc. Professor of the Year 2022 and the Faculty Team Award in 2023. Dr. Rob’s research work has recently been published on the topic of market orientation and organizational transformation in healthcare in the Journal of Business Research in November 2023.

Rob holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from Grenoble Ecole de Management, an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, and multiple executive certificates in areas like AI, digital marketing, and negotiation. Outside of work, he is passionate about mixed martial arts and outdoor activities.

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

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. Subsequently, he took on the role of medical director for a large accountable care organization based in Dallas, TX for 3 years before embarking as an executive coach as a means to help other healthcare leaders as they pursue their journey.
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.”

Thanks again to RCG Global Services for hosting this event!

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Women's Breakfast: Paving the Way to Personal Growth & Success
2023-10-13 07:30 - 09:30 | Sheraton Arlington Hotel, 1500 Convention Center Drive, Arlington, TX, 76011
Please join us for our 2023 ACHE of North Texas annual Women’s Breakfast, with this year’s theme: Paving the Way to Personal Growth & Success.
Panelists:
Karen “KJ” Johnson
Executive Director
Dress for Success Dallas
Winjie Tang Miao (Moderator)
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Texas Health Resources
Traci Shortt
VP & Group Operations Officer
SCP Health
Becky Tucker
System Senior Vice President of Channel Integration
Texas Health Resources
Speakers Bios:
Karen “KJ” Johnson is a talented & influential Personal Brand Expert, an inspiring Women Empowerment Speaker, an impactful Sales Instructor, Founder & CEO of The Konfident Woman, teaching women to unlock the essence of their brilliance, develop executive presence, & build self-confidence.
A recognized thought leader with over 25 years of leadership, governance, & fundraising experience in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors, she currently serves as the Executive Director for one of the top nonprofit organizations in Dallas Fort-Worth metroplex, Dress for Success Dallas and recently was appointed as the Program Director for National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) DFW. KJ is a visionary with exemplary leadership and communication skills, promoting women’s self-worth, women’s advancement, and gender equity. As an inspirational speaker, she utilizes her story to encourage and empower women to believe in themselves, be brave & make bold moves to achieve their dreams.
As a sought-after thought leader, she has graced the stage, energizing and electrifying audiences for some of the most recognizable brands: DFW International Airport, Verizon, Women’s Council of Realtors Dallas, Heineken’s, Abilene Christian University, Burleson Chamber of Commerce, & Dell just to name a few. She has been featured on Good Morning Texas, Fox 4 News, Dallas Doing Good, Dallas Voyager, Today’s Purpose Woman and Behind Her Brand magazines.
She has received numerous awards, accolades & nominations for her work, including being named one of the Top 25 Global Influencer, Top 50 Powerful Women in Business to Know, Top 10 Kingdom Bosses, Influential African American Businesswomen to follow on LinkedIn, and named one of the Top 25 Purpose Driven Women to Watch just to name a few. She is currently featured as Ms. November in the 2023 Power & Purpose Calendar.
KJ currently resides in Dallas, TX, has a brilliant son, Chester, a beautiful glam-daughter, Legacee (pronounced Legacy) and yes, you guessed it…she’s an avid Dallas Cowboy’s fan!
Winjie Tang Miao serves as senior executive vice president and chief operating officer. In her role, Miao is charged with evolving Texas Health’s core services and developing an integrated, high-performance delivery network that is consumer-focused. She oversees Texas Health’s Hospital Channel, physicians group, ambulatory and virtual care services, along with clinical excellence and network navigation functions.
Prior to assuming the chief operating officer position, Miao served as Texas Health’s chief experience officer, leading the organization’s transformation to elevate the needs and preferences of consumers. With a focus on moving beyond episodic sick care to provide consumers a lifetime of health and well-being services, Miao expanded access to care by opening new channels to deliver care when, where and how patients prefer. She led the organization’s Connected Health strategy and implementation and was integral in developing capabilities around data and insights, virtual patient experiences and CRM competencies.
Miao joined Texas Health in 2000 as an administrative resident at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas and served in a progression of leadership roles, including opening Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance as its inaugural president. She joined the system leadership team in 2015 as senior vice president of system integration and innovation and was instrumental in creating Reliable Care Blueprinting™, Texas Health’s approach to care design to deliver a safe, reliable and quality experience in every consumer encounter.
A biomedical engineering graduate of Johns Hopkins University, Miao also earned a master’s degree in healthcare administration, with a concentration in financial management and quality management, from the University of North Carolina.
Traci Shortt, a native of Fort Worth, TX, brings 21 years of experience in nursing, advanced practice nursing, project management, contract management, and change facilitation to her role with SCP Health. In her role as Client Services Vice President, Traci facilitates engagement with stakeholders to optimize contracts financially, operationally, and culturally. As a Clinical Operations Specialist and Nurse Practitioner she is responsible for special projects, evaluation of contracts, operational assessment and clinical practice. As part of this position, she ensures clients receive facility specific analysis of their processes, staffing models, and practice guidelines. Across all functions, she works to ensure efficiency, efficacy, and safety in the delivery of patient care.
Traci completed a doctoral project on Waveform Capnography Use in Moderate Sedation and IV Analgesia and has worked with ANCC in developing a national emergency nurse practitioner board certification and is active in nurse practitioner lobbying and legislation. An expert in the prehospital and transport environments, she has taught classes nationally and internationally and is working on an infrastructure project currently in Nigeria. Traci was recognized as one of Baylor Health Care Systems top directors for clinical and operational performance. She has also worked with the U.S. Army in developing and delivering a critical care field medicine course for their Special Forces medical personnel, which was utilized in Iraq, and Afghanistan resulting in decreased field mortality numbers.
Traci formerly served as a Director of Emergency and Critical Care Services at Baylor Health System. While there, she was able to develop Left Without Treatment plans, Door to Provider Time reduction plans, Ventilator Acquired Pneumonia Practice protocols and Central Line and Sepsis bundles in their clinical transformation.
Traci received her Doctorate of Nursing Practice Degree from Chatham University. She also holds a Masters of Business Administration from Brenau University in Gainesville, GA and an undergraduate degree from Texas Tech University. Traci is clinically certified as an Adult and Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner clinically and operationally certified as a Six Sigma Blackbelt. Traci is based out of the Houston, TX office.
Becky Tucker currently serves as the system senior vice president of Channel Integration for Texas Health Resources (THR). In her current role she oversees key strategic and operational initiatives for the health system including business growth, business continuity, patient family experience, transformational management, design and deployment, joint venture partnerships, the THR call center, patient navigation, the central staffing office, patient logistics center, and Security.
Becky Tucker most recently served as the president of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth and Clearfork. As president, Becky led the overall management and strategic programming of Texas Health Southwest and Clearfork hospital operations which consists of 263 combined critical, medical, surgical, and emergency beds, 1,400 employees, 650 active medical professionals and almost 100 volunteers.
Becky Tucker served as vice president of Integrated Health Campuses (IHCs) at Texas Health Resources. As vice president of IHCs, Becky led the overall management of Texas Health Resources’ Integrated Health Campuses (IHC) operations and oversaw the alignment and evolution of all IHC care integration across the continuum. Centers included site-specific combinations of ambulatory surgical services, outpatient diagnostic imaging, emergency care and/or urgent care, rehabilitation/therapy services including cardiac rehabilitation, outpatient behavioral care services, chronic disease management, health behavior education and well-being services.
Becky served as administrator of Texas Health Neighborhood Care & Wellness Burleson, oversaw Texas Health Harris Methodist physician timeshares in Saginaw, Keller and Burleson and managed the development of Texas Health’s second IHC, Texas Health Neighborhood Care & Wellness Willow Park in Parker County, which opened in January of 2015.
Becky has been a part of the Texas Health family for 22 years. She first worked as an administrative assistant in the Medical Staff Affairs office of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano. While working at Texas Health Plano full-time, Becky completed graduate work in business and healthcare administration. She transitioned into a healthcare administrative residency position at Texas Health Fort Worth where she continued her fellowship.
In 2006, Becky transitioned to director of ambulatory clinics and physician services where she was responsible for the Assisted Reproductive Technology Service, Executive Health program and physician referral development.
In 2007, Becky began development of Texas Health Burleson. As administrator of Texas Health Burleson, she and her team signed more than 2,000 members to its fitness center, achieved patient satisfaction scores for Likelihood to Recommend in the top 5 percent of the nation, and secured Joint Commission accreditation for all new services, College of American Pathologists Commission on Laboratory accreditation, American College of Radiologists accreditation for MRI and CT, and chest pain accreditation from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care.
Becky earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology with a minor in biological science from The University of Texas at Austin. She also holds master’s degrees in health care administration and business administration from Texas Woman’s University.
Becky is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, a board member for the Fort Worth Leukemia and Lymphoma Society where she also serves on the executive leadership committee for the Visonary of the Year campaign. Becky was the 2023 Tarrant County American Heart Association Go Red co-chair. She is a past board member of the United Way of Tarrant County, former chair of United Way of Tarrant County Young Leaders Society, past board member and vice chair for the Alzheimer’s Association of North Central Texas. Plus, Becky served as the president of her local early childhood PTA for three years.
In addition, Becky is a Fellow with the Texas Hospital Association (THA) and the past chair for THA’s Leadership Development Council. In 2012, Modern Healthcare named Becky as one of it’s Up and Comers in Healthcare. In 2014 she was selected as one of Fort Worth Business Press’ 40 Under 40 and was awarded the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council’s Young Healthcare Executive of the Year award. Lastly, in 2019 Tucker was awarded the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Fort Worth Woman of the Year and was recognized as a Fort Worth Business Press Healthcare Hero in 2020.
Becky is enjoying parenthood with her husband, Toby. Her son Tavin is 10 and daughter Landon is 5. Becky, Toby, Tavin, and Landon spend as much time as possible outside with their dog Whiskey.
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Certified Lean Six Sigma 8-Hour Yellow Belt Certification Course
2023-10-21 09:00 - 18:00 | Virtual
Curious about what it takes to become a change maker? Want to learn about process improvement and how to eliminate wastes, errors, defects, and inefficiencies from day-to-day work?
ACHE of North Texas is proud to present an 8-Hour Online Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification Course.
There are 5 Lean Six Sigma levels: White, Yellow, Green, Black and Master Black. The first level is the White Belt. It is the foundational course. Yellow Belt is the second level. You are not required to take the White Belt course before the Yellow, but if you have very little knowledge of Lean Six Sigma and want to learn more about the foundational aspects of Lean and Six Sigma, you may want to take the White Belt course first. The Yellow Belt course is required to be completed before the Green Belt course, as it teaches you the basics of how to use the Lean Six Sigma tools, methods, and techniques, and will help you to be more successful as a Green Belt, so you won’t be overwhelmed with information when starting out as a new Green Belt.
The Yellow Belt builds upon the foundations of what is learned in the White Belt course. You will learn how to bring together a team of Subject Matter Experts and use the Lean Six Sigma DMAIC Methodology to identify where the problems are, determine the root causes, and implement long-term, sustainable improvements to eliminate wastes, errors, inefficiencies, and defects from day-to-day processes.
The 8-Hour Online Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification course was created with healthcare in mind. The scenarios and simulations that are discussed are from a healthcare perspective and were based on real-life process and quality improvement projects that had previously been successfully completed.
Lean and Six Sigma have been proven to be very successful methods to eliminate wastes, errors, inefficiencies, and defects for many, many years. You can apply these methods, tools, and techniques in your home and work lives. This course is 100% online, is coached/taught in a live Zoom meeting by Certified Master Black Belt, Tanya Stinson. Tanya will support you throughout the entire course. Once the course is completed, there will be an online, open book exam that will be required to be completed. You must pass the certification exam with at least a 70 to get your LSSYB certificate.
What’s included:
• Discuss Lean, Six Sigma, Change Management, as well as other tools, techniques, and methods
• Simulated Healthcare Environment and Healthcare Project Examples Based on Real-Life Projects That Were Completed
• Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Course e-book
• Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification Exam
• Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Toolkit
• Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certificate via Email
• Live Coach Instruction and Support Throughout the Entire Course
• 100% Success Rate
Course Coach/Instructor: Tanya Stinson, MHQS, CLSSMBB, MCBA, CRP
Founder/CEO/Master Consultant of Leaning Towards Change, LLC
Supervisor of Data Governance at Texas Health Resources
Virtual Platform: Zoom

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Tanya Stinson is very passionate about Performance/Process Improvement and Change Management. Her Motto is “Changing the World, One Improvement at a Time.” Tanya is a Certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt has a Master’s degree in Healthcare Quality and Safety, a Master Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma, and 15+ years’ experience in leading, coaching, and mentoring professionals in completing Lean Six Sigma, Quality, Compliance, Risk and Safety initiatives. Tanya has well-rounded and knowledgeable skill sets, as she has worked in various industries, such as mining, utilities, manufacturing, technology, and healthcare. Tanya is passionate about helping others by sharing with them what she has learned and helping to create positive changes within any organization.
Tanya has been working for Texas Health Resources since June 2017. Currently, she is a Supervisor of Data Governance Support for Texas Health Resources. Tanya was a Performance Engineer/Coach for Texas Health Resources for 4 years. To help others to grow on their PI journeys, Tanya started a woman owned small business in 2000 called Leaning Towards Change, LLC. Since moving to the DFW area and starting her small business, Tanya has successfully coached and certified over 100 White Belts, over 500 Yellow Belts, and over 100 Green Belts. Below are just a few of her awards/accolades:
• Womelle Magazine: She’s Possible – Top 25 Female Influencers of 2023
• 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, Tanya is a wife and mother of 4 handsome young men. She loves to fish, go camping, and loves classic cars!
Tanya is thankful that you have chosen to read about her accomplishments, and she looks forward to helping you on your PI journey! She hopes you will love Process/Performance Improvement and Change Management as much as she does!

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2023 ACHE of North Texas Summit/Convocation
2023-10-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Irving Convention Center, 500 West Las Colinas Boulevard, Irving, TX, 75039, United States
We are excited to announce the 2023 ACHE North Texas Annual Summit. In years past, this event has been called a Convocation. This year, we are enhancing the event with a new, more dynamic format, so we’ve adjusted the name to reflect that advancement. We are also encouraging attendees to bring their significant others as the format and program are designed for a wider audience.
When you arrive, you’ll be given your nametag and ushered into a spacious area where all attendees can gather, socialize, and network. We will have a cash bar and complimentary food stations located throughout the venue for you to get the beverages and food of your choice. We will have both high-top and sit-down tables for your use. We encourage everyone to socialize as broadly as possible to take advantage of this more relaxed and inviting venue. This format replaces the formal sit-down dinner to provide ample time and space for attendees to mix and mingle.
Instead of an extended educational program, we will have a series of three 10-minute TED-talk-style presentations that will be scattered throughout the night. Our featured speakers will be authors Lee Colan and Julie Davis-Colan and Lenetra King. Lee and Julie wrote a book called Healthy Leadership: How to Thrive in the New World of Work. Lenetra wrote a book entitled Unwritten Insights: A Career Playbook for People of Color. Lee and Julie will speak about principles of healthy leadership, and Lenetra will address how those principles apply to leaders of color. You will be invited to pause your conversations briefly during their discussions, then you can return to your mixing when they are finished. All attendees will receive free signed copies of Lee and Julie’s book. We appreciate their generous offer of support to ACHE.

We hope you are excited about our new, dynamic format. At ACHE of North Texas, we will continue innovating to ensure our events are of the highest quality and are the most engaging and educational for you. We believe this approach to the annual Summit helps us achieve our vision of “Making a lasting impact on the world of healthcare.”

Our Summit Speakers:

Lee Colan and Julie Davis-Colan have been encouraging and equipping leaders for healthy growth since 1999. They are both former corporate leaders and current CEO advisors. Lee is an organizational psychologist and Julie is a corporate health strategist. In addition to advising CEOs, they have authored 16 leadership books that have been translated into 10 languages. They will share practical insights and tools from their latest book, Healthy Leadership.

Lee is the Co-founder of The L Group, Inc. He is an organizational psychologist, CEO advisor, independent director, and leadership consultant. He received his Ph.D. in organizational psychology from George Washington University. He is a former corporate executive and consultant with two premier consulting firms. Lee is also the Independent Director for Pacific Seafood, the largest vertically integrated seafood company in North America. He is a Best-selling author of 16 leadership books and has been nominated for Top Management Thinker globally by Thinkers50.

Julie is also the Co-founder of The L Group, Inc. She is a corporate health strategist, CEO advisor, executive coach and leadership consultant. Julie received her M.S. degree in preventive medicine at the Ohio State University College of Medicine. She is a former leader at the National Center for the American Heart Association. She is a best-selling author of 8 leadership books. Julie is one of 1,200 people globally to be certified as a Positive Psychology Practitioner by the Flourishing Institute.

Lenetra King, FACHE, is the founder of Watch Me EXCEL®, a pioneering leadership development firm that works with organizations to help them engage, develop and retain talented leaders. With her deep and rich expertise as a senior hospital executive, she created LeadAmplifyEXCEL®, a proprietary framework for leaders to amplify their personal brand, maximize their leadership performance and drive results for their companies.
She is a sought-after speaker frequently called on to share her perspectives, especially related to the intersection of race and gender in leadership and is the author of Unwritten Insights: A Career Playbook for Leaders of Color.
Lenetra serves as Executive in Residence in the Department of Health Services Administration at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is an honors graduate of Florida A&M University, received her MSHA degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and MBA degree from Rockhurst University.

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Note: Exhibitor Booths are available – please contact info@achentx.org for details.

A special thanks to our Platinum and 2023 Summit Presenting Sponsors, Access TeleCare and Children’s Health!

ACHENTX Fourth Quarter Education Event
2023-11-02 15:00 - 19:00 | Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children – Frisco, 5700 Dallas Parkway, Frisco, TX, 75034
These panels have been approved for 1.5 ACHE Face-to-Face credits each (3.0 if you attend both).
Agenda:
3-3:30pm – Check-In & Networking
3:30-5pm – Panel 1: The State of Healthcare: Industry Leader’s Perspectives
5-5:30pm – Break
5:30-7pm – Panel 2: Crisis Management: Strategies to Effectively Manage a Healthcare Organization
Panel 1 Speakers:
W. Stephen Love (Moderator), President & CEO, Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council
Aaron Bujnowski, FACHE, Director, IDN Lead, Chartis
Fraser Hay, FACHE, President, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano
Pamela Bryant, SVP/Chief Supply Chain Officer, Parkland Health
Panel 2 Speakers:
Christi Nguyen, FACHE (Moderator), Associate Chief Nursing Officer of Nursing Excellence, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Lance Lynch, Consultant, Adaptiv Consulting Solutions
Hollis Mignogno, Vice President of Global Security, Cardinal Health
Rob Monaghan, System Director, Business Continuity and Emergency Management, Baylor Scott & White Health

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Speakers’ Bios:
Pamela Bryant is the Senior Vice President & Chief Supply Chain Officer for Parkland Health. Parkland is one of the largest public hospitals in the country with more than 1 million patient visits annually. Pamela has over 20 years of supply chain experience and leads a team of over 200 personnel and is responsible for all aspects of the supply chain, including procurement, strategic sourcing, informatics, logistics, distribution, vendor management and equipment/asset management. She has a proven track record in driving cost reductions, supporting dynamic growth, implementing new initiatives, improving operational efficiencies, and driving supplier diversity.
Pamela earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, and Master of Business Administration degree from Averett University in Danville, Virginia. She is an advisory board member of The Association for Health Care Resource & Materials Management (AHRMM) and previously served as president of the local chapter North Texas chapter. She also serves as the Board Chair for the Southwestern Medical TIF District Board, is a board member of the Dallas Fort Worth Minority Supplier Development Council (DFW MSDC) and is the immediate Past President and board member of the Women’s Business Council Southwest (WBCS).
Aaron Bujnowski is a Director and IDN Lead with Chartis. Mr. Bujnowski’s healthcare career spans over 17 years. He focuses on developing innovative enterprise strategies that enable integrated delivery networks and their leaders to create lasting competitive advantage. He also helps PE firms to effectively make buy- or sell-side decisions and deliver increased value through their portfolio companies.
Prior to joining The Chartis Group, Mr. Bujnowski was the system Chief Strategy Officer at Texas Health Resources, a ~$5B integrated health system where he spent nearly nine years. He was responsible for developing and implementing strategies across the entire enterprise, including acute, post-acute, ambulatory, physician, consumer, and value-based approaches His experience includes more than four years with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he served as a core member of BCG’s strategy and health care practices. He was also a founding member of BCG’s PE practice, spending time on Wallstreet working on deals with many of the country’s largest PE firms.
While at Chartis, Mr. Bujnowski has worked with large IDNs on major strategic efforts, including enterprise strategy development and implementation, service line strategy and structure, consumer strategy, and strategic and community partnership development. He has also helped accelerate the growth of the PE practice, working on buy-side due diligence efforts and sell-side efforts in the health provider space. Leveraging his previous in-house strategy experience, he has also worked on value-enabling efforts for PE portfolio companies, which have resulted in identifying significant sources of organic and inorganic growth and operational efficiencies for his clients.
Mr. Bujnowski holds a master’s degree in business administration from The University of Texas at Austin, where he graduated with the highest honors. He also holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in chemical engineering with a biomedical emphasis from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, where he graduated with honors. He is currently a candidate to receive a Doctor of Science in Healthcare Leadership from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In 2015, Mr. Bujnowski became a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and is president-elect of its North Texas Chapter.
Fraser Hay is the President of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano where he oversees the daily operations, strategic planning, business development, and hospital culture for the more than 1,800 employees, 150 volunteers, and 1,000 active medical staff professionals.
Fraser received his BBA in Finance from the University of Oklahoma and then his Masters’ in Health Administration from Trinity University. He completed his residency with INTEGRIS Health in Oklahoma City before eventually joining Texas Health Resources where he has served as an executive in progressive leadership roles since 2010.
He is a Fellow with the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and was honored as the 2015 Young Healthcare Executive of the Year by the North Texas Chapter of ACHE, and the 2017 Young Healthcare Executive of the Year by the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council.
Fraser is actively involved in his profession, community, and church serving on several boards. He is blessed to have the love and support of his wife, Lindsay, and their three children.
Mr. Stephen W. Love is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council which promotes collaboration, cooperation, and advocacy on behalf of its 90 member hospitals. The Hospital Council also has approximately 100 Associate Members (business and industry), including prominent accounting, legal and consulting firms. The primary mission is to drive evidence-based improvement in patient care and health equity in North Texas. He was the United Nations Association Award Winner in 2018 for Global Goals. He served as 2015 Chair for the Conference of Metropolitan and Regional Hospitals Association in the United States. He received the 2020 D CEO’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He also received the Dallas Medical Society’s Millard J. and Robert L. Health Award for a non-physician providing outstanding leadership to the community. He 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 45 years. He has demonstrated leadership in tax exempt, investor-owned, specialty and private hospitals in operations, finance, and corporate governance. Prior to joining the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council, Mr. Love was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of a Fortune 500 healthcare company that owned over 50 hospitals and managed approximately 200 facilities in the United States.
Lance Lynch began his career in Emergency Medical Services in 2003 and served as a 911 paramedic, field training officer, and certified flight & critical care paramedic. During this time, he participated in and chaired several patient safety, performance improvement, and educational committees while providing clinical education for various public safety programs in the community college setting and serving as Regional Faculty for the American Heart Association. While finishing his undergraduate degree in Emergency Medical Care Administration at Western Carolina University, Lance turned his attention to hospital-based emergency preparedness, response, and resilience. Lance holds an MBA in organizational consulting from Michigan’s Spring Arbor University, a Certified Business Continuity Professional certification through Disaster Recovery International, Inc., and is a Certified Healthcare Emergency Professional through the International Board for Certification Services and Management. Since serving as Chair of the North Central Texas Trauma Regional Advisory Council, JPS, and Parkland, Lance began serving as a consultant for various healthcare organizations Emergency Management programs throughout the country.
Lance currently resides in the Fort Worth area with Julia, his wife & biggest cheerleader of 17 years and Natalie, his 7 year old daughter.
As a Vice President of Global Security for Cardinal Health, Hollis Mignogno is responsible for security operations and programs at Cardinal Health worldwide. She also has accountability for Travel, Meetings & Events, Trade Shows, Business Resiliency and the Security Operations and Intelligence Center (SOIC). Hollis’ key responsibilities include crisis management and pandemic planning, supply chain integrity, international travel and security, and training for the organization. Hollis has been with Cardinal Health since October 2001, working in the Corporate Aviation Department for two years, and in the Global Security Department for the past 20 years. She is a member of OSAC (Overseas Security Advisory Council) and ASIS (American Society for Industrial Security), and participated on the Pharmaceutical Council, serving as Vice-Chair in 2012 and Chair in 2013. She has been a Board Member for the Dublin Chamber of Commerce since 2022. She holds a BS in Criminal Justice from Ohio Dominican University. She gives back to the community by supporting time and resources to the American Heart Association and is on their Central Ohio Executive Leadership Team, she is the Executive Sponsor for Cardinal Health, and has been a Team Coach since 2008.
Rob Monaghan is a distinguished Homeland Security, Emergency Management, and Business Continuity professional with a wealth of experience in program management and interagency coordination. Currently, he holds the position of System Director of Business Continuity and Emergency Management at Baylor Scott & White Health. In this capacity, Rob offers strategic guidance, sets the program’s direction, and provides leadership to ensure optimal emergency management practices. His proficiency in developing comprehensive plans and conducting training exercises has been exemplified through successful responses to critical incidents, such as a flooded hospital evacuation and a NICU fire. Furthermore, Rob is an active participant in public education and community outreach, contributing his expertise to speaking events and organizing regionwide training events. Complementing his practical expertise, Rob holds a Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Administration & Planning from the University of North Texas. He is engaged in various professional organizations, including the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) and Disaster Recovery Institute (DRI), Rob is dedicated to advancing emergency management practices and ensuring communities remain resilient in the face of adversity.
Dr. Christi Nguyen is the Associate Chief Nursing Officer of Nurse Excellence. She is an experienced nurse leader in the inpatient and ambulatory settings holding prior leadership positions at community and academic medical centers. Dr. Nguyen is also a Clinical Assistant Professor with the University of Texas at Arlington’s MSN Nursing Administration program and a faculty advisor in the DNP program.
Dr. Nguyen has worked in multiple areas of nursing, including oncology, home health, hospice, case management and as a wound and ostomy nurse.
She earned both her Bachelor and Master of Science in Nursing and Healthcare Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington and her Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Texas Christian University. Dr. Nguyen is certified as a Nurse Executive Advanced and a Fellow in the American College of Health Care Executives.
Dr. Nguyen is a member of the American College of Health Care Executives, American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), Texas Organization for Nursing Leaders (TONL), and North Central Organization for Nursing Leadership (NCONL). She serves as the AONL Region 7 Board Director and is President-Elect on the DFW Great 100 Nurses Board.

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Breakfast with the Vice President and Administrator - Kevin Greene
2023-11-14 07:30 - 09:00 | Cook Children’s Medical Center Prosper, 4100 West University Drive, Prosper, TX, 75078
Be sure to join us for our next quarterly Breakfast event!
Kevin Greene is the Vice President and Administrator for Cook Children’s Medical Center – Prosper, Cook Children’s Health Care System’s newest medical campus located in Prosper, Texas. Kevin is responsible for the executive operational oversight and strategic vision for the medical center.
Kevin also has a passion for volunteering in the community where he currently serves as the president-elect for the Town of Prosper’s Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and on Prosper ISD’s Education Foundation Board. Outside of his engagements in the community, Kevin participates on the Texas Hospital Association’s Emerging Leadership Forum and the Dallas Regional Chamber’s Policy Advisory Council, Health Care Task Force and Innovation Task Force.

Immediately following the breakfast, for those able to stick around, there will be a 15-20 minute tour as well of their ICU suite, surgical area, in patient unit and infusion center.
A big thanks to Kevin and Cook Children’s Medical Center Prosper for hosting us for this event!

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Ensuring Your Community’s Emergency Preparedness
2023-11-16 10:30 - 12:00 | Virtual
Another joint great event offered by the East, North and Midwest Texas ACHE chapters. . . .the first of four panels offered this November.
This panel has been approved for 1.5 ACHE Virtual Face-to-Face credits.

In the best of circumstances, healthcare organizations operate in a complex environment. This can be exacerbated when a community faces a local or national emergency, either natural, human-caused, or technological, that thrusts the healthcare system to the forefront of response and makes it the focus of recovery efforts. It is critical that the local healthcare community be actively engaged in the development of comprehensive emergency preparedness plans, training, and exercises to ensure that local organizations communicate and coordinate their mutual support in service to the community.

Moderator: Matt Richardson, FACHE, DrPH, MPH
Director of Public Health
Denton County
Panelists:
David Abernathy
Mayor
City of Pittsburg, Texas
Walter Cassity
Senior Vice President of Real Estate, Public Safety, Environment of Care & Emergency Management
Baylor Scott & White Health
Dr. Rohith Saravanan
CEO
Curbside Consult, LLC

Speakers’ Bios:

Mr. David Abernathy is a fifth-generation resident of Pittsburg, is the son of the late D. H. Abernathy, who was mayor of Pittsburg for 52 years. He has a son, David H. E Abernathy.
He has served the citizens of Pittsburg and Camp County for most of his life. David has been a volunteer firefighter for over 47 years and was co-founder and 13-year president of Camp County Emergency Medical Service (EMS). He developed the first city/county emergency management plan and served as emergency management coordinator and as county fire marshal for over 30 years, without pay, and is a reserve deputy sheriff. David initiated our citizen emergency alerting system. He and his father built eight fire trucks for the city and county, donating their labor, and he has helped design four others.
David is a trustee for the First United Methodist Church and for the Northeast Texas Rural Heritage Museum. He retired as an Assistant Chief with the Texas Forest Service, where he helped manage major disasters and events throughout the nation, including two Super Bowls, and provided training and assistance to a multitude of agencies including the Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Texas Department of Public Safety. He was appointed by two Texas governors to the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. David is the owner of Abernathy Training and Consulting and sits on state and national public safety committees.

Walter Cassity is senior vice president of real estate, public safety, environment of care and emergency management at Baylor Scott & White Health, the largest not-for-profit 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 his role, Cassity implements the System’s real estate strategy and oversees programs that mitigate, prepare and respond to workplace hazards and emergencies in accordance with federal, state and local standards. He previously served as vice president of environment of care & emergency management, police, public safety and security. Earlier in his career, he was corporate director of environmental safety & emergency management at Baylor Health Care System and safety manager and safety technician at Baylor University Medical Center. Cassity holds a master’s degree in public administration— executive health care administration and a bachelor’s degree in industrial safety from the University of Texas at Tyler. He previously earned an associate degree in environmental health & safety from Texas State Technical College.

Dr. Matt Richardson was appointed as the Director of Public Health for Denton County in the summer of 2014. Dr. Richardson previously served as Director with the City of Amarillo and Potter/Randall Counties for 9 years. Dr. Richardson has authored peer-reviewed publications, testified to the Texas Legislature regarding public health issues and continues to advocate for public health practice and resources for Denton County and the state of Texas. He has a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Abilene Christian University and both Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Public Health from the University of North Texas. He is currently board certified and Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Dr. Richardson also serves as an accreditation site reviewer for public health programs in universities across the US. Matt lives in Argyle with his wife of 24 years and their two daughters.

Dr. Rohith Saravanan is a physician executive with over 15 years of broad experience across the healthcare industry, including clinical care, quality, regulatory compliance, business development, operations, community partnerships, and strategic growth. He started his career in clinical medicine as a family physician providing care for the underserved population, and quickly grew into leadership roles in operations and strategy, in progressively larger settings. He has led physician groups, urgent care & occupational medicine networks, ACOs, and acute care hospitals.

Dr. Saravanan is a dynamic physician executive adept at assessing needs, developing solutions, and implementing positive changes to achieve sustainability and growth in challenging market conditions. He is exceptional at building teams and strengthening strategic business relationships. He has a history of streamlining clinical operations, increasing revenue, and reducing costs to maximize value. People describe him as an inspirational leader with a humanitarian spirit. With his proven track record of success, his broad educational background and his diverse management and clinical experience, he is the type of a well-rounded healthcare leader that boards, investors, and other executives can depend on.

As a business leader he has the knowledge, creativity and imagination that allows him to be innovative, and his endurance and hard work help him see projects through. He is confident and enthusiastic, yet self-aware; fair and patient, yet decisive; and he operates with the utmost integrity and possesses steadfast virtue. His unique style combines inspirational leadership with humility, a commanding presence, and a calming demeanor. He cares deeply about people, develops leaders in all those he touches and has a strong heart for community service.

Dr. Saravanan’s passion in life is to a make positive impact in the communities he serves on a progressively larger scale. Having previously held multiple executive positions within the healthcare corporate setting, he has deep industry experience in direct care delivery, outpatient/inpatient operations, strategic planning & business development in the for-profit and non-profit sectors. He has recently embarked on an entrepreneurial journey to acquire and operate his own medical practice group.

He is also the Co-Owner and Executive Chairman of ameriCARE Texas, a non-medical personal care franchise currently based in the DFW area. Additionally, he has invested in and serves as a medical advisor to mobriseHealth, an AI powered digital health startup in the remote patient monitoring and chronic care management space.

Fun fact: Dr. Saravanan grew up in 5 different countries throughout his life and can speak 5 languages. He loves to travel, cook, and spend time with his wife (also a physician) and 2 kids.

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Crisis Management: Strategies to Effectively Manage a Healthcare Organization
2023-11-16 12:30 - 14:00 | Virtual
Another joint great event offered by the East, North and Midwest Texas ACHE chapters. . . .the second of four panels offered this November.

This panel has been approved for 1.5 ACHE Virtual Face-to-Face credits.

Preparing for an unplanned or unexpected event, such as a natural disaster, pandemic, civil disturbances, medical error or labor disputes (e.g., union labor) causes physical, psychological and emotional stresses that can overwhelm employees, medical staff, patients and communities. In the event of a crisis, the quality and efficiency of care delivery may be challenged and typically takes a toll on every part of the organization. Lack of the unknown or uncertainty is also a challenge that healthcare leaders face in the time of crisis. Healthcare leaders need to understand ways to prepare their organization for unforeseen circumstances, which includes developing a communication plan, managing organizational resources, such as medical supplies, levels of patient care and leveraging local and state resources and funding.

Moderator: Jonathan Sell
Founder and CEO
Innovative Solutions Management
Panelists:
Serena Bumpus DNP, RN, NEA-BC
Chief Executive Officer
Texas Nurses Association
Dr. William Hooks, MD, MBA
Chief of Anesthesiology/Medical Director, Perioperative & Procedural Services
Titus Regional Medical Center
Kenneth Hutchenrider, Jr., FACHE
President
Methodist Richardson Medical Center

Speakers’ Bios:

Dr. Serena Bumpus currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Texas Nurses Association where she is responsible for providing oversight of related entities and programs including the Texas Nurses Foundation and the Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses and other programs as identified. She is responsible for executing the ongoing vision for the association as it relates to the changing healthcare landscape and the nursing profession. As the CEO of the largest professional nursing organization in Texas, Serena has the unique opportunity to build strategic relationships with constituent and partner organizations to elevate and advocate for nursing governance and practice based on evolving issues affecting nursing practice and policy in Texas and nationally. She is well positioned to influence and lead meaningful change for the profession of nursing and healthcare.
Dr. Bumpus’s nursing career spans over 21 years where she has held various positions from staff nurse to Nurse Executive. She has demonstrated a strong career trajectory with involvement in leadership, governance, and advancing the nursing profession. She has made significant strides in improving outcomes and advancing nursing practice throughout her career.
Serena received her Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2019 from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock. She is also an active and engaged member of numerous professional nursing organizations. It was her involvement in these professional organizations early on in her career that triggered a passion for health policy impacting both patients and nurses. She firmly believes empowered nurses can drive meaningful change at the local, state, and national level when they use their collective voices together.

A native of Mt. Pleasant, Dr. William Hooks is the Chief of Anesthesiology and the Medical Director for Perioperative & Procedural Services at Titus Regional Medical Center. Additionally, he performs minor pain management procedures such as epidural steroid injections, trigger point injections and joint injections. Dr. Hooks joined the medical staff of TRMC in 2016 after serving for 13 years in the United States Navy where he completed residency and served as an Anesthesiologist and Flight Surgeon.

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. Under his direction, Methodist Richardson has received accreditations as a Chest Pain Center, a Comprehensive Stroke Center, and Level 3 Trauma Certification and Nursing Magnet Certification.

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 and 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.

Ken has received many accolades, including the American Heart Association SOAR Award, the Community Health System Outstanding Achievement Award, and Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He is actively involved in the community and is past Chairman of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce. Ken is past Regent, Texas Northern for the American College of Healthcare Executives. Finally, Ken is the current Richardson City Councilperson for Place 5.

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. He is also a private pilot.

Jonathan Sell is the Founder and CEO of Innovative Solutions Management, a staffing and consulting firm, and the Executive Director of Booker EMS. He is a recent graduate of Yale University School of Medicine’s Online Physician Assistant Program (MMSc) and has agreed to begin working with a focus on rural Emergency Medicine at Ochiltree General Hospital in Perryton Texas once he obtains his Texas License.
Additionally, Jonathan also holds his Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from TTUHSC and multiple undergraduate degrees. Sell has two decades of experience in Emergency and Disaster Medicine and has been deployed as a Task Force Leader by the Texas Emergency Medical Task Force (EMTF) to disasters including hurricanes, wildfires, tornados, mass casualty events, and more. Sell has a passion for both direct patient care, as well as for creating sustainable healthcare systems to serve as the framework for individual patient care. His focus continually is on compassionate individual care, clinical excellence, and system efficiency. This has carried over to his various deployments where the normal “systems” are overwhelmed or out of service.
Outside of work, Jonathan is married to his wife Caitlin and the father of two boys. Together they raise a variety of animals on their family farm, and enjoy sports, games, and time with extended family. In the rare moments that Jonathan finds silence, you would likely find him reading a good book, likely about history.

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AHLC End of Year Event: Cultural Immersion – Healthcare and Beyond
2023-11-16 18:00 - 20:00 | SpinSci Technologies LLC, 14850 Quorum Drive #150, Dallas, TX, 75254
Immerse in a cultural experience and join us in festivities as we celebrate another year of creating safe and brave spaces. Spaces where we can embrace our full selves and find strength in our diversity. Wear something unique to your culture, bring a cultural delicacy if you like, and come join us in an evening of exploration, celebration, and mingling! We look forward to seeing you all.

o Keynote – Kim Cummings
o Closing Comments – Felixia Colon
o AHLC Year in Review – Angela Michael

Speakers’ Bios:

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. Her passion for healthcare improvement is cemented firmly in her experience as the advocate and care navigator for her mom (oncology) and daughter (prematurity). For over a decade, Angela has engaged healthcare cross-functional teams with a strong focus on quality improvement, performance excellence, project management and clinical analytics. In her current role, she collaborates with leaders at all levels of the organization to advance patient care and employee engagement.

Kim Cummings, SCP, SPHR is senior vice president, Human Resources, Talent and Workforce Planning at Children’s Health based in Dallas, Texas. In this role, Kim leads HR and Talent strategy including workforce/people transformation initiatives, succession, and supports cross-market enterprise-wide talent development initiatives for the Dallas market.
Kim has over 25 years of HR experience in a variety of leadership roles encouraging and promoting employee engagement in companies that include BNSF Railway, BELO Broadcasting, Burger King Corporation, Dell and Target Corporation. Kim is a thought leader in the space of Diversity & Inclusion receiving numerous community service and business awards that include “HR Professional of the Year” designation by Ogletree Deakins Law Firm and the Dallas Chamber of Commerce, DiversityFIRST™ Award, Top women in Healthcare recognition from the National Diversity Council, Texas Most Powerful Business Women by Texas Diversity Magazine and the SWJC Audrey Kaplan Inspiring Women Southwest award.
Kim received her Bachelor degree in Social Work from Texas State University graduating from the University’s Emerging Leader program and was inducted into Who’s Who in College & Universities students. Kim received her Master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin in Human Resource Development & Leadership. She holds a Senior Professional designation in Human Resources and certified employee relations credentials. Kim is a professional member of the Fort Worth Human Resources Group and National Society of Human Resource Management.

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). Currently, she serves as President of for the North Texas Chapter of ACHE. She has also served as an elected Board position with ACHENTX and as ACHENTX’s Vice-Chair for the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
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Reinventing Customer Service in Healthcare: Lessons Learned from the Best
2023-11-30 10:30 - 12:00 | Virtual
Another joint great event offered by the East, North and Midwest Texas ACHE chapters. . . .the third of four panels offered this November.

This panel has been approved for 1.5 ACHE Virtual Face-to-Face credits.

Consumer-driven services in business and the need for efficiency are accelerating changes in the way organizations operate and compete. Many consumers today are taking greater control of their purchasing power and healthcare decisions and are demanding excellence in service. The challenge is how to give them the best service in a meaningful and economic way.
Organizational survival relies on healthcare leaders with the vision, determination and courage to test various methods of enhancing the patient experience. Patient expectations are being set by other industries; for example, the airline industry, in which Southwest Airlines is the only airline that has turned in profitable years for 33 consecutive years, consistently achieved the best on-time performance, received the fewest customer complaints and fewest mishandled bags, is consistently cited for the best customer service, the smartest management and as the most fun place to work. Can the principles from a culture like Southwest Airlines help healthcare win the hearts and minds of their employees?

Moderator: Paula Turicchi, FACHE
Chief Strategy Officer
Parkland Community Health Plan
Panelists:
Monica Anderson, MS, CPXP
Valued Base Consultant, Customer Experience Leader
Baylor Scott and White Health Texas -East Region
Aaron Davis, MSHA, FACHE, CPXP
Vice President & Chief Experience Officer
UMC Health System
Brandi Jaco
Director of Patient Experience
CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic

Speakers’ Bios:

Monica Anderson, MS, CPXP is currently a Valued Base Consultant, Customer Experience Leader for Baylor Scott and White Health Texas -East Region. She is an experienced, passionate and outcome -oriented healthcare leader that leverages foundation is Psychology, Valued Based Consulting, and Executive Transformational Healthcare Leadership.
Monica Anderson has been a champion for cultivating and maintaining high performing teams by developing relationships of trust and respect, as well as building unity amongst peers, team members and organization leaders to effectively align with and support key hospital initiatives. She is qualified in both outpatient and inpatient customer experience operations, with a proven track record of HCAHPS performance improvement. She focuses on transforming teams through awareness and engagement in action plans using Relationship Center Communication and celebrating success.
Her clinical psychology background and experiences have assisted in her ability to lead and build effective teams, create framework for growth, engage team members to achieve results and adapt to the ever-changing healthcare environment to meet patient and business needs. Monica has been instrumental in forming and coaching staff on vision, strategy, and tactical plans for successful execution of system-wide result improvements.

Aaron Davis, MSHA, FACHE, CPXP has been with UMC Health System for 16 years.
Beginning as a Patient Service Assistant, Aaron progressed throughout the Health System, first as a Health Unit Coordinator, second a Staff Supervisor, third a Department Director, and now currently serves as the systems first Vice President & Chief Experience Officer.
Aaron currently oversees Patient Experience, Corporate Marketing, Sponsorships, Regional Outreach, Employee Wellness & Resilience, Pastoral Care, and Volunteers & Guest Services.
Aaron holds a bachelor’s in business administration from Texas Tech University, a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from Texas Tech Health Science Center and received his Green Belt in Lean/Six Sigma from Villanova University. Aaron is also a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Over the past six years, Aaron has organized efforts to maintain high patient experience results – achieving national rankings/awards, from four separate comparison database organizations. Furthermore, he has led efforts to strengthen partnerships with UMC’s surrounding regional hospitals, visiting all 50 referring facilities annually, ultimately leading to increased referrals and market share.
Aaron is actively involved in the community; he serves as a Board Member for Community Health Center of Lubbock and The Salvation Army. He is an active member of the Lubbock ISD Partners in Education Committee and has served for several years on the Program Review Board for the Lubbock United Way. Lastly, but most importantly, Aaron is passionate about his faith, family, and serving others.
Brandi Jaco is a Director of Patient Experience with almost 20 years of working to help and heal the vulnerable while listening to their voices to improve processes. Brandi currently specializes in Patient Experience and leads a successful team with CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic, that has seen marked improvement in patient loyalty, and has led the industry by implementing a strong large-scaled service recovery program. Developing authentic relationships is the foundation of what she does both professionally and personally. Brandi spends all of her free time attending practices, games and school events with her 3 sons and husband and serving how she can in the Children’s ministry of her church.

Paula Turicchi, FACHE, is Chief Strategy Officer, at Parkland Community Health Plan in Dallas, Texas. The health plan serves more than 185,000 members in Medicaid’s STAR, CHIP, and CHIP Perinatal programs through a network of more than 6,000 providers and 40 facilities located in 7 counties in the Dallas service delivery area.

Previously, Paula served as the Vice President of Hospital Operations and Administrator of Women and Infant’s Specialty Health (WISH) at Parkland Health & Hospital System. She was instrumental in the design and construction of the New Parkland Hospital facility and the Moody Center for Breast Health. Paula played a key role in completing the System Improvement Agreement (SIA) and Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) from 2013 to 2018. In addition, she chaired the Women’s Health Advisory Committee of Texas which was created by Texas’ 84th Legislature to advise the Health & Human Services Commission on consolidation of women’s health programs.

Paula was a 2018 Texas Hospital Association Leadership Fellow. She is board certified in Healthcare Administration and holds a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Trinity University and Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

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Disruptive Innovation in Healthcare Delivery
2023-11-30 12:30 - 14:00 | Virtual
Another joint great event offered by the East, North and Midwest Texas ACHE chapters. . . .the last of four panels offered this November.
This panel has been approved for 1.5 ACHE Virtual Face-to-Face credits.

Disruptive innovation, a term coined by Harvard professor Clayton M. Christensen, is a transformative business model that leverages technology to help focus on making products and services more accessible and affordable. In healthcare delivery, disruptive innovations have the potential to decrease costs while improving both the quality and accessibility of care. Disruptive innovations enable new applications and changes in behaviors. The current thinking with many innovators is a belief that a host of disruptive innovations would have wide implications for payers by shifting payment models to reward precision diagnostic tests and abilities of providers. Several current disruptive innovations like retail clinics, telemedicine, medical tourism, and point-of-care medical payments are making a major difference in how health care is delivered. This panel will focus on the role of innovation in the medical marketplace and examples of disruptive innovations that will change lives in healthcare.

Moderator: Aaron Bujnowski, FACHE
Director and Integrated Delivery Network Segment Lead
Alvarez & Marsal
Panelists:
Brad Prugh
Chief Executive Officer
Care Continuity
Dr. Leslie Wainwright
Chief Funding and Innovation Officer
Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation
Dr. Stormee Williams
Vice President & Chief Health Equity Officer
Children’s Health System

Speakers’ Bios:

Aaron Bujnowski just recently joined Alvarez & Marsal to be their Director and Integrated Delivery Network Segment Lead. Prior to that, he was a Director with The Chartis Group and leader of the Integrated Delivery Network (IDN) practice area. Mr. Bujnowski’s healthcare career spans over 14 years. He focuses on developing innovative enterprise strategies that enable integrated delivery networks and their leaders to create lasting competitive advantage.

Prior to joining The Chartis Group, Mr. Bujnowski was the system Chief Strategy Officer at Texas Health Resources, where he spent nearly nine years. He was responsible for developing and implementing strategies across the entire enterprise, including acute, post-acute, ambulatory, physician, consumer, and value-based approaches. His experience also includes more than four years with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he served as a core member of BCG’s strategy and health care practices. Mr. Bujnowski previously held various leadership positions in new venture development and innovation at The Dow Chemical Company for more than nine years.
Fluent in Spanish, Mr. Bujnowski is co-inventor of six U.S. patents, certified as a Six Sigma Black Belt and has volunteered his services through many national organizations. To name a few, he was a Red Cross volunteer for Katrina Relief in New Orleans, a full-time missionary and humanitarian volunteer in Chile, South America, and served as an executive board member for the Boy Scouts of America. He was featured in the award-winning book, Intangibles: The Unexpected Traits of High-Performing Healthcare Leaders by Amer Kaissi, PhD.
Mr. Bujnowski holds a master’s degree in business administration from The University of Texas at Austin, where he graduated with the highest honors. He also holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in chemical engineering with a biomedical emphasis from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, where he graduated with honors. In 2015, Mr. Bujnowski became a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).

Brad Prugh joined Care Continuity in 2020 with over two decades of experience in healthcare technology, operations, and business development. Prior to assuming the CEO role, Brad served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of the company. Before joining Care Continuity, Brad held senior leadership positions at Conifer Health Solutions, MedeAnalytics Inc, and Perot Systems.

Brad is an accomplished leader who is passionate about using technology to help healthcare organizations improve the lives of patients. He is a strong advocate for innovation and collaboration, and he is committed to building a culture of excellence at Care Continuity. He has a proven track record of driving revenue growth, optimizing operations, and delivering results for healthcare clients.

Prior to his career in healthcare technology, Brad served as an officer in the United States Army for 5+ years, where he honed his leadership and teamwork skills. Brad is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and holds a Master of Health Administration from Ohio University.

Dr. Leslie Wainwright joined the Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation [PCCI], as their Chief Funding and Innovation Officer in March 2019. Prior to this role, she oversaw RTI International’s Innovation Advisors health practice where she worked with health systems and technology developers to guide the development and adoption of impactful healthcare innovations. She has also served in executive roles at Sg2, AVIA and Business Models Inc., a Dutch-based innovation consultancy.
She is passionate about entrepreneurship and innovation, and has experience that spans academic research, pharma/biotechnology and healthcare delivery. Leslie has worked with executive teams from multi-national organizations and startups alike to design growth strategies, create alternative business models and evaluate emerging clinical and care delivery technologies. Additionally, she has spent several years addressing innovation and how healthcare organizations build their own sustainable innovation competencies. Leslie is a frequent speaker and facilitator on the future of healthcare, enabling technologies, disruptive innovation and emerging business models, both domestically and abroad.
Leslie received her PhD in microbiology at Northwestern University, completed postdoctoral research training at the University of Maryland’s Center for Vaccine Development and received a B.A. in Biology from DePauw University. She serves as a clinical advisor on the Board of Start-up tech companies and has served as faculty teaching strategy and innovation at Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. Additionally, Leslie is passionate about STEM education and is in the Women’s Board of the Field Museum in Chicago, working with the museum to expand opportunities for girls in science.

Dr. Stormee Williams is the Vice President and Chief Health Equity Officer at Children’s Health System in Dallas, Texas. She is a board-certified pediatrician who began her career in federally qualified health centers and community health clinics having a strong desire to work with underserved populations. Over the last decade, she worked to transform the way children receive medical care through innovation and telemedicine. She helped develop the fastest-growing school-based telemedicine program and continues to work with national organizations to improve telemedicine access and quality. Dr. Williams’ work promotes health equity and strives to diminish the many disparities evident within health care. She is responsible for providing the organizational strategy around health equity, including identifying social determinants of health and creating pathways to improve health outcomes for marginalized groups. Dr. Williams enjoys serving the community and hopes to continue her work to expand quality healthcare access to those who need it most.

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After Hours 2023 Holiday Networking Event
2023-12-07 17:30 - 20:30 | BowlGames, 139 Turtle Creek Boulevard #Suite 120, Dallas, TX, 75207
Please join us for our end of year ACHE of North Texas holiday networking event. In addition to this special time of networking, attendees will also have the opportunity to play the games offered at BowlGames in the Dallas Design District.
Please Note: this event will also include a tacky holiday sweater contest as well – so be sure to wear your “finest.”
Event includes:

Crudité and Taco bar
Cash bar
Tacky Sweater contest

Darts – no charge
Shuffleboard – no charge
Foosball – no charge
Dominoes – no charge
Pool Tables – $1/game
PIN TOSS (a cross between football, bowling and cornhole): located in the cages and is an additional cost. Attendees may purchase “Open Play” wristbands for $14.50.
Ample parking available

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