Governor Abbott Names Chair and Appoints 14 to Texas Health Services Authority Board of Directors

Board to Provide Guidance on THSA’s Strategic Efforts to Expand Health Information Exchange as Agency Seeks Funding for Health IT Solution to Disaster Response

Austin, TX – April 4, 2019 – The Texas Health Services Authority (THSA) is pleased to share that Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Paula Anthony-McMann, Ph.D., Victoria Ai Linh Bryant, Pharm.D., Shannon Calhoun, Lourdes Cuellar, Salil Deshpande, M.D., Emily Hartmann, Kenneth James, Jerome Lisk, M.D., Leticia Rodriguez, Jonathan Sandstrom Hill, Siobhan Shahan, and Carlos Vital, M.D. to the Texas Health Services Authority Board of Directors for terms set to expire on June 15, 2019. Additionally, the Governor named Shannon Calhoun chair, and appointed Calvin Green and Jeffrey Hoogheem to serve as ex-officio members for terms set to expire on June 15, 2019.

The Texas Health Services Authority is responsible for coordinating the implementation of health information exchange (HIE) in Texas. As part of this charge, THSA is currently seeking funding to develop and implement the Patient Unified Lookup System for Emergencies (PULSE) in Texas.

George Gooch, CEO of THSA, says, “We are pleased to welcome such an esteemed group to serve on the board of directors. As our governing body, the board will help guide us through a critical juncture in THSA’s future, including development and implementation of PULSE, which we believe will provide a tremendous and potentially life-saving service to Texans in times of disasters.”

With a simple search on PULSE, authenticated providers can access medications, allergies, diagnoses, and lab results for those displaced outside their typical healthcare environment. PULSE is designed to connect disparate health information from multiple sources in the event of a natural disaster, allowing healthcare professionals to securely query and view patient documents when they need it most.

To bolster the board’s efforts in overseeing THSA’s HIE projects and programs, the board intends to develop a physician advisory committee with direct access to the THSA board chair, Shannon Calhoun. Not only will this aid in obtaining direct feedback from end users of HIE systems, but it will also ensure broad representation from physicians across the state.

Brief biographies for each of the appointees are below.

Paula Anthony-McMann, Ph.D. of Tyler is the Chief Strategy Officer for UT Health East Texas. She is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. She is also a member of the Healthcare Information Management Systems Society and the Academy of Human Resource Development. She is a member of the Texas Hospital Association Foundation Board of Directors, and previously served on the board of directors for the American Hospital Association – Solutions Division, CASA for Kids of East Texas, Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, and Tyler Area Economic Development Council. Anthony-McMann received Bachelor of Arts in biology and psychology from Wesleyan University, a Masters of Business Administration from Case Western Reserve University, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in human resource development from The University of Texas at Tyler.

Victoria Ai Linh Bryant, Pharm.D. of Houston is the founder of Ambassadors Caregivers, LLC. She is a member of the American Pharmacists Association, University of Houston College of Education Dean’s Advisory Council, and The Altus Foundation. She also serves as the president for the World Chamber of Commerce of Texas. Bryant received a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Houston.

Shannon Calhoun of Goliad is Vice President of Network Development at National Rural Accountable Care Consortium. She previously served as Vice President of Business Development of Caravan Health, and as CEO of Southeast Texas Health Systems. She previously volunteered as the logistics officer for the Goliad County Emergency Medications Clinic, and is a past member of the Goliad County Chamber of Commerce Finance Committee, Goliad Community Network, Goliad Rotary Club, and the Pecan Valley Area Health Education Center Calhoun received a Bachelor of Science in agronomy from Texas A&M.

Lourdes Cuellar of Houston recently retired as the Administrative Director of Pharmacy at TIRR Memorial Hermann. She currently serves as an adjunct professor in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Houston. She is a member and past president of the Texas Society of Health System Pharmacists, Texas Society of Health System Pharmacists Research & Education Foundation, and Gulf Coast Society of Health-System Pharmacists. She is also a member of the American Society of Health System Pharmacists and American Pharmacists Associations. Cuellar received a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy and a Master of Science in pharmacy administration from the University of Houston.

Salil Deshpande, M.D. of Houston is the chief medical officer for UnitedHealthcare’s Community Plan of Texas. He is a member of the American Medical Association, American College of Physicians, Texas Medical Association, and the Harris County Medical Society, and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine. Deshpande received a Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences from the University of Southern California, Doctor of Medicine from Baylor College of Medicine, and a Masters of Business Administration in finance and health care management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Emily Hartmann of El Paso is the executive director for Paso del Norte Health Information Exchange. She is a member of the Strategic HIE Collaborative, Health Information Management Systems Society and YMCA of El Paso. Hartmann received a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Chicago and Master of Public Policy from Harvard University.

Kenneth James of Volente is the vice president of operations at Superior HealthPlan. He currently serves on Superior HealthPlan’s Performance Improvement Team, Healthcare Effectiveness Data & Information Set, and Clinical and Diabetes Steering Committees. Additionally, he volunteers with the Grandview Hills PTA. He is a former coach for Elgin Little League, and has volunteered with the Cajun Navy. James received a Bachelor of Science in computer information systems from Tarleton State University.

Jerome Lisk, M.D. of Tyler is the director of Movement Disorders at the Neurological Institute at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Hospital. He is also a clinical assistant professor at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. He is a member of The American Academy of Neurology, The International Parkinson’s and Movement Disorder Society, and the Texas Neurological Society. He previously served on the American Heart Association’s African American Task Force – Western States Affiliate the Board of Directors, and as expert review panel of the Medical Board of California. Lisk received a Bachelor of Arts in biology from Hampton University and a Doctor of Medicine from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Leticia Rodriguez of Monahans is the CEO for Ward Memorial Hospital. She currently serves as president of the Rotary Club of Monahans and is a member of the Monahans Ambassador’s Club. She is a Fellow of the Texas Hospital Association, former president of the Monahans Chamber of Commerce Women’s Division and the Texas Association of Healthcare Financial Administration. Rodriguez received a Bachelor of Science in organizational management from Lubbock Christian University.

Jonathan Sandstrom Hill of Lakeway serves as general counsel for Capital Commercial Investments, Inc. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas. He volunteers as a preschool Sunday School teacher and usher at Southwest Family Fellowship, and serves on the board of Recycle NOW. Sandstrom Hill received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Boston College, where he was a member of the Honors Program, and a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

Siobhan Shahan of Amarillo most recently served as an area supervisor for ResCare, Inc. She is a member of the Junior League of Amarillo and former member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, American Society for Public Administration, and the American Medical Association. Shahan received a Bachelor of Science in human development and family studies and a Master of Public Administration in healthcare administration from Texas Tech University.

Carlos Vital, M.D. of Friendswood is the president and CEO of Vital Allergy & Asthma Center. He is past president of the Greater Houston Allergy and the Asthma and Immunology Society, and a member of the Texas Medical Association, Texas Allergy Asthma and Immunology Society, Houston Medical Forum Harris County Medical Society, and the Houston Academy of Medicine. He is also an assistant professor for the Texas A&M College of Medicine. Vital received a Bachelor of Science in biology from Xavier University of Louisiana, Doctor of Medicine from Louisiana State University, and Fellowship in Allergy and Immunology from the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans.

Calvin Green of Elgin is the Deputy Executive Commissioner of Performance for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Green received a Bachelor of Science in political science and history from Texas A&M University – Commerce and a Masters of Public Administration from the University of North Texas.

Jeffrey Hoogheem of Austin is the Director of Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Section at the Texas Department of State Health Services. He serves as the Incident Commander in the Texas State Medical Operations Center (SMOC) and is responsible for coordinating all Public Health and Medical preparedness and response activities in Texas. He is a retired Blackhawk Helicopter Pilot, who served 21 years in the U.S. Army. Hoogheem received an Associate of Science in professional aeronautics from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and a Bachelor of Science in aeronautics from Liberty University.

These appointments are subject to Senate Confirmation.

About THSA
The Texas legislature established Texas Health Services Authority (THSA) in 2007 for the purpose of promoting, implementing, and facilitating the secure electronic exchange of health information. The THSA accomplishes this purpose through its health information exchange (HIE) and privacy and security certification and supporting programs. Learn more about the THSA at www.thsa.org

Contact: George Gooch
512.329.2730
george.gooch@thsa.org