Congratulations to THA’s September Newsmakers

THA members making headlines for their leadership efforts.

 More

Sponsored by In-Flow Executives, THA’s Newsmakers highlights leaders from THA member hospitals and health systems making headlines in Texas health care. Please join in congratulating our September Newsmakers:

Teresa Batchelor

Teresa Batchelor
UT Health Athens

UT Health Athens has named Teresa Batchelor CFO. She joins the hospital from the University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus in Topeka. Her previous experience also includes serving as CFO of Hillcrest Hospital Henryetta (Okla.) and Hillcrest Hospital Cushing (Okla.).

David Irizarry

David Irizarry
Corpus Christi Medical Center

David Irizarry has been named CEO of Corpus Christi Medical Center. Irizarry is CEO of HCA Healthcare Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville. He will remain CEO of Valley Regional Medical Center until a new CEO is appointed. Irizarry became CEO of the Brownsville hospital in 2022. Since then, he helped launch its neuro endovascular program and a graduate medical education program with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine in Edinburg, and HCA’s Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen.

Travis Laird

Travis Laird
Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin

Travis Laird has been named COO of hospital planning and operations at Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin. In his role, Laird will lead the development and operation of the UT specialty care hospital opening in 2030 as part of The University of Texas Medical Center. Previously, Laird spent 18 years as an executive leader at Cleveland Clinic, and was involved in the development, construction and operation of hospitals in both domestic and international markets.

Robert Nelson

Robert Nelson, BSN, RN
Big Bend Regional Medical Center

Robert Nelson, BSN, RN, has been named CEO of Big Bend Regional Medical Center in Alpine, Texas. Nelson brings nearly 30 years of health care leadership, most recently as interim CEO and chief nursing officer at Alta Vista Regional Hospital in Las Vegas, N.M.

Michael Rousso

Michael Roussos, MSHCA
Memorial Hermann Health System

Memorial Hermann Health System has announced Michael (Mike) Roussos will be joining the organization as senior vice president, president of academic hospitals and CEO, Memorial Hermann – Texas Medical Center Campus. Roussos brings more than two decades of experience as a health care executive and administrator. Most recently, he served as president of VCU Medical Center, Virginia Commonwealth University Health, in Richmond, Va. Prior to that, Roussos served as the hospital administrator for University Health in San Antonio, where he provided executive oversight of the teaching hospital and premier Level I trauma center in South Texas.

Jared Shelton

Jared Shelton, FACHE
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth

Jared Shelton has been appointed president of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth. He most recently served as president of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford. During his two years at the helm of the Bedford, Texas-based facility, Shelton led patient experience and employee engagement efforts.

Spencer Turner

Spencer Turner
Medical City North Richland Hills

Spencer Turner has been named CEO of North Richland Hills, Texas-based Medical City North Hills. Turner has more than two decades of health care leadership experience, most recently as chief development officer at Medical City Dallas, an 899-bed acute care hospital.

In-FLOW Executives

Do you have a colleague making news in Texas health care? Send us a nomination for THA Newsmakers!

Related articles from The Scope

2026 Newsmakers in Texas Hospitals

2026 Newsmakers in Texas Hospitals

Julia Mann Oct 29, 2026 4 min read

THA’s Newsmakers are hospital executives and leaders from THA-member hospitals…

Diverse professionals posing for a selfie at a healthcare event, badges visible, in front of a blue Texas-themed bus.

Texas Hospital Leaders Connect, Collaborate and Prepare for What’s Next

Julia Mann Sep 24, 2026 7 min read

Texas hospital and healthcare leaders gathered in Fort Worth Sept.…

Celebrating Hispanic Leaders in Texas Hospitals

Celebrating Hispanic Leaders in Texas Hospitals

Julia Mann Sep 15, 2026 6 min read

National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from Sept. 15-Oct. 15…

Smiling middle-aged man in a dark suit and yellow tie stands in front of a blue-tinted medical campus backdrop.

How Will Healthcare Show Up on the Ballot in Texas Midterms?

Emma Bittner Sep 10, 2026 4 min read

With the midterm elections gearing up and critical deadlines approaching,…

Group of eight professionals holding microphones, speaking on stage at a conference, with white outlines around each figure for emphasis (informative).

THA’s 2026 Leadership Fellows Class Tackles Texas Healthcare Workforce and Access

Julia Mann Aug 12, 2026 4 min read

Strong hospitals depend on strong leaders — not only to…

Smiling man in a checkered suit in the foreground with a group of professionals and a government dome in the background, blue-tinted image.

How the THA Leadership Fellows Program Prepares Texas Hospital Leaders

Alex Price Jun 16, 2026 6 min read

The THA Leadership Fellows program brings together Texas hospital leaders…