Thank you South Texas Chapter of American College of Healthcare Executives (STC-ACHE) for allowing me the honor of being your 2019 President.  Following in the wake of a Roxanne Rosa, Immediate Past-President and President-Elect, whom we owe a tremendous debt of gratitude for her leadership and innovation I know this upcoming year will be inspiring!

Innovation, growth and transformation are keywords for 2019.  As this year’s theme Congress on Healthcare Leadership, STC-ACHE is set to bring you, our members, a year filled with these topics and activities.  Healthcare Landscapes 2019 that occurred on March 22, had an exceptional agenda that set the tempo.  Topics covering Healthcare reform implications, care for the uninsured, ambulatory care, ever pressing financial challenges with its transparency and the mandate to continually improve on the quality of care delivered.  Evaluations at this event will be innovative as well, so stay tuned as this will impact our future events. 

In keeping with the premise of modernization, ACHE has launched a new face to its website that provides greater ease in accessing the exceptional resources and best Healthcare practice tools for our membership on these and other key issues in this ever-changing climate.  With so much to offer, I would also urge you to apply to take the Board of Governor’s Examination to become a fellow.  Locally, our chapter offers a 10-week preparation course for taking the Board of Governors Fellow exam with an incentive should you pass.  For more information, reach out to our advancement chair by visiting  the chapter website stc.ache.org.

Additionally, STC-ACHE is also pacesetting with our winning an innovation grant to provide a workshop series to Early Careerists,  more information to follow.  We have had events occurring with our LPCs in Coastal Bend – Corpus Christi affiliate that was well received, whose chair is doing networking events, so please check the website for dates and times.  Speaking of LPCs our Rio Grande Affiliate will hosting an educational event in Harlingen on August 8th, I hope to see you there.  South Texas Chapter ACHE is exploring strategic collaborations with other Health related entities, one being the American Society of Anesthesiologists, to create more diverse and robust program offerings.  Other organizations we are or hope to collaborate with are The Health Cell, Geekdom and SA StartUp to name a few.  We are also working with local social service agencies to identify multiple opportunities to volunteerism within our communities to help our communities and to give you those needed volunteer hours.

In addition, have you noticed our improved social media presence?  If not, please take time to like us via the following sites:

Website:  stc.ache.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/stc.ache

Instagram: @STCACHE

LinkedIn: South Texas Chapter ACHE

Twitter: @southtxache

Excitingly, STC-ACHE will continue the innovation and has many activities scheduled between now and the end of the year with some changes in venues, as well as other improvements.  I hope to see as many of you as possible at each of them and you can find all our events listed on the chapter website stc.ache.org.

I would lie to say thank you to everyone for making us an award winning chapter!  We once again have received the  Award of Chapter Distinction and Award for Sustained Performance.  If you have any suggestions or comments for me, please email me at maweidner1@yahoo.com.

Respectfully,

Mary Anne Weidner

President, STC-ACHE

Spring 2019

I am very excited to introduce myself as your new Regent for Central and South Texas.  First I must offer a huge thank-you to Michael Nowicki, EdD, FACHE who has served exceptionally as your Regent for the past three years.  I look forward to picking up right where Michael left off supporting and engaging healthcare professionals in our region.

I hope many of you were able to attend Healthcare Landscape 2019 in San Antonio featuring a lively panel including Joseph Fifer, FHFMA, president of national HFMA and Heather J. Rohan, FACHE, Chairman of ACHE.  They provided insights and highlights in discussing the value of professional organizations. If you missed Healthcare Landscape this year, please place a “Save the Date” on your calendar for Healthcare Landscape 2020, January 31, 2020.

Whether you are just beginning your career, mid-way through or working at the senior executive level, I hope you know and understand the value and benefit of being a member and more importantly a Fellow in ACHE.  One of the most profound impacts you can make as a leader is giving back a little of yourself through volunteerism. My experience with volunteering is that I always get back way more than I give.  I find joy in helping others for the sheer hope of making a small difference where otherwise change may not occur.  Volunteering allows me to work in areas outside my normal routine.  Serving in a variety of different areas, provides me with the opportunity to meet new people and gain new perspectives in life.  Service is a part of my value system.  Service is a foundational tenant of healthcare and through service we can help promulgate the reason we are in healthcare in the first place; giving back to the community where we work and live. As healthcare leaders we have a responsibility to give back to our community and I strongly encourage each person to find a way to volunteer their time and talents where they are most needed.  For specific opportunities available in your chapter, check out the South Texas Chapter website at http://stc.ache.org/ and the Central Texas Chapter website at https://achectx.org/ .

Both the South and Central Texas Chapters have a busy spring with numerous educational, networking, and volunteer opportunities.  The Central Texas Chapter offered a Networking event the end of April. Over the next few months, the Central Texas Chapter is offering a local program chapter event in Temple on May 9, a Face-to-Face Educational Event in Austin on May 10, and several May volunteer opportunities.  To find out specifics, please go to the Central Texas website at https://achectx.org/.  The South Texas chapter just held their spring educational event in San Antonio in early April and hosted a local program council event in the Coast Bend area on April 25. The chapter will host a May networking opportunity on May 9 as well as several volunteer events in May and June.  To find out more specifics, please visit their website at http://stc.ache.org/.

Before I go, I just want to give you a little background on who I am.  I grew up in central Texas, attended the University of Texas for my BBA and Texas A&M for my MBA – thus instead of being a house divided – I am an individual divided.  I joined the Navy as a Medical Service Corps officer serving 28 years in various healthcare administration roles throughout the United States, Europe, and Africa.  I retired from the Navy in October of 2018 and I am now an Assistant Professor in the H-E-B School of Business Administration teaching in both business and healthcare administration programs.  I live in San Antonio, making it easy for me to attend various chapter events.   I look forward to working with you over the next three year and if you have any questions or suggestions, please contact me at ldowns@uiwtx.edu.

 

Lynn T. Downs, PhD, FACHE
Regent for Texas – Central & South

We had a very successful January volunteer event this weekend!  Thanks to the 34 people who came out to donate their time to the Animal Defense League of Texas.  Photos are available on our Facebook site.  See details for our next volunteer event in February here!

We have posted photos for our recent volunteer event, fall education event, and awards recipients. Please check out our facebook page for all of the great images!

Are you an early to mid-careerist looking for guidance and assistance with navigating the healthcare environment?
Sign up for the South Texas Chapter of ACHE mentorship program!
Completed applications and a copy of your resume can be sent to Lauren Travis at LMObermeier@gmail.com. 
For more information visit our Mentorship Page

Would you like to know more about our Mentorship Program? 

Check out our new page!