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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260514T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260514T163000
DTSTAMP:20260603T184357
CREATED:20260408T144449Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260504T193618Z
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SUMMARY:2026 ACHE East-North-Midwest Texas Multi-Chapter Education Symposium
DESCRIPTION:Architecting the Future of Care: Strategy\, Leadership\, and System Redesign in a Technology-Driven World. \nHosted by the North\, East and Midwest Texas ACHE Chapters. \n  \nSymposium Dates: May 14 (in-person)\, 15\, 20 & 28 (virtual)\nMay 14 In-Person Times: 8am-4:30pm\nMay 14 In-Person Location:  Baylor Scott & White Heart Hospital-Plano\n1100 Allied Drive\nPlano\, TX 75093 \nThe ACHE East\, North\, and Midwest Texas Chapters are excited to present our 2026 Multi-Chapter Education Symposium; a dynamic event\, offering one\, two\, three or four-day options (depending upon your chosen sessions). This event has been designed for healthcare leaders\, innovators\, and emerging executives. Featuring a blend of in-person and virtual programming\, this year’s symposium explores the future of healthcare through leadership\, technology\, strategy\, and system transformation. \nYou can customize your experience by choosing from 15 different panel topics\, 7 of which will be offered in-Person and 8 will be offered Virtually. Because some of these panels will be offered concurrently\, if you attend the maximum number of 10 sessions (maximum of 4 in-person and 6 virtual)\, you will earn 15 CEUs (up to 6.0 hours of ACHE In-Person Education Credits and 9.0 hours of ACHE Virtual Interactive Education Credits). \nNote: Separate registrations are required for each virtual panel. With your registration for the in-person portion of the event\, you will receive a discount code for 25% off each virtual panel for which you choose to register. Pick the panels you want to attend. If you choose not to register for the in-person portion\, you may still register for any of the virtual panels at full price. \nJoin your peers from across the northern part of Texas and beyond\, to gain actionable insights\, expand your network\, and stay ahead in an evolving healthcare landscape. \nSummary of Symposium Offerings/Credits: \n15 Total Topics from which You can Choose: \n\n7 In-Person Education panels\, attend up to 4. After registering for this one-day in-person event\, you will receive in your Eventbrite promo code for 25% off each of the symposium’s virtual panels. (If you attend all four in-person segments\, you will earn 6.0 In-Person credits.)\n8 Virtual Interactive Education panels\, attend up to 6.(If you attend all six\, you will earn 9.0 Virtual credits.)\n\nMay 14 In-Person Itinerary/Topics \n8-8:45 am – Registration and Breakfast \n8:45-10:15 am – Panel Topic: Healthcare Leadership in the 4th Industrial Revolution\nModerator: Ken Hutchenrider – President\, Methodist Richardson\nPanelists:\nMary Wylie\, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer\, Baylor Scott & White Medical center – Plano\nJeff Stewart\, Vice President Strategic Marketing\, CHRISTUS Health\nClint Abernathy\, President\, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano \nBreak – 10:15 am – 10:30 am \n10:30 am – 12 pm Sessions \nPanel Option 1: Quality Management Systems: Ensuring High Quality Care\nModerator: Bert Witherspoon\, Founder & Managing Partner\, Triaxiom Advisors\, LLC\nPanelists:\nDr. Amer Aldeen\, Chief Medical Officer\, US Acute Care Solutions\nJackie Lopez\, Vice President\, Ambulatory Quality and Safety\, CHRISTUS Health\nPatty Kallal\, Director Quality Outcomes THPG/Hospital\, Texas Health \nPanel Option 2: Inclusive Leadership in Healthcare\nModerator: Cassandra Self\, Professional Services and Finance Officer\, Texas Health Resources\nPanelists:\nHamid Sedique\, Executive Director-Northeast Texas\, Texas Oncology\nPam Bryant\, SVP & Supply Chain Officer\, Parkland\nShane Brumit\, VP of Business Development\, Aramark \n12-1pm – Lunch \n1 – 2:30 pm Sessions \nPanel Option 1: On the Executive Track: Leading People Who are More Experienced Than You\nModerator: Brandon Lewis\, President\, US Acute Care Solutions\nPanelists:\nCody Hunter\, President\, Methodist Hospital Celina\nPete Larose\, Associate Vice President of Healthcare Technology Management\, Texas Health Resources\nVern Rennier\, CEO\, Oceans Healthcare Longview \nPanel Option 2: Behavior Change and Patient Engagement: The Endgame for Gamification in Healthcare\nModerator: Nick Kagal\, Customer Success Executive\, Press Ganey\nPanelists:\nJunaid Kalia\, Founder & CEO\, SaveLife. AI\nBrandi Jaco\, Director Patient Experience\, CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic\nSusan Moats\, Regional Chief Nursing Officer/ Vice President of Patient Care Services\, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Plano \n2:30-3 pm – Break \n3 – 4:30 pm Sessions \nPanel Option 1: Changing Business Strategies and Aligning Executive Compensation\nModerator: John Carter\, Brand Ambassador\, Pinnacle Healthcare Consulting\nPanelists:\nNelson Mann\, Senior Partner\, WittKieffer\nStacy Dorsey\, SVP & Chief Workforce Officer\, Parkland\nCory Edmondson\, President & CEO\, United Regional Health Care System \nPanel Option 2: The Role of Data and Advanced Analytics in Transforming Healthcare\nModerator: Nick Kagal\, Customer Success Executive\, Press Ganey\nPanelists:\nJames Griffin\, CEO\, Invene\nDavid Gano\, Executive Director\, Performance Improvement\, CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic\nLisa Kilgore\, Healthcare IT Executive\, Enterprise Technology Strategy & Clinical Systems Integration \nClick here to download the May 14 Speakers’ Bios. \n  \nRegister Here for May 14 In-Person Segment\n  \nThe above Ticket/registration is for the in-person May 14 day only. Once you have registered for the above event\, you will see in your Eventbrite confirmation containing your 25% off discount code for the virtual offerings tied to this symposium. Click the links below for each respective event title to learn more/register for one or more of these Virtual Panels: \nFriday\, May 15th – Virtual Panels (NOTE: Both of these time slots have two topics running concurrently. Choose one for each time.) \n8:00am-9:30 am Sessions\nPanel Option 1: Improving the Health Status of Your Community\n \nPanel Option 2: Developing an Environment of Civility and Respect In Healthcare Organizations: Resources to Empower Healthcare Leaders to Identify\, Intervene\, and Prevent Workplace Bullying\, Incivility and Disrespect \n10:00 am -11:30 am Sessions \nPanel Option 1: Designing a More Efficient and Higher Quality Patient-Centered Healthcare Delivery Facilities Model \nPanel Option 2: Management and Prevention of Hospital Acquired Infections\n \nWednesday\, May 20th – Virtual Panels \n12pm -1:30pm – Emergency Department Operational Standards in the 21st Century \n2:00pm -3:30 pm – Understanding Implicit Bias and Its Impact on Healthcare Leadership \nThursday\, May 28th – Virtual \n3:30pm-5:00pm – Strategies for Effective Crisis Leadership \n5:30pm- 7:00pm – Navigating Key Legislative Issues Facing Healthcare Leaders
URL:https://acheetx.org/event/2026-ache-east-north-midwest-texas-multi-chapter-education-symposium/
LOCATION:Baylor Scott & White Heart Hospital-Plano\, 1100 Allied Drive\, Plano\, TX\, 75093
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260515T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260515T093000
DTSTAMP:20260603T184357
CREATED:20260408T144732Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260408T144942Z
UID:17096-1778832000-1778837400@acheetx.org
SUMMARY:Improving the Health Status of Your Community
DESCRIPTION:This panel has been approved for 1.50 ACHE Virtual Interactive Education Credits. \n\n\n\n\nNote: If you are a registrant of the in-person (May 14) portion of the 2026 ACHE East-North-Midwest Texas Multi-Chapter Education Symposium\, you are eligible to purchase your ticket for the below referenced virtual panel at a 25% discount. The promo code for that discount is provided to you in your confirmation email from Eventbrite for the May 14 event. \nHealthcare organizations exist to serve the communities in which they reside. Though community health has always been a focus for these organizations\, new regulations require them to take an active role. The health of a community or geographic population has a critical impact on a healthcare organization’s planning\, operations\, financial sustainability\, outcomes and success. \nDue to the implementation of the key components of the healthcare reform by legislation\, it will be even more important that provider organizations are both aware of and responsive to the health status and disease states that are most prevalent in their communities. Not only is a population-based focus the right thing to do\, but it may prove to be the financially astute course of action. \nModerator: Lee Ann Benson\, Senior Vice President\, Maternal-Child Program Development for Children’s Health and UT Southwestern Joint Pediatric Enterprise\, Children’s Health \nPanelists:\nTeresa Wagner\, Associate Professor\, Department of Health Administration and Health Policy\, UNT Health of Fort Worth\nAshley Dias\, Health Practice Leader\, Principal\, Perkins Will\nDr. David Nelson\, Division Chief of Maternal Fetal Medicine\, U Southwestern \nSpeakers’ Bios: \nLee Ann Benson\, FACHE\, 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 including Obstetrics\, Maternal Fetal Medicine\, and Neonatology. \nPrior to joining Children’s Health in 2022\, Lee Ann served as the Vice President of the East Valley Market for Phoenix Children’s\, the leading pediatric health system in Arizona. In this role\, Lee Ann was responsible for providing strategic leadership for the full continuum of pediatric services in Phoenix Children’s East Valley Market. She led the development and implementation of the comprehensive strategic plan for the East Valley market focused on the continued growth and development of primary care\, specialty care\, ancillary services\, and hospital services. \nLee Ann graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration. Lee Ann earned a Master of Science in Health Administration and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Lee Ann is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. She serves as the Chair-Elect of the Advancement Committee for the American College of Healthcare Executives of North Texas and on the Board of Directors for the Women in Healthcare Leadership organization at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. \nOutside of work\, you can find Lee Ann and her husband Beau cheering on their 9-year old twins\, Lynlee and Reid\, at sporting events or just enjoying the great outdoors. \nHealthcare Practice Lead for the Houston Studio of Perkins&Will\, Ashley Dias is an architect\, planner\, designer\, and strategist. A thought leader on topics such as “Hospitals of Tomorrow”\, her experience includes many of the top academic medical centers in the U.S.\, more than 10 pediatric health systems\, and more than 25 hospitals worldwide. Ashley is recognized for her ability to integrate strategic\, operational\, and facility perspectives into comprehensive health facility planning—transforming data and analytics into compelling scenarios that empower clients to make confident decisions. \n\n\n  \n  \n\n\nDavid B. Nelson\, MD\, FACOG\, (he/him) is an Associate Professor and Dedman Family Scholar in Clinical Care at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He currently holds the Gillette Professorship in Obstetrics & Gynecology and serves as the Division Chief of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at UT Southwestern and Parkland Health. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and received funding from the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute for an $18 million randomized trial. Dr. Nelson is an Associate Editor for the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology\, is the Senior Editor for the upcoming 27th edition of Williams Obstetrics\, and serves several functions for the American Board of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Dr. Nelson has a passion for advocacy and has twice provided invited testimony to the United States Congress on the topic of improving maternal heath through prevention and access to care. \n\n\n  \n  \n\n\nDr. Teresa Wagner graduated with a Doctorate in Public Health from the University of North Texas Health Science Center\, where she is an Associate Professor in the College of Public Health\, Department of Health Administration and Health Policy. She also serves as the Director of the UNTHSC Texas State Certified Community Health Worker Training Center. She’s cross-appointed in both the College of Nursing and the College of Health Professions. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Dietetics from Texas Christian University and Master’s Degree in Nutrition from Texas Woman’s University. Dr. Wagner is a registered and licensed dietitian with a doctorate in public health. She’s certified in Public Health\, Patient Safety\, Lifestyle Medicine\, Health Coaching\, and a certified Community Health Worker (CHW) Instructor. She has delivered multiple programs\, speaking engagements and trainings on health literacy issues. Currently\, she teaches Health Literacy & Communication in the College of Public Health and in the Personalized Health & Wellbeing Program. She teaches Patient Safety\, Health Coaching\, Nutrition and Health Literacy in the College of Nursing. Her research focuses on facilitating communication for both personal and organizational health literacy to improve health outcomes and population health. She’s a sought-after presenter and mentor who works to certify community health workers as conduits to health literacy. As a result of her work\, she has received multiple awards and accolades\, including the 2018 Texas Health Literacy Hero Award and the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award from Texas Christian University. In 2023\, she received the UNTHSC School of Health Professions Faculty Achievement Award. In 2024\, she received the Texas Distinguished Dietitian Award\, the Outstanding Dietitian Award from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics\, and a Global Service Award from the International Health Literacy Association. \n\n\n\n\n\nRegister Here for this Virtual Panel
URL:https://acheetx.org/event/improving-the-health-status-of-your-community/
LOCATION:Virtual
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260515T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260515T093000
DTSTAMP:20260603T184357
CREATED:20260408T145123Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260408T145123Z
UID:17098-1778832000-1778837400@acheetx.org
SUMMARY:Developing an Environment of Civility and Respect
DESCRIPTION:  \nThis panel has been approved for 1.50 ACHE Virtual Interactive Education Credits. \n\n\n\n\nNote: If you are a registrant of the in-person (May 14) portion of the 2026 ACHE East-North-Midwest Texas Multi-Chapter Education Symposium\, you are eligible to purchase your ticket for the below referenced virtual panel at a 25% discount. The promo code for that discount is provided to you in your confirmation email from Eventbrite for the May 14 event. \nDeveloping an Environment of Civility and Respect In Healthcare Organizations Resources to Empower Healthcare Leaders to Identify\, Intervene\, and Prevent Workplace Bullying\, Incivility and Disrespect. \nThe organizational culture of a healthcare organization plays a critically important role in shaping the work environment for its employees. Organizations with environments of civility and respect recruit the best and brightest people\, exude high morale and high job satisfaction by their employees\, and demonstrate high performing teamwork. Unfortunately\, disrespect and incivility at work is rampant in many organizations\, and it’s on the rise. Uncivil behaviors are characteristically rude and discourteous\, displaying a lack of regard for others. There is an organizational price to be paid for uncivil encounters among coworkers. Employees that have experienced or witnessed incivility reduce their commitment to the organization and demonstrate a reduction in work effort. While individual factors may play a major role in contributing to incivility and disrespectful cultures\, the workplace environment is a powerful force that consciously or unconsciously enables acts of incivility\, disrespect and bullying. Emerging evidence and anecdotal reports suggest that the conscientiousness of healthcare leaders in implementing comprehensive\, cohesive\, and integrated bullying prevention and intervention programs in their organizations is critical to promote environments of respect and enhance the sustainability of cultures of civility. This panel discussion will focus on tools and methods to identify and address incivility\, bullying and disrespectful behavior in the workplace environment as well as methods to develop and support a culture of civility and respect in healthcare organizations. \nModerator: Aaron Bujnowski\, FACHE\, Managing Director & Transformative Strategies Lead\, Alvarez & Marsal Holdings \nPanelists: \nGraham Torres\, Vice President Operations\, Children’s Health\nBeth Guyton\, Principal\, The Momentum Leader\nCheryl Peterson\, Chief Nursing Officer\, Cook Children’s \nSpeakers’ Bios: \nAaron Bujnowski\, FACHE\, is a Managing Director with Alvarez & Marsal’s Healthcare Industry Group. With nearly two decades of dedicated experience in the healthcare industry\, he is known as a transformative healthcare strategist\, empowering health systems and their leaders to attain sustainable competitive advantage. \nMr. Bujnowski executes innovative approaches to enterprise strategy\, value-based care (VBC)\, service lines\, partnerships\, corporate development and M&A. \nPrior to joining A&M\, Mr. Bujnowski spent more than four years as a Director and Integrated Delivery Network (IDN) Lead at Chartis\, a U.S. healthcare consulting firm. He collaborated with integrated delivery networks to conceive and implement critical strategies and played a pivotal role in launching Chartis’ Private Equity (PE) practice\, which assists PE firms to make informed buy- or sell-side decisions and optimize value within their portfolio companies. \nPreviously\, Mr. Bujnowski served as the System Chief Strategy Officer of Texas Health Resources\, a ~$5 billion integrated health system in Dallas-Fort Worth\, developing and executing enterprise-wide strategies. His purview included acute\, post-acute\, ambulatory\, physician\, consumer and value-based approaches. Mr. Bujnowski began his career with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG)\, as a core member of its strategy and healthcare practices. He also played a pivotal role in founding BCG’s private equity practice. \nMr. Bujnowski earned a bachelor’s degree (honors) and a master’s degree in chemical engineering with a biomedical emphasis from Brigham Young University in Provo\, Utah. He earned an MBA (highest honors) from The University of Texas at Austin. Mr. Bujnowski is currently a candidate to receive a Doctor of Science in Healthcare Leadership from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is President of the North Texas Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and was honored as Fellow. \nBeth Guyton is an accomplished healthcare leader and consultant with expertise in executive coaching\, change management\, performance management and patient experience. She is the principle of The Momentum Leader where she coaches leaders on reaching their maximum potential in order to thrive personally and professionally. \nPrior to her current role\, Beth served as the VP of Patient Experience for the Mercy Springfield Communities and before joining Mercy\, Beth led a healthcare consulting firm dedicated to helping hospital drive results through exceptional leadership\, culture\, and processes. \nBeth holds a Master’s in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from George Mason University and a BA in Advertising from the Manship School of Journalism at Louisiana State University. She is an ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC)\, a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)\, Six Sigma Green Belt\, and has a Certification for Mediation and Negotiation from North Lake College in Irving Texas. \nCheryl Petersen\, MBA\, BSN\, RN\, NE-BC serves as the Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Vice President for Nursing/Patient Services at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth & Prosper\, Texas. Her prior roles include Assistant Vice President of Nursing\, Nursing Director and Nurse Manager. \nDuring her tenure at Cook Children’s she has led the nursing team to a 4th Magnet designation in 2021 and celebrated achievements including NICU Level IV designation\, the hospital’s first Beacon Award\, CAMTS accreditation and the Emergency Department’s Lantern Award. She has contributed to the hospital’s expansion efforts in Fort Worth and Prosper. \nCheryl is a current member of AACN\, TONL\, AONL\, ANA and TNA. She serves as the President Elect of the TONL Executive Board and has served on the TONL Communication and Membership Committees. Additionally\, she is a current member of the Board of Directors for Community Healthcare of Texas and member of the DFW Hospital Council Foundation Board. \nShe received her Master’s in Business Administration from Benedictine University and Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing from the University of Iowa. She was honored as a DFW Great 100 Nurse in 2012. \nIn prior positions\, Cheryl was employed by North Carolina Children’s Hospital\, Chapel Hill\, Loyola University Medical Center\, and University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. \nCheryl lives in Fort Worth\, Texas\, with her husband\, Chris\, and their two sons. She enjoys gardening\, biking\, and spending time with her family. \n\n\n  \nRegister Here\n\n\n 
URL:https://acheetx.org/event/developing-an-environment-of-civility-and-respect/
LOCATION:Virtual
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260515T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260515T113000
DTSTAMP:20260603T184357
CREATED:20260408T145254Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260408T145254Z
UID:17100-1778839200-1778844600@acheetx.org
SUMMARY:Management and Prevention of Hospital Acquired Infections
DESCRIPTION:This panel has been approved for 1.50 ACHE Virtual Interactive Education Credits. \n\n\n\n\nNote: If you are a registrant of the in-person (May 14) portion of the 2026 ACHE East-North-Midwest Texas Multi-Chapter Education Symposium\, you are eligible to purchase your ticket for the below referenced virtual panel at a 25% discount. The promo code for that discount is provided to you in your confirmation email from Eventbrite for the May 14 event. \nHealthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections that patients acquire while receiving treatment for medical or surgical conditions. HAIs are associated with a variety of causes\, including but not limited to the use of medical devices to include catheters and ventilators\, complications following surgical procedures\, transmission between patients and healthcare workers\, or the result of antibiotic overuse. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of HHS has shown that about 36% of these infections are preventable through the adherence to strict guidelines by healthcare workers when caring for patients. This discussion will seek to inform hospital leadership and administrators about the causes of hospital acquired infections and the impact leadership can have on the quality\, financial health and safety of their organizations. \nModerator: Jim Allard\, Chief Nursing Officer\, Advocate Christ Medical Center \nPanelists: \nRyan Blas\, National Director of Ops\, Sanderling Renal Services\nEric Gustaf\, Director of Quality Safety and Risk Management\, Texas Health Resources Azle\nAngela Gamber\, VP\, Clinical Operations\, Stormont Vail Health \nSpeakers’ Bios: \nDr Jim Allard\, DNP\, RN\, NEA‑BC\, FACHE\, serves as Chief Nursing Officer at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn\, Illinois. He leads nursing services for a 788‑bed premier teaching institution—one of the Midwest’s major referral centers—with one of Illinois’ busiest Level I trauma centers. \nWith over three decades in healthcare\, Dr. Allard’s frontline experience spans pediatric critical care with a focus on congenital heart care. Since 2008\, he has held progressive executive roles\, including CNO at Medical City Arlington and CNO for Medical City Children’s Hospital & Medical City Women’s Hospital–Dallas\, as well as assistant and interim CNO positions within HCA Houston Healthcare. \nDr. Allard earned his Doctor of Nursing Practice from Texas Christian University and a Master of Science in Nursing Administration from The University of Texas at Arlington; he is board‑certified as a Nurse Executive Advanced (ANCC) and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). \n  \nRyan Blas\, RN\, BSN\, C-EMBA\, LSSGB\, is the national director of operations for Sanderling Renal Services\, where he oversees clinical and operational excellence in the renal dialysis field. With a background in nursing and executive leadership\, Ryan brings hands-on experience in infection prevention\, patient safety\, and quality improvement. He is passionate about advancing best practices that keep patients safe and drive better outcomes across healthcare settings. \n  \n  \n  \nAngela Gamber is the Vice President of Clinical Operations at Stormont Vail Health in Topeka\, Kansas\, where she provides executive leadership across complex clinical service lines with a focus on quality\, access\, operational excellence\, and system integration. In this role\, she partners closely with physician and administrative leaders to advance patient-centered care\, improve network integrity\, and drive sustainable performance across acute and ambulatory settings. \nWith a career rooted in frontline clinical operations\, Angie brings deep expertise in emergency\, trauma\, surgical\, and diagnostic services\, as well as enterprise-level service line strategy and performance management. She is known for her ability to align clinical outcomes\, workforce engagement\, and financial stewardship while navigating the evolving demands of healthcare delivery. \nAngie is an active leader within the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and currently serves as a Kansas Regent\, supporting the professional development of healthcare leaders across the state and advancing ACHE’s mission of excellence in healthcare management. In this capacity\, she contributes to education\, mentorship\, and leadership engagement at the state and regional level. \nA respected collaborator and thought partner\, Angela frequently participates in leadership forums\, panels\, and strategic discussions focused on healthcare operations\, access to care\, and rural and regional health delivery models. She is passionate about building strong leadership pipelines and designing systems of care that are resilient\, equitable\, and patient-focused. \nEric Gustaf MSN\, RN was born and raised in Texas. He was homeschooled from grade school through high school and went on to attend TCU on the Commanders Leadership Scholarship\, the first homeschooler to be awarded this scholarship. After graduation in December of 2009\, he served in the United States Air Force as a nurse for 4.5 years achieving the rank of Captain. After separation he worked in the Trama ICU at University Hospital in San Antonio for 2 years. He then returned to my hometown of Fort Worth and began working at Texas Health Azle. At Texas Health Azle over the past 10 years he has grown from Emergency Department Nurse to Chage nurse then House supervisor. Then he became the Med/Surg ICU manager while also obtaining his Master’s Degree in Nursing Administration in 2021 and has held the role of Director of quality Patient Safety and Risk for the past 3 years achieving 2 Clinical Excellence awards and a Leader of the Year award. Eric is married with 3 children ages ranging from 8 to 1 years old. \n\n\n  \n  \n  \nRegister Here\n 
URL:https://acheetx.org/event/management-and-prevention-of-hospital-acquired-infections/
LOCATION:Virtual
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260515T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260515T113000
DTSTAMP:20260603T184357
CREATED:20260408T145505Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260408T145505Z
UID:17103-1778839200-1778844600@acheetx.org
SUMMARY:Designing More Efficient-Higher Quality Healthcare Facilities Model
DESCRIPTION:This panel has been approved for 1.50 ACHE Virtual Interactive Education Credits. \n\n\n\n\n  \nNote: If you are a registrant of the in-person (May 14) portion of the 2026 ACHE East-North-Midwest Texas Multi-Chapter Education Symposium\, you are eligible to purchase your ticket for the below referenced virtual panel at a 25% discount. The promo code for that discount is provided to you in your confirmation email from Eventbrite for the May 14 event. \nEvidence-based design (EBD) incorporates the process of basing decisions about healthcare facility environments on creditable research to achieve the best possible outcomes for the patient. Historically\, many healthcare facilities have been designed primarily around the provider’s processes. However\, the facility design did not always produce efficient or effective workflow for the provider nor did the design incorporate the best interests of the patient. With the advancements in technology\, healthcare providers are finding out that there are proven\, efficient and effective strategies to achieve more desirable outcomes that are in the best interest of the patient. Implementing EBD principles can sometimes be a difficult decision for the provider with the concern that it may increase their costs. The key to overcoming this concern is to educate healthcare facility decisionmakers about the types of research that are available to quantify the long-term value of EBD. Since the practice of evidence-based medicine (EBM) requires conscientious and committed use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of patients it is paramount there be an alignment between EBD and EBM to provide more efficient and high-quality healthcare delivery. \nModerator: Phil DeBruzzi\, Principal\, Forvis Mazars \nPanelists:\nNick Mengucci\, Executive Director\, IMH Healthcare\nGraham Torres\, Vice President Operations\, Children’s Health\nChris Grossnicklaus\, Health Sector Leader and Director of Healthcare Planning\, Corgan \nSpeakers’ Bios: \nPhil DeBruzzi\, FACHE\, is a Principal with the national healthcare consulting firm Forvis Mazars. Mr. DeBruzzi has 30 years of experience advising healthcare systems in areas related to clinical volume forecasting\, capacity optimization\, health facility network planning\, and capital investment analysis. Phil is board certified in healthcare management as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives\, Board Member of the North Texas Chapter of ACHE\, holds an MBA in strategy\, and undergraduate degree in Engineering. \n  \n  \n  \nChris Grossnicklaus is Health Sector Leader and Director of Healthcare Planning for Corgan. He is responsible for establishing long-lasting relationships with clients and partners as well as leading Corgan’s health studios across the country. He has deep experience in all phases of project work\, from concept visioning and development through final construction documents on a wide range of project experience in the United States\, Canada\, and the Middle East. \nHis strengths as a strategist and relationship builder make him an invaluable leader of the Corgan’s Health Sector\, overseeing projects for UT Southwestern Medical Center\, Methodist Health System\, OSF Healthcare\, HCA Healthcare Behavioral Health Hospitals\, Saint Francis Health System\, Houston Methodist\, the Mayo Clinic\, and UCLA Health. \nChris earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Master of Architecture from Texas A&M University and is Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. He served as chair of the communications committee for the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) of North Texas from 2019 to 2020; he received the Texas Society of Architects Associate Award and the AIA Dallas Associate Award for his contributions as editor of AIA Dallas Columns magazine. \n  \nNick Mengucci\, MSN\, RN\, LSSGB is an Austin based Master’s-prepared Registered Nurse and Executive Director & Texas Market Leader at IMH Healthcare. He partners with health systems across the country\, from large academic medical centers to community-based providers\, to support healthcare strategy\, operational planning\, and facility transition and activation. \nNick specializes in readiness planning\, workflow optimization\, staff training\, technology integration\, and move activation\, helping organizations prepare new facilities\, teams\, and operations for opening day and beyond. With a foundation in patient care\, clinical operations\, and healthcare technology\, he brings a human-centered approach that blends clinical expertise with strategic leadership to improve efficiency\, performance\, and patient outcomes. \nNick is actively involved in the Nursing Institute for Healthcare Design (NIHD)\, the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)\, and the Association for Medical Facility Professionals (AMFP). \n\n\n  \nRegister Here\n 
URL:https://acheetx.org/event/designing-more-efficient-higher-quality-healthcare-facilities-model/
LOCATION:Virtual
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260520T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260520T133000
DTSTAMP:20260603T184357
CREATED:20260408T153128Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260408T153836Z
UID:17105-1779278400-1779283800@acheetx.org
SUMMARY:Emergency Department Operational Standards in the 21st Century
DESCRIPTION:This panel has been approved for 1.50 ACHE Virtual Interactive Education Credits. \n\n\n\n\nNote: If you are a registrant of the in-person (May 14) portion of the 2026 ACHE East-North-Midwest Texas Multi-Chapter Education Symposium\, you are eligible to purchase your ticket for the below referenced virtual panel at a 25% discount. The promo code for that discount is provided to you in your confirmation email from Eventbrite for the May 14 event. \nThe Emergency Department is considered the “Front Door” to the hospital. Hospital executives recognize that in many cases most hospital admissions come in directly through the ED. Over the past several years\, there has been a significant push by hospitals across the country to promote emergency department service standards\, with the objective of attracting new patients\, retaining current patients\, and positioning the hospital in a favorable light to the community. Before a hospital embarks on an emergency department service standard it is imperative that they recognize the comprehensive house-wide approach that is required to provide\, sustain\, and reap the benefits. \nFocusing on a variety of emergency department types (suburban hospital ED; satellite ED and urban hospital ED) this presentation will address various approaches with respect to ED service standards. This presentation will address the operational requirements\, the impact on patient safety\, required resource allocation\, physical plant requirements and marketing requirements necessary for the successful implementation of emergency department service standards across a variety of hospitals\, in addition to addressing the commitment required by the C-suite and respective departments for long-term sustainability and success. \nModerator: Ken Hutchenrider\, Jr.\, FACHE – President\, Methodist Richardson \nPanelists:\nRyan Tamula\, Admin Director Emergency Services\, CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances\nJustin John\, Business Operations Manager\, Emergency Services\, JPS\nDr. Tony Briningstool\, CEO\, Emergency Medicine\, Sound Physicians \nSpeakers’ Bios: \nDr. Tony Briningstool leads Sound Physicians’ Emergency Medicine specialty. As an experienced physician executive\, Tony is deeply passionate about the impact we can make in the lives of our patients\, our physicians\, and the communities we serve. With a relentless pursuit of excellence and a strong Patient‑First culture\, he brings a nuanced understanding of the challenges facing healthcare today and values the dedication required to achieve clinical\, fiscal\, and operational success for our partnerships. \nBy intentionally empowering our physician leaders\, Tony is fostering high‑performing teams capable of elevating patient care processes while ensuring long‑term practice sustainability. Our investments in team wellness strengthen engagement and collaboration—foundations that enable our hospital partnerships to thrive and consistently deliver exceptional care to every patient. \nA board-certified emergency medicine physician\, Tony earned his Doctor of Medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine and attended Michigan State University\, where he also played football. \n  \nKen Hutchenrider joined Methodist Richardson Medical Center as President in July\, 2010. \nHe has more than 30 years of executive experience with a result oriented record of substantially increasing financial stability and strengthening team management to build a tradition of providing the best care possible to the communities served. \nDuring his tenure\, Ken administered the assimilation of the hospital into the Methodist Health System\, as well as the development of a $120M replacement hospital and its subsequent and ongoing expansions. Additional accomplishments include the establishment of a new wound care center\, Level III Nursery\, development of the Da Vinci surgical program\, Level 3 Trauma Program\, Comprehensive Stroke program and the successful recruitment/employment of new medical staff members. Under his direction\, Methodist Richardson has received accreditations as a Chest Pain Center\, a Stroke Center\, and achieved nursing Magnet Designation. \nPrior to July 2010\, Ken served as the Chief Executive Officer of Galesburg Cottage Hospital\, in Galesburg\, Illinois. Previously in his career\, Ken served in executive roles including Chief Executive Officer of the Terre Haute Regional Hospital in Terre Haute\, Indiana and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Wesley Medical Center in Wichita\, Kansas. Ken started his career in a clinical position as a Paramedic Shift Supervisor in Pasadena\, Texas. \nHe holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&M University and a Masters of Healthcare Administration from the University of Houston\, Clear Lake. \nIn 2018\, Ken was proudly elected to serve on the Richardson City Council in Place 5. \nHe is actively involved in the community and has served as the Chairman of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce and President of the Plano Independent School District Foundation. Ken is an enthusiastic supporter of the PISD and RISD Health Sciences Academy. Currently\, Ken serves as the Regent for Northern Texas for the American College of Healthcare Executives \nKen has received many accolades\, including the Chamber’s Education Hero Award\, the American Heart Association SOAR Award\, the Community Health System Outstanding Achievement Award\, and Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. \nOn a personal note\, Ken and his wife Melinda have two teenage daughters. When he’s not spending time with his family\, you are most likely to find Ken on the golf course. \n  \nJustin John serves as the Business Operations Manager for Emergency Services at JPS Health Network\, a Level 1 Trauma Center in Fort Worth\, Texas. Justin oversees cross-functional operational initiatives spanning finance\, supply chain\, IT\, facilities\, and construction. Prior to his current role\, Justin was an Administrative Fellow at JPS\, in which he helped lead major enterprise initiatives. Justin holds a Master of Health Administration from Saint Louis University. Justin actively contributes to the healthcare leadership community through his involvement with ACHE of North Texas. \n  \n  \n  \nRyan Tamula began his career in emergency medicine at just 19 years old as an EKG technician\, launching what would become a lifelong commitment to frontline patient care. Before entering nursing\, he represented the Philippine National Water Polo Team\, an experience that shaped his approach to teamwork\, composure under pressure\, and disciplined execution. \nAfter earning his nursing credentials\, Ryan joined Los Angeles General Hospital (formerly LAC+USC Medical Center)\, one of the busiest emergency departments on the West Coast. He served as Charge Nurse there for five years\, leading high-acuity teams in a large safety-net hospital environment and mentoring nurses through complex clinical\, operational\, and throughput challenges. \nHe later practiced at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center\, gaining experience in an integrated delivery model before joining CHRISTUS Health in 2019. \nAt CHRISTUS\, Ryan was part of the leadership team that opened the Bradley Thompson Tower at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today\, his scope as Administrative Director of Emergency Care Centers includes oversight of six emergency departments in and around the Tyler and East Texas\, including the 56-bed Level II Trauma Center at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler. Ryan’s leadership philosophy centers on remaining grounded in his nursing foundation\, focusing on strengthening frontline teams\, advancing emergency care delivery\, and supporting high-reliability operations. \n\n\n  \nRegister Here\n 
URL:https://acheetx.org/event/emergency-department-operational-standards-in-the-21st-century/
LOCATION:Virtual
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260520T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260520T153000
DTSTAMP:20260603T184357
CREATED:20260408T153318Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260428T181603Z
UID:17107-1779285600-1779291000@acheetx.org
SUMMARY:Understanding Implicit Bias and Its Impact on Healthcare Leadership
DESCRIPTION:This panel has been approved for 1.50 ACHE Virtual Interactive Education Credits. \n\n\n\nNote: If you are a registrant of the in-person (May 14) portion of the 2026 ACHE East-North-Midwest Texas Multi-Chapter Education Symposium\, you are eligible to purchase your ticket for the below referenced virtual panel at a 25% discount. The promo code for that discount is provided to you in your confirmation email from Eventbrite for the May 14 event. \nThe communities for which healthcare organizations operate are rapidly diversifying. Not only do they provide care for a diverse community of patients and families\, but their workforce is also growing more diverse. It is incumbent on healthcare organizations and their leaders to both understand and embrace the needs of diverse populations. Their ability to respond to the needs and preferences of a broader customer base will be critical to their financial and operational survival\, but they first must understand what their implicit biases are to do that. The goal of the session is for leaders to understand and recognize internal biases both conscious and unconscious. This program will focus on the healthcare leader’s personal recognition of internal bias and its impact on decisions in the organization. The impact of the healthcare leaders’ ability to recognize biases in areas such as employment and policy decision making will lead to increased diversity in individuals holding leadership positions and will help us better serve our patients and communities. \nModerator: Beth Guyton\, Principal\, The Momentum Leader \nPanelists:\nLucky Denenga\, CEO\, ClearSky Rehabilitation Hospital at Mansfield\nChristina Fleeman\, Nurse Manager -ED and Ambulance Services\, Amarillo VAHCS\nDr. Keisha Downes\, Vice President\, Middle Revenue Cycle\, Beth Israel Lahey Health System \nSpeakers’ Bios: \nLucky Denenga Fischer\, PT\, DPT\, MBA is a healthcare executive and service line leader with extensive experience across acute care\, rehabilitation\, and ambulatory settings. A physical therapist by training\, she has served the DFW healthcare community for over 12 years and is recognized for leading operational and culture transformation\, building inclusive high‑performance teams\, and advancing equitable\, high‑quality patient care.\n \n  \n  \n  \nKeisha Downes\, DMSc\, MBA\, BSN\, RN\, CCDS\, CCS\, is a healthcare executive with over 20 years of nursing experience and more than a decade in revenue cycle leadership. She serves as Vice President of Mid-Revenue Cycle at Beth Israel Lahey Health\, where she oversees CDI\, coding\, HIM\, and utilization management across 14 hospitals and leads a workforce of more than 500. A recognized thought leader and national speaker on healthcare leadership\, AI governance\, and revenue cycle innovation\, Keisha sits on her health system’s Responsible AI Use Committee and the ACDIS Advisory Board. She earned her Doctorate of Medical Science in Healthcare Leadership with a concentration in Artificial Intelligence from Northeastern University. With roots in neurosurgical ICU and trauma nursing\, Keisha brings a bedside-to-boardroom perspective to leadership\, grounding her work in the realities of patient care and the importance of building inclusive teams that reflect the diverse communities healthcare systems serve. \n  \nChristina Fleeman\, MBA\, MSN\, RN\, is a compassionate nurse leader with more than a decade of experience spanning emergency and disaster management\, ambulance services\, trauma systems\, inpatient and ambulatory operations\, and integrated care coordination in High Reliability Organization environments. She currently serves as Emergency Department and Ambulance Services Nurse Manager at the Thomas E. Creek VA Medical Center in Amarillo\, Texas\, where she leads operational and clinical teams to deliver safe\, efficient\, highquality emergency care for Veterans across the medical center. Christina is also pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice in Leadership at Arkansas State University\, building on dual master’s degrees in nursing and healthcare & business administration from Liberty University.​ Across her VA leadership roles—including Acting Chief of Inpatient Nursing Services and VACC/IVC Nurse Manager—she has driven measurable improvements in access\, quality\, and safety through systems redesign and process improvement. Her earlier career includes service as Trauma Services Coordinator and Emergency Management lead for a statedesignated trauma center\, and as a Clinical Manager/Flight Nurse providing rotorwing critical care in rural and disaster settings. Christina’s leadership portfolio includes transformational leadership\, team building\, shared governance\, performance improvement\, emergency management\, and regulatory readiness\, and she is actively engaged in professional organizations including the American College of Healthcare Executives and multiple national nursing and trauma societies.​ Outside of work\, Christina is “Nonnie” to six grandchildren with two more on the way\, and the proud mother of four adult children whose careers span military service\, cardiovascular health advocacy\, professional sports\, and social media influence. She and her husband also own and operate a BBQ restaurant and music venue\, where they bring people together around good food\, live music\, and community—values that mirror her passion for building resilient\, peoplecentered healthcare teams. \nBeth Guyton is an accomplished healthcare leader and consultant with expertise in executive coaching\, change management\, performance management and patient experience. She is the principle of The Momentum Leader where she coaches leaders on reaching their maximum potential in order to thrive personally and professionally. \nPrior to her current role\, Beth served as the VP of Patient Experience for the Mercy Springfield Communities and before joining Mercy\, Beth led a healthcare consulting firm dedicated to helping hospital drive results through exceptional leadership\, culture\, and processes. \nBeth holds a Master’s in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from George Mason University and a BA in Advertising from the Manship School of Journalism at Louisiana State University. She is an ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC)\, a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)\, Six Sigma Green Belt\, and has a Certification for Mediation and Negotiation from North Lake College in Irving Texas. \n\n  \nRegister Here\n  \n 
URL:https://acheetx.org/event/understanding-implicit-bias-and-its-impact-on-healthcare-leadership/
LOCATION:Virtual
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T170000
DTSTAMP:20260603T184357
CREATED:20260408T153529Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260408T153529Z
UID:17109-1779982200-1779987600@acheetx.org
SUMMARY:Strategies for Effective Crisis Leadership
DESCRIPTION:This panel has been approved for 1.50 ACHE Virtual Interactive Education Credits. \n\n\n\n\nNote: If you are a registrant of the in-person (May 14) portion of the 2026 ACHE East-North-Midwest Texas Multi-Chapter Education Symposium\, you are eligible to purchase your ticket for the below referenced virtual panel at a 25% discount. The promo code for that discount is provided to you in your confirmation email from Eventbrite for the May 14 event. \nPreparing for an unplanned or unexpected event\, such as a natural disaster\, pandemic\, civil disturbances\, medical error\, or labor disputes (e.g.\, union labor) causes physical\, psychological and emotional stress that can overwhelm employees\, medical staff\, patients and communities. In the event of a crisis\, the quality and efficiency of care delivery may be challenged and typically takes a toll on every part of the organization. Lack of the unknown or uncertainty is also a challenge that healthcare leaders face in the time of crisis. Healthcare leaders need to understand ways to prepare their organization for unforeseen circumstances\, which includes developing a communication plan\, managing organizational resources\, such as medical supplies\, levels of patient care and leveraging local and state resources and funding. \nThis panel discussion will provide insight and perspectives on ways to manage an unforeseen crisis within the healthcare organization and its community. It will include how healthcare leaders can better prepare and respond to a community or healthcare crisis\, health surge event\, or unanticipated response. \nModerator: Jared Shelton\, President\, Texas Health Fort Worth \nPanelists:\nJon Darnell\, Executive Director\, System Imaging\, Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center\nWarren Robicheaux\, President & CEO\, Matagorda Regional Medical Center\nRobin Moreno\, Compliance and Privacy Officer\, Texas health Resources \nSpeakers’ Bios: \nJon Darnell is an Executive Director of Imaging Services for Baptist Health\, a multi-hospital healthcare system in Jacksonville\, FL\, where he provides strategic and operational leadership across hospital and outpatient imaging operations. He oversees high-acuity\, high-volume services that are central to clinical decision-making and enterprise patient flow\, with a focus on operational excellence\, workforce engagement\, and access to care. \nJon’s leadership experience includes managing system-wide responses to operational disruptions such as technology downtime\, capacity constraints\, workforce challenges\, and rapid volume surges. He is committed to building resilient organizations through structured crisis preparedness\, transparent communication\, and frontline support. To strengthen emergency response capabilities\, he has completed FEMA’s Incident Command System (ICS) 100\, 200\, and 700 training. \nA recognized leader in imaging strategy and innovation\, Jon also works at the enterprise level to advance technology adoption\, data-driven performance management\, and system integration initiatives that improve patient care and operational stability. \n  \nRobin Moreno\, EdD\, MHA\, FACHE is a seasoned healthcare executive\, educator\, and thought leader with extensive experience in advancing compliance\, privacy\, ethics\, and risk management across complex healthcare systems. She currently serves as Director of Compliance & Privacy at Texas Health Resources where she partners with boards and senior leadership to align compliance strategy with enterprise risk\, operational excellence\, and cultural transformation. \nA Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE)\, Robin brings a unique foundation—rising from frontline patient care and oncology research to leadership roles in finance\, compliance\, and privacy. She is a published author\, a frequent speaker at national risk conferences\, and an editorial contributor to several professional peer-reviewed publications. \nRobin also serves as an adjunct professor\, mentoring future healthcare leaders and bridging academic theory with real-world application. Her leadership philosophy—The Department of Know\, not the Department of No—reflects her commitment to building trust\, promoting accountability\, and fostering ethical innovation. \nRecognized for her collaborative style and strategic insight\, Robin translates complex regulations into actionable solutions and facilitates high-impact conversations among executives navigating governance\, risk\, and organizational change. \nOutside of work\, Robin is an avid reader who loves traveling and spending time with family and friends. She is a proud parent of three adult children; a role she embraces with joy and gratitude. \n  \nJ. Warren Robicheaux\, FACHE serves as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Matagorda County Hospital District and provides executive leadership for all district asset initiatives. \nBefore joining the district in 2018\, Warren served in senior administration and CEO roles at several facilities in the East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System (ETMC). His list of accomplishments ranges from building replacement hospitals and establishing new service lines to leading award-winning quality programs. \nWarren has over twenty years of experience in healthcare and is board certified in healthcare management (FACHE). He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science and a Master of Healthcare Administration from Texas A&M University in College Station\, Texas. \n  \nJared Shelton\, FACHE\, serves as president of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth\, assuming the role in September 2024 after a two-year stint as president at Texas Health HEB. \nShelton’s previous roles included six years as president of Texas Health Allen\, and a term as vice president of Professional & Support Services for Texas Health Dallas. \nHe completed his undergraduate studies at Wake Forest University with a Bachelor of Science degree in business and a minor in religion. He also earned a Master of Science in health care administration from Trinity University. Shelton was named the 2024 Trinity University Health Care Administration Alumni Association “Momentum Award” winner\, which recognizes early careerists age 40 and under for outstanding achievements in the field of health care management. \nShelton currently serves as a trustee on the Board of Directors for the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council. He is also serving a three-year term as Regent for the American College of Healthcare Executives in District 4\, Texas-Northern. He is a past president for the North Texas chapter of ACHE. He has served two terms on the Texas Hospital Association’s “Council on Policy Development” and is also a member of the Wake Forest Athletic Advisory Council. \nOutside of work\, Shelton and his wife\, Kathryn\, enjoy parenthood with their young children — daughters\, Mackenzie and Caroline\, and son\, Jack. \n\n\n  \nRegister Here\n 
URL:https://acheetx.org/event/strategies-for-effective-crisis-leadership/
LOCATION:Virtual
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T190000
DTSTAMP:20260603T184357
CREATED:20260408T153723Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260408T153723Z
UID:17111-1779989400-1779994800@acheetx.org
SUMMARY:Navigating Key Legislative Issues Facing Healthcare Leaders
DESCRIPTION:  \n\n\nThis panel has been approved for 1.50 ACHE Virtual Interactive Education Credits. \n\n\n\n\nNote: If you are a registrant of the in-person (May 14) portion of the 2026 ACHE East-North-Midwest Texas Multi-Chapter Education Symposium\, you are eligible to purchase your ticket for the below referenced virtual panel at a 25% discount. The promo code for that discount is provided to you in your confirmation email from Eventbrite for the May 14 event. \nNumerous public policy and legislative issues around healthcare delivery and public health affect healthcare organizations and demand involvement of their leaders to respond and adjust organizational policies and procedures. These issues often relate to improving population health\, access and coverage through Medicaid and other programs\, improving value\, addressing consumer issues and workforce shortages\, and more. Learning these issues and being involved in policy and organizational responses is important for healthcare leaders\, regardless of how directly they may be involved. \nModerator: Lance Lunsford\, Senior Partner & Co-Founder\, Groundswell Health \nPanelists:\nSteve Love\, President and CEO Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council\nJorge Leal\, President & CEO\, Laredo Medical Center\nMichaela Bennett\, VP Government Relations\, Children’s Health \nSpeakers’ Bios: \nMichaela Bennett serves as Vice President of Government Relations at Children’s Health. In this role\, she is responsible for developing and leading the implementation of public policy engagement with elected officials and policy makers to further the Children’s Health mission to make life better for children. Before joining Children’s Health in 2013\, Michaela worked in the Texas Senate\, Houston City Hall\, and for multiple political campaigns. Michaela holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Boston University. \n  \n  \nSince taking the helm as Chief Executive Officer of Laredo Medical Center in 2020\, Jorge Leal\, FACHE\, has been a driving force behind the hospital’s transformation and growth. He joined the hospital in 2014 as the Assistant Chief Executive Officer before being appointed as the Chief Operating Officer. His leadership has guided the expansion of key service lines and clinical programs\, strengthened hospital operations\, and significantly enhanced patient care across Laredo\, Webb County and the surrounding South Texas region. \nLeal has led major developments including the opening of a brand new Women’s Imaging Center to increase access to lifesaving screenings and essential women’s health services. He also oversaw the expansion of post-acute care with the opening of the Inpatient Rehabilitation Center\, adding eight skilled nursing beds and 16 inpatient rehabilitation beds\, and championed the reopening of the Open Heart program\, where close to 500 open heart procedures have been performed\, and nearly 2000 patients have been positively impacted through its cardiac rehab services since 2022. A key achievement under his tenure was a $6.9 million renovation of the cardiac catheterization lab\, which now offers advanced interventional cardiology in two suites and capabilities for electrophysiology services—bringing first-of-its-kind heart rhythm care to the community. \nIn 2021\, LMC entered a new era in surgical care with the introduction of robotic-assisted surgery\, providing surgeons with greater precision and patients with faster recovery times. A second system was added in 2023\, and in 2025\, the hospital celebrated over 2\,500 robotic-assisted procedures across specialties including general surgery\, urology\, gynecology\, bariatrics and orthopedics. Additionally\, the hospital recently embarked in a joint venture with Gastroenterology Consultants of Laredo where over 3\,000 advanced gastrointestinal procedures have been performed since January 2025. \nAdditionally\, Leal has expanded the hospital’s infusion center\, providing enhanced cancer and infusion therapy services. He has also been instrumental in increasing access to primary and specialty care\, growing the hospital’s provider network from one primary care physician in 2020 to ten\, along with the addition of 16 specialists. He launched primary care residency programs in family medicine and internal medicine\, ensuring a pipeline of future healthcare providers for the Laredo-Webb County area. Since 2025\, 79 resident physicians across five graduate medical education classes have graduated and the programs’ eighth cohort of 16 residents were welcomed with 47 residents currently enrolled. A total of 24 graduates from Laredo’s only GME program have made Laredo their home as physicians that work in various capacities throughout Laredo’s healthcare system. \nLooking ahead\, Laredo Medical Center will expand emergency care access to south Laredo’s growing population with the $22 million Buena Vista ER. A ground breaking was held on June 12\, 2025\, and the grand opening is set for summer 2026. \nBeyond hospital leadership\, Jorge is a dedicated civic and industry leader. He has served on the boards of numerous community organizations including the Laredo Daybreak Rotary\, Laredo Boys and Girls Club\, Mercy Ministries of Laredo (Past Chair)\, United Way of Laredo (2022–2023 President)\, the Laredo Chamber of Commerce (Chairman-elect 2027)\, and others. He currently serves on the United Day School Board and\, most recently\, has been appointed to the City of Laredo Economic Development Advisory Committee. At the state level\, he was elected in 2024 to the Texas Hospital Association’s Board of Trustees and has served on the Council on Policy Development and HOSPAC. He currently serves as Chairman of the Texas Hospital Association’s HOSPAC. Nationally\, he represents Texas as an At-Large Delegate to the American Hospital Association’s Regional Policy Board 7. \nA Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives\, Jorge earned board recertification in 2026 and was part of the inaugural class of the Texas Hospital Association Leadership Fellows Program. He is a 2018 recipient of the Texas A&M 12 Under 12 Young Alumni Spotlight\, which honors recent graduates for achievements in business\, service and leadership. In 2024\, he was honored with the inaugural Outstanding Alumni Award from the Texas A&M Master of Health Administration Alumni Association. In 2025\, the Laredo Chamber of Commerce recognized Jorge as a Business Icon Award honoree\, upon his recognition as the Chamber’s first-ever recipient of the Professional Excellence Award for his commitment to healthcare excellence and community leadership. \nUnder Jorge’s leadership\, Laredo Medical Center has earned national accolades\, including recognition by Becker’s Healthcare Review as one of the “150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare” and as one of “100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs.” Laredo Medical Center has also been recognized corporate wide for top employee and physician engagement which has lead to back to back awards for our hospital. His visionary leadership has not only improved clinical outcomes and operational performance but also fostered a culture of pride\, empowerment\, and excellence. Jorge Leal is a transformative leader—one whose impact continues to shape a stronger hospital and a healthier Laredo. \nMr. W. Stephen Love is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council which promotes collaboration\, cooperation\, and advocacy on behalf of its 90 member hospitals. The Hospital Council also has approximately 100 Associate Members (business and industry)\, including prominent accounting\, legal and consulting firms. The primary mission is to drive evidence-based improvement in patient care and health equity in North Texas. He was the United Nations Association Award Winner in 2018 for Global Goals. He served as 2015 Chair for the Conference of Metropolitan and Regional Hospitals Association in the United States. He received the 2020 D CEO’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He also received the Dallas Medical Society’s Millard J. and Robert L. Health Award for a non-physician providing outstanding leadership to the community. He previously served on the Children at Risk Board for North Texas\, Southwest Region Board for the American Heart Association\, and the Chair for the March of Dimes Walk for Babies Campaign\, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Dallas\, and Cure Glaucoma Foundation Advisory Board. He serves on the Southwest Transplant Alliance for organ transplants; North Texas Eye Research Institute; the Metropolitan YMCA Board of Directors and received the 2024 Theodore P. Beasley Distinguished Leadership Award in 2024; the Board of Directors of Prism Health North Texas and the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He was the Chair for the Irving-Las Colinas Chamber for 2024-2025. Mr. Love has worked in healthcare management for over 50 years. He has demonstrated leadership in tax exempt\, investor-owned\, specialty and private hospitals in operations\, finance\, and corporate governance. Prior to joining the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council\, Mr. Love was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of a Fortune 500 healthcare company that owned over 50 hospitals and managed approximately 200 facilities in the United States. \nLance Lunsford serves as senior partner at Groundswell Health\, a company he co-founded in Austin\, Texas\, focusing on strategic communication and marketing programs for health care organizations. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves on the board of the Central Texas chapter. Previously\, he served as SVP of marketing and communications for the Texas Hospital Association\, overseeing all strategic messaging related to legislative and regulatory affairs\, including issues relating to health care delivery and finance. \nPrior to joining THA\, Lunsford worked as director of marketing for UMC Health System\, a 400-bed hospital located in Lubbock\, Texas\, where he built patient volume strategies for a variety of service lines. \nLunsford started his career in journalism as a reporter before becoming city editor of a major West Texas daily newspaper at 24. Lunsford was the first to produce and implement digital content features at multiple newspapers between 2003 and 2007. In June 2024\, Texas Tech University Press will release his new book Inside the Well: The Midland\, Texas Rescue of Baby Jessica McClure. The book chronicles the international media spotlight in the West Texas oil town and the tragedies that followed. The book brings to life the aftermath rescuers faced as they navigated movie deals\, international media\, and scrutiny to become one of first high-profile cases of PTSD among first responders. \n\n\n  \nRegister Here\n 
URL:https://acheetx.org/event/navigating-key-legislative-issues-facing-healthcare-leaders/
LOCATION:Virtual
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260611T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260611T200000
DTSTAMP:20260603T184357
CREATED:20260429T191125Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260429T194836Z
UID:17116-1781199000-1781208000@acheetx.org
SUMMARY:Networking & Successfully Leading Change in Healthcare Organizations
DESCRIPTION:This educational panel has been approved for 1.50 ACHE In-Person Education Credits.\n\n\n\n\nPlease join us for this special combined Networking and Education Event in Texarkana. \nYou may register for either the networking or educational segments separately\, or hopefully you can join us for both. \nA special thanks to CHRISTUS St Michael Hospital for hosting this event! \nAgenda:\n5:30pm-6:30pm: Check-In and Networking\n6:30pm-8:00pm: Education Panel: Successfully Leading Change in Healthcare Organizations \nThe healthcare environment is constantly changing\, and provider organizations must adapt in order to survive and thrive. Organizations are frequently asked to respond to legislative changes\, market fluctuations\, safety concerns\, and patient or staff demands. The success of major change implementation hinges on how it communicated and how it impacts individuals and processes in the organization. Stakeholders frequently resist change for many reasons\, including not having enough information\, fear of how the change will affect them\, comfort with the status quo\, and not understanding the benefits of the change. For change to truly be effective\, a leader must know how to effectively communicate the benefits\, minimize the barriers\, and describe the processes. Learn from your peers as they share approaches that were successful and those that impeded the change process. \nModerator: Ryan Moon\, FACHE\nChief Operating Officer\nCHRISTUS St Michael Hospital \nPanelists: \nJason Adams\nChief Executive Officer\nCHRISTUS St Michael Hospital \nRoger Hall\nChief Executive Officer\nCollom & Carney Clinic Association \nGreg Richter\, MD\nBoard Chair\nCollom & Carney Clinic Association \n\n\n  \nRegister Here\n  \nSpeakers’ Bios: \n  \nJason Adams joined the CHRISTUS St. Michael family as President of the health care ministry on February 15\, 2021. \n  \nA native of Arkansas and a University of Georgia Alumni\, Jason has more than 27 years of healthcare experience\, including a wealth of senior leadership experience in operations\, strategic planning\, financial accountability\, and overall business development in healthcare and complex multi-hospital systems. \n  \nAs President\, Jason is responsible for ensuring CHRISTUS St. Michael remains positioned to meet and exceed the health care needs of our community. This includes fulfilling the mission through growth initiatives\, quality\, Associate engagement\, patient satisfaction\, operational efficiency and financial strength. \n  \nJason’s 27 years of experience include roles such as Assistant Administrator\, Chief Operating Officer\, in for-profit and not-for-profit health systems. His ties to CHRISTUS Health began with his role as Chief Operating Officer for CHRISTUS St. Vincent Health System in 2013. In his various roles\, Jason led comprehensive turnaround plans that resulted in financial strength and improvement in Associate and patient satisfaction\, quality scores and operational efficiency. \n  \nHe and his wife\, Jennnifer\, have 3 children\, Jackson\, Ansley and Alex \n  \nRoger Hall is the Chief Executive Officer of Collom & Carney Clinic Association\, where he has been a leadership fixture since 1996 transitioning from COO to CEO in 2019. Roger’s executive journey is rooted in a deep mastery of healthcare finance; prior to his nearly 30-year tenure at the Clinic\, he served as a Chief Financial Officer and Director of Reimbursement for various hospital systems. \n  \nRoger is a recognized expert in advanced value-based care models\, including Medicare Advantage\, Medicare Shared Savings\, and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). His diverse operational background also extends to Home Health\, Hospice\, and specialized care management programs such as Transitional Care Management (TCM) and Chronic Care Management (CCM). Board Certified through the MGMA and a former fellowship with HFMA\, Roger currently serves on the Boards of Directors for Lifenet and Stratum Med\, and the Agilon Health Network Advisory Board. \n  \nRyan Moon\, FACHE\, is an accomplished healthcare leader with over 18 years of senior operational experience. As a former Chief Operating Officer for multiple Universal Health Services (UHS) facilities—including hospitals in Las Vegas\, NV and California—Ryan has a proven track record of optimizing hospital efficiencies while maintaining top-tier patient care. \n  \nThroughout his career\, Ryan has specialized in bridging the gap between clinical excellence and operational success. His notable achievements include reducing lab & imaging turnaround times\, increasing surgical on-time starts\, optimizing OR utilization\, and successfully launching a new 130-bed acute care hospital. A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives\, Ryan is dedicated to inspiring high-performing teams to surpass goals in quality\, productivity\, and patient satisfaction. \n  \nDr. Greg Richter\, MD\, is a board-certified family medicine physician and distinguished healthcare leader with over 30 years of clinical experience. A 1986 graduate of Texas A&M University\, he earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 1991. After completing his residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences—where he served as Chief Resident in 1994—Dr. Richter practiced at Texas Medical Surgical Clinic in Dallas for 4 years before joining Collom & Carney Clinic in 1999. Throughout his tenure\, he has held significant leadership positions\, including serving multiple terms as Board President and his current role as Medical Director. Dr. Richter possesses extensive experience in advanced value-based care models\, having previously served as the Agilon Medical Director from the program’s inception at the clinic through June 2025. Board-certified since 1994\, he continues to combine deep clinical expertise with a steadfast commitment to organizational excellence and the delivery of high-quality\, patient-centered care. \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://acheetx.org/event/networking-successfully-leading-change-in-healthcare-organizations/
LOCATION:The Primary Commons\, 417 East New Boston Road\, Nash\, TX\, 75569
ORGANIZER;CN="ACHE of East Texas":MAILTO:info@acheetx.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260619T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260619T130000
DTSTAMP:20260603T184357
CREATED:20260302T203029Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260302T203029Z
UID:17072-1781870400-1781874000@acheetx.org
SUMMARY:Medicaid Provider Taxes and the OBBB: Implications for Hospitals and Physician Practices
DESCRIPTION:  \nThis event has been approved for 1.0 ACHE Qualifying (self-reported) Education Credits. \nMedicaid provider taxes have long served as a foundational state financing mechanism used to support Medicaid payment levels and leverage federal matching funds. These taxes are state-designed and may apply to different provider classes\, including hospitals\, nursing facilities\, managed care organizations\, and in some states\, physician services or specialty physician groups. Recent provisions within the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) propose new restrictions and phased limitations on provider taxes\, signaling a major shift in how states may fund their Medicaid programs. \nThis session will explain how provider taxes function\, why policymakers view certain financing arrangements as controversial\, and how proposed OBBB changes could affect hospital reimbursement\, supplemental and directed payment programs\, and state budget flexibility. Particular attention will be given to the potential indirect effects on physicians and physician groups\, even in states where they do not directly pay provider taxes\, such as pressure on Medicaid fee schedules and hospital-supported clinical services. Participants will gain practical guidance for assessing organizational exposure\, engaging in state-level discussions\, and planning for evolving Medicaid financing models. \n\n  \nRegister Here\n  \n\nPresenter: Dr. Cristian H Lieneck\nSchool Director-Assoc Professor at School of Health Administration\, College of Health Professions\nTexas State University \nDr. Cristian H. Lieneck is the Director of the School of Health Administration at Texas State University\, where he has spent over 15 years preparing future healthcare leaders. \nHis career began as an emergency medical technician and as a U.S. Army Medical Service Corps officer\, where he earned multiple recognitions for his leadership related to medical evacuation missions and follow-on senior-executive military health service operations\, including being awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) upon completion of his active duty military service. He has over a decade follow-on experience leading medical group practices/outpatient service organizations across Texas\, specializing in financial management and health service marketing initiatives. His prior experience includes leadership positions at Austin Radiological Association (ARA)\, the Texas Medicaid Community Assistance Support Program\, and serving as the practice administrator of a physiatry/pain management medical group consisting of an outpatient surgery suite in Austin and multiple clinics across Central Texas. \nToday\, Dr. Lieneck is well known for strengthening the professional development of healthcare leaders nationwide. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)\, the Academy for Healthcare Management (AHM)\, the Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and the Medical Group Management Association(MGMA)\, and actively mentors early-\, mid-\, and senior-level healthcare administrators across all sectors of the industry. He was previously elected and served as an ACHE Regent for Central and South Texas (District 4)\,where he supported executives through education\, networking\, and leadership programming. He continues to teach financial management\, information technology/management\, and the general business domain modules for the ACHE Board of Governors FACHE exam review course\, assisting hundreds of healthcare leaders with their professional development goals and is a very active ACHE CHOICE program faculty member – speaking and conducting educational workshops to hospitals and healthcare systems regularly. Simultaneously serving as Texas MGMA’s Forum Representative\, he builds connections across practice management leaders and contributes to advancing the profession of medical group practice management\, assisting outpatient administration leaders with the skills needed to succeed through lectures and conference presentations. \nDr. Lieneck continues to research and publish on healthcare finance\, practice management\, and value-based leadership while serving on local\, state\, and national committees. His recently published textbook\,” Healthcare Financial Accounting: A Guide for Leaders” in 2022 has been adopted by multiple graduate and undergraduate programs in higher education and is even offered as a primary textbook with his new online course (“CODE BLUE on your Balance Sheet: A Healthcare Financial Accounting Refresher”) for non-student healthcare leaders seeking additional learning support though the Texas State University Continuing Education program. His work reflects a commitment to both academic excellence and applied leadership development\, ensuring healthcare executives are prepared to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing industry. \nKnown for incorporating his bluegrass mandolin playing in his teaching sessions\, he also enjoys spending time with his family and traveling. \nResearch Interests: \nHealthcare value (directed towards finance and marketing perspectives)\, practice administration (ambulatory care)\, and healthcare administration andragogy. \n\n  \nRegister Here
URL:https://acheetx.org/event/medicaid-provider-taxes-and-the-obbb-implications-for-hospitals-and-physician-practices/
LOCATION:Virtual
ORGANIZER;CN="ACHE of East Texas":MAILTO:info@acheetx.org
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR