President/CEO
CHRISTUS Health, Irving, Texas
Healthcare executives face traditional problems like changes to government regulations and payment programs, staff shortages and patients seeking care elsewhere. We face new challenges such as cybersecurity threats and increased consumer demand for greater price transparency and easier access to healthcare providers. As our focus continues to shift to more patient-centric care delivery, we must innovate in a sustainable way through full system integration and population health alignment.
Healthcare leaders need to be resilient, approachable and offer genuine graciousness. Most of us chose this field to help others, but that intent can get lost in the day-today running of a business. It is incumbent on us to take time to interact with and understand the people who choose our healthcare services, who provide those services and who lead our organizations.
Being a member of ACHE provides me with opportunities to collaborate with peers as we transform the healthcare model to meet the growing needs of the communities we serve and helps me stay current on healthcare trends and strategies to contribute to organizational success.
Partnership is a key component of the CHRISTUS Health vision. By adding hospitals and working with others, we have become the third-largest private healthcare system in Mexico, are delivering high-quality healthcare in Chile and recently launched the first population health venture in Colombia. In the U.S., our partnerships in nonacute care delivery, in clinically integrated networks and with our communities enable us to fulfill CHRISTUS’ mission.
Board and Executive Committee Member, Texas Hospital Association
Advanced Member, Health Care Financial Management Association
Chair, Illinois Hospital Association Policy Council
Member, Illinois Hospital Association Blue Ribbon Committee-Medicaid