Growing Texas Hospital Voices: The THA Leadership Fellows Class of 2025

In just about a month, the 2026 Leadership Fellows Cohort will walk through the THA doors and start their first module out of four. But every year since 2014, a select group of established and emerging hospital leaders step into a room together for the first time. By the end of their year in the THA Leadership Fellows program, those same individuals have become confident advocates – for their hospitals, for their teams and for Texas health care.

The 2025 cohort is no exception except for one. This particular class convened in Austin during a roller coaster of a legislative session that ended with two special sessions alongside capping off their last module – which usually lands during the second module of a four-module series – right before THA’s first ever fall annual conference.

Over the course of the year, they’ve built connections, gained insight into how policy shapes hospital operations, acquired the skills needed to effectively utilize this knew knowledge and discovered their own capacity to lead beyond their own titles or job descriptions. The program brings together diverse professionals from across the state – from rural administrators to large-system directors – and gives them the tools to turn ideas into action.

“Over the past 11 years of this program, I’ve had the privilege of working with hospital leaders from across Texas – representing hospitals of all sizes, types, geographies and resources,” said Lindsay Thompson, vice president of education and governance programs at THA. “Bringing these diverse perspectives together in one room to analyze and workshop ideas and policies is just as valuable as the subject matter experts who teach our curriculum. Sending each cohort back to their communities as champions for positive change helps THA fulfill its mission and extend its impact across the state.”

Finding Their Voice

From the very beginning, the Fellows are immersed in the “why” behind hospital advocacy – not just the legislative process, but the human side of influencing policy. Early modules introduce the heartbeat of THA’s work: advancing hospital care through education, engagement and storytelling.

As the modules progress, the group evolves from listeners to leaders. They practice communicating complex hospital issues in plain language, role-play conversations with legislators, and learn how to frame hospital stories that resonate beyond boardrooms and budgets. By midyear, many describe feeling more confident stepping into spaces where policy decisions are made.

A large part of this confidence building can be contributed to the hands-on exercises and workshops that are included in the program to offer practical application of the skills the cohort is learning. As an example, this class had the opportunity to participate in the first THA created board game relating to hospital finance. The game was a fun, fictitious exercise in managing a hospital budget and deciding financial challenges and policy opportunities.

05152025_Fellows_ModIII-15 - Texas Hospital Association — ***2025 Fellows play one-of-a-kind THA hospital finance board game during an in-person module.***

The exercise brought to life the real challenges hospitals face daily and served as a valuable opportunity to collaborate, strategize and problem-solve.

“This program has been an eye opener into everything that goes on beyond our hospital walls,” said Lee Prater, MHA, BA and senior director clinical operations at Scottish Rite Hospital for Children Frisco. “Before the program, [advocacy and policy] were a little bit of a blind spot. We all know it goes on, but don’t really know what it all is about. It was impactful to learn about things that you wouldn’t normally tackle on a day-to-day basis.”

Turning Insight into Action

The program’s centerpiece – and its most transformative element – is the capstone project. Fellows work in small groups to identify a current gap in policy or initiatives under a policy priority area facing Texas hospitals, develop solutions and craft an advocacy plan grounded in data and collaboration. Along the way, they receive coaching from THA staff and mentors who help them refine their message and connect ideas to policy opportunities that could carry their work beyond the walls of the classroom and scope of the program.

Each conversation, presentation and brainstorming session builds toward the moment when their ideas take center stage.

The Culmination: Presenting at the THA Annual Conference

At the 2025 THA Annual Conference, the Fellows’ year of hard work comes full circle. Two groups from the five-group cohort were selected to present their projects in front of hospital executives, peers and policymakers. Each project is set to present a clear, actionable proposal to improve care, operations or access across Texas and gain buy-in from their peers in the room. For many, it’s both a graduation and a launchpad: a chance to showcase the power of informed, collaborative advocacy.

The result isn’t just a certificate – it’s a community. The relationships built through the Fellows program often continue for years, connecting leaders across the state who share a passion for doing what’s right for Texas hospitals and patients.

“One of the best parts has been the relationships that have been made during my time in the THA Leadership Fellows program,” said Krista Baty, BSN, RN and chief administrative officer at Hendrick Medical Center Brownwood. “I know that if there is anything that comes up that I can count on anyone in my class to lean on. It’s nice to know that you have those relationships and contacts in different parts of the state that you can reach out to.”

Class of 2025 Leadership Fellows Cohort

This year’s THA Leadership Fellows Class of 2025 represents hospitals and systems across Texas, united by a commitment to serve their communities and strengthen hospital advocacy.

2025 Cohort:

Elizabeth (Ellie) Adamson	DNP, DNI, MSN, RN	Director of Clinical Operations	HCA Rio Grande Regional Hospital	McAllen
Mitchell Akers	BS Animal Science, Doctor Physical Therapy	Director of Rehabilitation	Eastland Memorial Hospital District	Eastland
Krista Baty	BSN, RN	Chief Administrative Officer	Hendrick Medical Center Brownwood	Brownwood
Parker Beasley	BSBA (Finance) MBA, MSHA	Director of Operations	Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital McKinney	McKinney
Nathan Cintron	MBA	Associate Administrator	El Paso Children’s Hospital	El Paso
Wilson Dingmore	MHA, BS Economics	Director of Clinical Operations	Baylor Scott & White	Waco
Ashley Dowler	MBA, MS, BS	Chief Operating Officer	Doctors Hospital of Laredo	Laredo
Hannah Gelbs-Gadd	MA Hospital Administration	Chief Operating Officer	HCA The Woman’s Hospital of Texas	Houston
Mariam Hammad	RN	Chief Nursing Officer	DHR Health	McAllen
Heather Johnston	BS HR Development, MA Business Administration	Vice President of Human Resources	Medina Healthcare System	Hondo
Ray Porter Long	MBA	Director of Performance Improvement	University Medical Center	Lubbock
Juan Navarro	BBA, BA	Assistant CFO	DHR Health	Edinburg
Barbara Obert	BA, MHA	Vice President, Pauline Allen Gill Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders	Children’s Health	Dallas
Karen Orozco	MBA BA-OMT Associates of Applied Science	Outpatient Imaging Operations Manager	Midland Memorial Hospital	Midland
Elizabeth (Lee) Prater	MHA, BA	Senior Director Clinical Operations	Scottish Rite Hospital for Children	Frisco
Shonda Roberts	BSN, RN	Infection Control Nurse	Eastland Memorial Hospital District	Eastland
Candice Smith	MSN	Chief Executive Officer	Hereford Regional Officer	Hereford
Ann Varghese	MBA, MHA, BS	Administrator, UTMB Clear Lake & League City Campus	University of Texas Medical Branch	League City
Alex Wanee	MBA	Chief Executive Officer	Red River Hospital	Wichita Falls
Anthony Williams	BA	Vice President, Corporate Compliance / Deputy Compliance Officer	Harris Health System	Bellaire
Nikoma Wolf	MBA	Chief Operating Officer	Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Irving	Irving
Kelly Wright	MBA	Director Radiology	Midland Memorial Hospital	Midland
Nori Zapata	MBA Science in Nursing Education	Senior Vice President of Education and Career Development	DHR Health	Alton

These leaders now join a growing network of Fellows alumni who continue to shape hospital policy, strengthen community partnerships and elevate the collective voice of Texas health care.