Please tell us a little about your background and what inspired you to pursue a career in healthcare:
What initially inspired me to pursue a career in healthcare was my father. At 70 years old, he is still a practicing OBGYN in Corpus Christi. I loved seeing the impact he made in so many people’s lives growing up and I originally wanted to pursue medicine to make a similar impact in my community. I got my undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science from Texas A&M, but during my senior year, medical school did not feel like what I was being called to pursue. I was introduced to Texas A&M’s School of Public Health by a friend and classmate. I toured the school, met the professors and also visited with a couple hospital CEO’s in my hometown. Those interactions made me excited to pursue hospital administration.
After getting my MHA, I took an administrative residency with East Texas Medical Center at their hospital in Pittsburg, TX. That one year residency ended after 3 months and they moved me to oversee their location in Mt. Vernon, TX. I had no intentions of going the rural route, but it provided a great opportunity for me to learn the core departments of hospitals and become a hospital executive so early in my career. After six years with ETMC, I took a for profit COO position in Oklahoma City and then a VP of Operations role with Texas Health Resources. An opportunity presented itself in April of 2023 to be part of Mid Coast Health System and help fight for stabilization and sustainability for rural hospitals.
What activities do you like to do in your free time?
We have two young girls, 7 and 4, so most of our time spent with them and their activities. We do enjoy watching the Aggies play any sport and are in College Station often. Growing up in Corpus, I love the water. I try my best to get to the beach or the bay as often as possible. My father and I still surf together, and my brother and I fish. If I have any other free time, I will try to play some golf.
What is your favorite ACHE memory or activity?
As an early careerist, trips to Congress are memories I cherish. The sessions were always good, but the networking with former classmates and their colleagues was the best part. One year at Congress the weather was an incredible sunny and 75 degrees the entire time. That year we might have spent more time at Lake Michigan than sessions, ha.
How do you envision healthcare in the next 10 years?
I am most excited for the technological advancement in the next 10 years. We are only scratching the surface of AI right now. Telehealth will need to be more accepted and accessible to fight the challenges of healthcare workforce shortages. Without increased regulations for insurance companies, I would envision an increase in hospital mergers or closures in 10 years.
