THA’s Newsmakers are leaders from THA-member hospitals and health systems making headlines in Texas health care. Please join in congratulating April’s Newsmakers:
Ana Almeda, M.D.
Driscoll Children’s Hospital Rio Grande Valley
Ana Almeda, M.D., has been selected as the first chief medical officer for Driscoll Children’s Hospital Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, Tex. In addition to leading efforts to enhance safety, quality and access to care, Dr. Almeda will oversee development of the region’s first pediatric residency program. Most recently, Dr. Almeda worked in several administrative roles at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She has provided pediatric critical care services in the Valley region for 12 years.
Sean Dardeau
Texoma Medical Center
Sean Dardeau is the new CEO of 414-bed Texoma Medical Center in Denison. Dardeau most recently served as COO of Mercy Health – Cincinnati, part of Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Mercy Health, where he oversaw the operations of five Mercy Health hospitals. Before Mercy Health – Cincinnati, Dardeau served as market CEO for Valparaiso, Ind.-based Northwest Health’s Porter Regional, La Porte and Starke hospitals.
Nathan Deal, M.D.
HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake and HCA Houston Healthcare Mainland
Nathan Deal, M.D., has been named chief medical officer of both HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake and HCA Houston Healthcare Mainland in Texas. Dr. Deal will also oversee care and operations for other facilities associated with the two hospitals. Prior to joining HCA Healthcare, Dr. Deal was an executive for Ben Taub Hospital, a Harris Health-owned facility in Houston.
Arianne Dowdell
Houston Methodist
Arianna Dowdell was recognized as one of Modern Healthcare’s Top Women Leaders to Watch for 2023. Dowdell currently serves as the vice president and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer at Houston Methodist. Dowdell believes prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion is key to promoting health care transformation. With that in mind, she has built a system-wide strategy that includes launching employee resource groups, starting a scholarship program and creating training modules.
Theresa Meadows
Cook Children’s Health Care System
Theresa Meadows, senior vice president and chief information officer at Cook Children’s, has been named a recipient of the 2023 Baldrige Foundation’s Leadership Awards for the incredible work she is doing to improve cybersecurity for the health care industry. Baldrige helps thousands of organizations across the country and around the world, in all sectors of the economy, pursue performance excellence which, in turn, makes a positive difference in people’s lives.
Tim Rye
Peterson Health
Tim Rye has been named chief strategic development officer for Peterson Health. Rye has been with Peterson Health for over 10 years, having previously served as the vice president of medical group practice and practice administrator prior to that. Rye’s career in health care administration spans two decades.
Do you have a colleague making news in Texas health care? Send us a nomination for THA Newsmakers!