THA’s Newsmakers highlights leaders from THA member hospitals and health systems making headlines in Texas health care. Please join in congratulating our January Newsmakers:
Michael Garcia, JD, RN
Houston Methodist Hospital
Michael Garcia, JD, RN, has been selected as the new CEO of Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. Garcia, who has currently served as the COO of Houston Methodist Hospital since 2015, will begin his new role on Feb. 5. Previously, he served as a vice president of operations responsible for all Houston Methodist Hospital operating rooms. Garcia played an essential role throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, working with leaders in all hospital departments to coordinate patient care delivery. He was responsible for understanding frontline clinical staff needs, anticipating the number of incoming COVID-19 patients, ensuring the appropriate PPE is available, educating staff, and coordinating with physicians and other hospitals to pool resources.
Cody Hunter
Methodist Celina Medical Center
Dallas-based Methodist Health System has appointed Cody Hunter president of Methodist Celina Medical Center, a $237 million facility set to open in 2025. Hunter has already assumed the new role and is working to plant Methodist’s roots in the community while keeping the construction project on track. Hunter joined the health system in June 2021 as vice president of operations at Methodist Richardson Medical Center. In this role, he oversaw $80 million in capital projects and is leading the development of a multidisciplinary ASC on the hospital campus. The 12-hospital system partnered with Surgery Partners last year to acquire and open ASCs in North Texas.
Adrienne Joseph, PhD
Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital
Adrienne Joseph, PhD, has been named CEO of Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital. Dr. Joseph brings more than three decades of health care experience to the position. Most recently, she has served as COO of Houston Methodist Baytown since 2020. Houston Methodist Baytown is part of the Houston Methodist system, which comprises an academic medical center in the Texas Medical Center and six community hospitals. Her leadership has contributed to several recent improvements including the completion of the five-story Unity Tower expansion project and the impressive rise in patient safety rankings by Vizient, a health care quality organization.
Patrick Lee, MD
Central Health
Central Health has named Patrick Lee, MD, the new president and CEO of Travis County’s hospital district. Dr. Lee is a practicing internal medicine physician, health care executive and most recently system chairman of medicine for One Brooklyn Health in New York. The hospital district provides health care services, access, and coverage to more than 152,000 people with low income in Travis County. Dr. Lee was chosen by Central Health’s Board of Managers after a six-month national search including multiple consultations with the community. The committee chose Dr. Lee for his clinical expertise combined with his proven innovative approach that they believe will help Central Health implement its Healthcare Equity Plan and build a better safety-net health care system in Travis County.
Harry Lemming
Glen Oaks Hospital
Glen Oaks Hospital, a behavioral health hospital in Greenville, Tex., has named Harry Lemming its next CEO. Lemming has worked in the health care industry since 2006. Most recently, he served as CEO of Texoma Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Center in Sherman, Tex., a role he assumed in 2020 during the challenges posted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to his long-standing career in hospital administration, Lemming has also exemplified his dedication to health care in other initiatives including participating in THA’s Leadership Development Council.
Jacob Stercula
Las Palmas Medical Center
Jacob Stercula has been named COO of Las Palmas Medical Center in El Paso. He previously served as assistant CEO of Lake Granbury Medical Center in Granbury, Tex., where he led plans for a $16 million freestanding emergency facility, coordinated a $3.5 million catheterization laboratory renovation and oversaw the completion of an upgraded women’s services department.
Sean C. Tinney, FACHE
Cedar Park Regional Medical Center
Cedar Park Regional Medical Center has named Sean C. Tinney, FACHE, as its new CEO. He has currently served as COO of Medical West, an affiliate of UAB Health System in Birmingham, Ala., since 2013. Under his guidance, Medical West achieved strong improvements in operational efficiency and patient satisfaction. Prior to this role, Tinney held positions as the president and COO for Ascension St. Vincent’s East in Birmingham, and as the president of rural hospital operations for Ascension St. Vincent’s. Tinney has also been recognized as one of Becker’s Hospital Review’s Rising Stars – 25 Healthcare Leaders under 40 in 2015, and one of Modern Healthcare’s Up and Comers for 2013.
Do you have a colleague making news in Texas health care? Send us a nomination for THA Newsmakers!
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