Garcia, Nancy

Nancy Garcia, a registered nurse with 26 years of experience, including a decade as an advanced practice registered nurse-family nurse practitioner, has dedicated her career to leadership roles across various healthcare domains. Over the past 25 years, she has successfully led teams in Surgical and Procedural Services, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, Nursing Services, Patient Flow, Respiratory, and Quality and Patient Safety. Known for her humble and caring approach, Mrs. Garcia has consistently delivered quantifiable results, developed impactful programs, implemented new service lines and demonstrated an unwavering commitment to organizational success. With a keen eve for process improvement, she efficiently identifies and addresses challenges, employing lean methodology to eliminate non-value costs. Mrs. Garcia has a history of attracting, mentoring, and retaining top talent, showcasing her competency in team building. Passionate about nursing as a profession, Mrs. Garcia actively encourages and supports advanced education and professionalism within her teams. As a strong patient advocate, she tirelessly works to enhance care settings, ensuring the highest quality patient care and outcomes while fostering a healthy work environment. Mrs. Garcia' educational journey includes earning her Associates of Applied Science Degree in Nursing in 1999. Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix in 2010, Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas Pan-American in 2014, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree with a concentration in Executive Leadership from Abilene Christian University. Beyond her professional commitments, Mrs. Garcia is deeply engaged in community service. She volunteers as a Community Event Coordinator for the Girls Scouts Mission Service Unit and actively contributes to advisory committees for UTRGV DNP, STC Nursing and Allied, and TSTC Surgical Technology program. She has previously served on boards for community service organizations, including Rio Grande Valley Diabetes Association, TRAC-V, and DHR Health System, and acted as Quality and Patient Safety Council Co-Chair for the Texas Hospital Association. In her leisure time, Mrs. Garcia enjoys reading and graphic design. Outside of her professional and community pursuits, she finds joy in being a wife to Gus and a mother to two school-age children, Tre and Emma. The Garcia family stays actively involved in traveling to sporting events, practices, sports camps, and enjoying memorable family vacations.

Whitehead, Stephanie

Stephanie Whitehead is an accomplished professional with long standing career in the healthcare industry. Currently serving as the Executive Director of Pathology Services at a University Health hospital in South Texas, Stephanie brings a wealth of expertise and leadership to her role. With a strong commitment to delivering exceptional patient care, she oversees a team of dedicated professionals, ensuring the highest standards of pathology services are maintained. In addition to her executive responsibilities, Stephanie is also the co-host of the well-known podcast "eLABorate Topics". Through this international platform, she actively engages with experts and thought leaders in the field, fostering insightful discussions on cutting-edge advancements and challenges in the realm of healthcare and pathology. Beyond her professional commitments, Stephanie is a certified executive coach and mentor, dedicating her time and expertise to guiding others. She is an ardent advocate for various professional organizations, currently serving as the Chair for the Council of Laboratory Professionals (CLP) and on the Board of Directors for the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP). Additionally, she serves on the editorial board member for Today's Clinical Lab Magazine. Stephanie's exceptional contributions have garnered recognition and accolades. She has been honored as a 2022 ASCP 40 under 40 and the 2022 ASCLS Voices under 40 laboratory professional. Her influential impact in the field has earned her the prestigious 2023 Lab Manager Leadership Excellence Award for Influential Impact, and she has been listed on the well-regarded 2023 Cardinal Health Laboratory Excellence List. Outside of her remarkable career in laboratory medicine, Stephanie actively engages with her local community. She is involved with the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Girl Scouts of America, making a positive impact beyond the confines of her professional sphere.

Kernell, Shane

Shane Kernell is an experienced and respected executive currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Graham Regional Medical Center. He has extensive experience as the CEO of community-based acute care medical centers in Texas and over 30 years of combined healthcare experience, starting as a medic in the United States Air Force in 1991. Mr. Kernell has a history of improving all aspects of a medical center's operations, including volume growth, patient experience scores, patient outcomes, and financial performance. Mr. Kernell holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, Texas. He is board-certified in healthcare management as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Throughout his career, Mr. Kernell has been active in his community, serving in various capacities for several non-profit organizations, including Rotary International and the Chamber of Commerce.

Tice, Robin

Robin Tice serves as the Chief Nursing Officer at Eastland Memorial Hospital, bringing over a decade of nursing experience to her role. As CNO, Robin has spearheaded transformative changes, overhauling staffing and minimizing the need for contract nursing. Beyond her academic and professional achievements, Robin is personally invested in nurturing the growth of her nursing team. Drawing from her own experiences, she provides mentorship and guidance, empowering nurses to advance in their capabilities and careers. Robin's leadership extends beyond the administrative realm, making a tangible impact on the professional development of her colleagues. Robin's commitment to excellence is underscored by her recent completion of the Rural Health Nurse Certification from the University of Texas at Arlington and induction into Sigma Theta Tau. These accomplishments reflect her dedication to staying at the forefront of nursing knowledge and best practices. Her focus on rural health care is evident in her efforts to expand services, ensuring quality care remains accessible to the community.

Richburg, Melanie

Dr. Melanie Ann Richburg is the CEO at Lynn County Healthcare System in Tahoka. Melanie worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner in Tahoka Texas at the Family Wellness Clinic Rural Health Clinic for 16 years until her transition to the role as CEO in 2018. In 2005, Melanie transplanted her love of Rural Health to Tahoka, Texas, where she has been the last 18 years. She works for Lynn County Hospital District (LCHD) providing care to patients seen in the Family Wellness Clinic as well as the hospital emergency and inpatient departments. In 2020 Melanie co-wrote two telemedicine grants for Lynn County Healthcare System. The organization received funding from FCC and USDA. This will assist in the placement of telemedicine equipment in Schools, Nursing Homes and Jails. Under the direction of Melanie, LCHS has expanded the delivery sites for Primary Care, opening up clinics in Post, Borden County and New Home. Fulfilling the Vision of LCHS… Healthcare Closer to Home … for more rural communities. Melanie grew up on a 180 acre cotton farm in Rural West Texas and being able to make a difference in delivering healthcare to Rural America is a dream come true. Love what you do… and do what you love… Melanie Ann Richburg loves Rural America and feels blessed every day she can give and share with her rural community.

Moss, Lisa

Lisa Carlton Moss is a dedicated and accomplished healthcare professional with a passion for improving patient outcomes and system policies. With a career spanning 27 years as a nurse, Lisa is currently serving as the Program Director System Policy at CHRISTUS Health. Born Snyder, TX, Lisa discovered her calling for nursing early in life. She pursued her Nursing Diploma at Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Lubbock, TX, followed by her BSN from University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston. This solid educational foundation laid the groundwork for her future educational journey. Lisa earned her Master of Public Administration with a Healthcare Administration focus from Texas Tech University followed by a Master of Arts in Communication – Organizational Leadership from the University of Alabama. Lisa's journey in nursing began 27years ago, marked by compassion, dedication, and a commitment to providing the highest quality care to patients. Beginning in Labor and Delivery and transitioning to NICU, Lisa’s commitment to family centered care focused on compassion, equity and education shaped her drive for excellence in patient care. Over the years, she honed her clinical skills in various healthcare settings, moving into quality and patient safety earning a reputation for her exceptional principles and leadership qualities. A firm believer in the importance of continuous learning, Lisa actively engages in professional development opportunities. She stays abreast of the latest advancements in healthcare policies, ensuring that her leadership is informed by the most current industry standards. Lisa has earned her Certified Professional in Health Care Quality from the National Association of Healthcare Quality and is currently a Coach for her organization’s NAHQ Workforce Accelerator Program. In her current role as the Program Director System Policy at CHRISTUS Health, Lisa plays a pivotal role in shaping and implementing policies that enhance the overall healthcare system. Her strategic vision and collaborative approach have been instrumental in driving positive changes within the organization. Outside of her professional endeavors, Lisa is newly married and is remodeling her home with her husband, Mat. She and Mat love to travel and experience new places together. Her well-rounded approach to life enriches her perspective as a healthcare leader.

Martin, Kelly

Kelly Martin, vice president chief human resources officer, is a 21-year veteran of Texas Health Resources. She spent six years as the Entity Human Resources Officer at Texas Health Plano. During her tenure there, she focused on increased employee retention as well as top decile employee engagement results. Prior to that, Kelly worked as a Human Resources Manager and served in several employee relations roles where she worked closely with employees and others in Human Resources. Kelly has also been involved with various system projects, such as the design and deployment of the employee Grievance Program. She is certified in Mediation and Managing Workplace conflict as well as a certified Professional in Human Resources. Kelly has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of North Texas. She is the former board chair for the Assistance Center of Collin County. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her husband of 20-years, Mark, and their 15-year-old son, Brady. They are huge baseball fans and split their time between watching Brady play select baseball or cheering on the Texas Rangers.

Rabat-Torki, Julie

Julie has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Master of Health Administration, Julie started her career as a Medicare Auditor and was soon recruited to Sister’s of Charity/CHRISTUS Health into the Reimbursement Department as a Reimbursement Specialist, where she prepared Medicare/Medicaid cost reports and put her accounting degree to work calculating allowances for contractual and receivable/payables for government payers. While at CHRISTUS Health, Julie was promoted several times, eventually to Regional Director of Government Reporting. Julie’s time at CHRISTUS was extremely rewarding in terms of learning experiences and having opportunities to work outside the usual “Government Reporting” work parameters. She was able to use her accounting degree, but also gained Government Reporting, Compliance and Finance experience. During this time, Julie became a Fellow of HFMA and a Certified Fraud Examiner. Currently, Julie works for Harris Health System as the Admin Director of Government Reporting, where she is responsible for the public hospital system’s Medicare/Medicaid cost reports, facility licensing, facility and provider enrollment, 340B enrollment, and physician payments management. Julie also directs the Harris County Local Provider Participation Fund.

Jurado, Jorge

A native of Del Rio Texas, Jorge Jurado started his health care career in Long Term Care Administration as a Licensed Skilled Nursing Facility Administrator. During his career in Long Term Care, Jorge operated Skilled Nursing Facilities in Del Rio, Laredo and Eagle Pass Texas. In 2019 Jorge transitioned to Val Verde Regional Medical Center where he served as the RHC Practice Management Administrator overseeing both Primary Care and Specialty Care practices. Under his leadership, VVRMC’s RHC Clinic achieved a PCMH “Patient Centered Medical Home” accreditation, implemented Chronic Care Management, became an approved National Health Service Corp Site, and received the TARCH Tessen Award for demonstrating an enduring ability to drive community health and value. In 2021 Jorge was promoted to an expanded role as Chief Operating Officer. He has been instrumental in multiple initiatives to drive quality and financial growth. He has also led several cost saving initiatives in the Plant Operation departments. Most recently Jorge has been appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer of Val Verde Regional Medical Center.

Chavez, Jennifer

Jennifer Chavez currently serves as the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital (THFW), in Fort Worth Texas. THFW is an 851-bed tertiary/quaternary hospital, including a Level I Trauma Center, Comprehensive Cardiac Center, Comprehensive Stroke Center, a 64-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and a 100-bed Emergency Care Center. Jennifer’s direct responsibilities include development of robust quality initiatives, operational growth, comprehensive strategy execution and organizational sustainability. Jennifer has more than two decades of experience in various nursing roles and operational leadership. She began her career at Texas Health Fort Worth as a patient care technician and quickly advanced into a dynamic operational leader. Most recently, Jennifer served as the Vice President of Professional Services at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital, Fort Worth until transitioning to the CNO role in October of 2021. Jennifer received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Texas Cristian University in December 2005, her Acute Care Nurse Practitioner at University of Texas in Arlington in 2013, and her Doctor of Nursing Practice through Texas Tech Health Science Center in May of 2016. She is currently working towards the completion of her Master of Business Administration in Healthcare at Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi. Jennifer has received numerous awards such as Advisory Board Executive Fellow, Young Healthcare Executive, Leadership of Excellence and DFW Great 100 Nurse during her leadership tenure. Jennifer is involved in many professional organizations and currently serves on multiple organizational boards for local healthcare facilities and not for profit organizations. Jennifer enjoys spending time with her husband, Michael and their 3 beautiful daughters, Kendall (18), Ava (20) and Savannah (23). Jennifer loves gardening and vacationing with her family.