Leadership Fellows Class of 2026 is presented by Acadian Ambulance Service
Kevin Anderson, MBA, MS-HCT
Kevin Anderson is a seasoned healthcare finance and consulting executive with deep expertise in hospital and medical group financial management within large non-profit health systems. He brings a strong background in strategic planning, revenue enhancement, and operational efficiency to his…
Bradley Benham, J.D.
Brad Benham serves as System Vice President at Hendrick Health, where he leads the Hendrick Medical Center Foundation in advancing the organization’s philanthropic mission. In this role, Brad focuses on securing support for strategic priorities and recurring healthcare ministries, including…
Lee Ann Benson, FACHE
Lee Ann Benson serves as the Senior Vice President, Maternal-Child Program Development for Children’s Health and UT Southwestern Joint Pediatric Enterprise (JPE). In this role, Lee Ann is responsible for leading strategic planning, development and execution of the Maternal-Child Program…
Antonio Cardenas, MSHA
Antonio “Tony” Cardenas serves as Senior Director of Physician Practices for Laredo Physician Associates at Laredo Medical Center. In this role, Tony leads strategic and operational initiatives to support physician alignment, clinical excellence, and patient-centered care across the organization’s medical…
Derek Curtis, DNP, MA, RN, NEA-BC
Derek Curtis, DNP, MA, RN, BC-NEA, is passionate about creating a culture of excellence at Ben Taub (BT) Hospital by championing commitment, consistency, empathy, trust and respect. He serves as Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for BT, a healthcare facility that…
Tony Gonzales
Tony Gonzales serves as Controller and Director of Revenue Integrity at Uvalde Memorial Hospital, where he oversees all financial operations supporting a $300 million annual revenue base. His responsibilities include budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, audit coordination, internal controls, and oversight…
Christopher Hendrix, CRHCP
Christopher Hendrix serves as the Director of Physician Practice Operations at Uvalde Memorial Hospital, where he provides strategic oversight and executive leadership for the Uvalde Medical and Surgical Associates Clinics. In this capacity he is responsible for advancing operational and…
Joel Hernandez, MBA, CPXP
Joel Hernandez, MBA, serves as Practice Administrator for UMC Physicians Neurosurgery at University Medical Center Health System. In this role, he leads clinic operations, provider engagement, and staff culture initiatives that reflect UMC’s core value: “Service is Our Passion.”