Class of 2024

Elaine Bennett, MBA, Chief Executive Officer, Guadalupe Regional Medical Center / Guadalupe Regional Medical Foundation, Seguin. Elaine Bennett is a graduate of Texas Lutheran College with a BBA in Accounting and an Executive MBA from the University of Texas at…

Ernest Borjas, Controller, HCA Houston Healthcare, Conroe. Ernest Borjas is the Controller at HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe, dedicated to enhancing healthcare services for Montgomery County communities. Previously, Ernest excelled as the Regional Assistant Director of Accounting at South Texas Health…

Angie Buckmeier, MHA, RN, Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer, Scottish Rite for Children, Dallas. Angie Buckmeier, MHA, BSN, is the Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Scottish Rite for Children. Scottish Rite for Children is a world-renowned in the treatment…

Jennifer Chavez, D.N.P., Chief Nursing Officer, Texas Health Fort Worth. 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…

Elizabeth Diaz, MPH, Director of Employee Education, DHR Health, Edinburg. Elizabeth Diaz serves as the dynamic Director of Employee Education at DHR Health, infusing her role with a wealth of expertise and vitality. Holding a Bachelor of Science in Health…

Andres Duran, MHA, Chief Executive Officer, Dimmit Regional Hospital, Carrizo Springs. Andres joined Dimmit Regional Hospital in August 2023 as Chief Executive Officer under the management of Methodist Healthcare Systems.  Prior to this role, Andres served in several roles at…

Nancy Garcia, D.N.P., APRN, FNP-BC, Chief Nursing Officer, Doctors Hospital at Renaissance, Edinburg. 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…

Ron Hunt, MBA, FACHE, Chief Financial Officer, Eastland Memorial Hospital District. Ron began his healthcare career as a staff accountant in 1994. Over the years, he has held various positions in healthcare finance including Controller and Chief Financial Officer. In…

Jorge Jurado, MBA, FACHE, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Val Verde Medical Center, Del Rio. 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…

Shane Kernell, MBA, Chief Executive Officer, Graham Regional Medical Center. 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…

Kelly Martin, Vice President Chief HR Officer, Texas Health Resources, Plano. 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…

Adam Melton, MHA, Senior Vice President Physician Operations, Children’s Health System of Texas, Dallas. Adam Melton serves as the Senior Vice President of Physician Operations at Children’s Health. In this role, he is responsible for strengthening ambulatory operations and integrating key…

Lisa Moss, MPA, MA, Program Director System Policy, CHRISTUS Health, Irving. 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,…

Dawn Nichols, MSN, RN, Director of Nursing, Texas Health Frisco. Dawn Nichols MSN, RN, NEA-BC is a nursing director at Texas Health Frisco (THF), overseeing Women’s and Infants’ Services, Perioperative Services, Administrative Supervisors, and Patient Transport. She joined Texas Health…

Julie Rabat-Torki, MHA, Administrative Director and Government Reporting, Harris Health System, Houston. 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…