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(AUSTIN, Texas – March 10, 2021) – The Texas Hospital Association names Phyllis Cowling, president and CEO of United Regional Health Care System in Wichita Falls, as the recipient of the 2020 Earl M. Collier Award for Distinguished Health Care Administration in recognition of her dedication to the health care industry. The award was presented at THA’s 2021 Annual Conference and Expo – held virtually this year.
The Earl M. Collier Award is the highest honor bestowed by THA. It recognizes outstanding executives who have distinguished themselves through their contributions to the health care industry and their profession, who are leaders in providing quality health care services and active in THA and other industry groups.
“I’ve had the honor of knowing and working with Phyllis for the last few decades. She is a dedicated, hard worker who exemplifies excellence in health care. She is a fervent advocate for access to quality health care. I cannot think of someone more deserving of this year’s Collier Award,” said Ted Shaw, president and CEO of THA.
Over the last 16 years at United Regional, Cowling oversaw a large expansion of the hospital’s campus and capabilities and earned national recognition for excellence in patient care. In 2013 and 2014, United Regional was named one of the Top 100 Hospitals by Truven Health Analytics. It was also named an Everest Award winner in 2014, one of only 14 hospitals in the nation awarded the designation, which measures long-term improvement of a hospital.
Cowling’s accomplishments reach far beyond the hospital walls. Cowling emphasizes community health, ensuring that those in her area can get high-quality health care without traveling to a big city. She believes that no matter where in the state you live, you deserve access to excellent health care.
A Texas native, Cowling received her MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and her Bachelor of Accounting from East Texas State University. She is a certified public accountant in Texas and a Fellow of HFMA.
About THA
Founded in 1930, the Texas Hospital Association is the leadership organization and principal advocate for the state’s hospitals and health care systems. Based in Austin, THA enhances its members’ abilities to improve accessibility, quality and cost-effectiveness of health care for all Texans. One of the largest hospital associations in the country, THA represents 452 of the state’s non-federal general and specialty hospitals and health care systems, which employ some 400,000 health care professionals statewide. Learn more about THA at www.tha.org or follow THA on Twitter at https://twitter.com/texashospitals.