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