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Executive Student BiosCOHORT 2021EXECUTIVE MBA HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM COHORT 2021 SOULES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLEREMBA@UTTYLER.EDU 903.565.6528 UTTYLER.EDU/EMBA
COHORT ROSTER VANESSA BERNAL, CCRPCLINICAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR, PHYSICALMEDICINE AND REHABILITATION DEPARTMENT AT THEMCGOVERN MEDICAL SCHOOL AT UTHEALTH –HOUSTON DENNIS W. COOK, PHD-C, MSN, RN, CJCP,CPHQ, CPPS, HACP, CSSBBSYSTEM DIRECTOR, REGULATORY COMPLIANCE,CHRISTUS TRINITY MOTHER FRANCES HEALTHSYSTEM RALPH DE SIMILIEN, MD, MPHASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY UT HEALTH EAST TEXAS JAMIE JACK DOWELL, BS, PMPPROGRAM DIRECTOR, PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE,CHRISTUS GOOD SHEPHERD HEALTH SYSTEM JAMIE FREELS-RUNEY, BSSENIOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONAL,EATING RECOVERY CENTER AND INSIGHT BEHAVIORALHEALTH SARAH HERBEL, MDFAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENT, THE UNIVERSITY OFTEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER TYLERRAVI KAJADIRECTOR, TELADOC HEALTH, INC. CHRIS MALONESENIOR PROJECT MANAGER, CHILDREN'S HEALTHSYSTEMS OF TEXAS ROSE A. ORJI, MBBSACTIVITY THERAPIST, UT HEALTH BEHAVIOR HEALTHCENTER (BHC) LITTON ALVIN SCHEXNAILDREOWNER, DBS ALLERGY, LLC RONADE MARTINE SIMILIEN, PH.D.CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, HAITI SUSTAINABLEAGRICULTURE & RESEARCH LLC SAMANTHA SMITHDIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, CEDAR PARKREGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (CPRMC) VERA M. STROMAN TURNEYPROGRAM DIRECTOR, CHRISTUS GOOD SHEPHERDWOUND CARE CENTER- MARSHALL IGAL TARASH, D.O., B.S.PSYCHIATRY AND BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE PROGRAMRESIDENT, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCECENTER TYLERSONYA M. GRIGSBY, DNP, APRN, AGACNP-BCACNP-TRINITY CLINIC INTENSIVISTS, CHRISTUS TRINITY MOTHER FRANCES HOSPITALADJUNCT FACULTY, UT TYLER ELIZABETH GARZA, MDRURAL FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENT, THE UNIVERSITYOF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER TYLERWILLIAM HOOKS JR, MDMEDICAL DIRECTOR OF PROCEDURAL SERVICES & CHIEFMEDICAL INFORMATION OFFICER, TITUS REGIONALMEDICAL CENTERJOSEPH ELLIOTT, PMPOPERATIONS ANALYST, PATIENTCARE EMS SUPRIYA VEERAMACHANENIPROJECT MANAGER, AUSTIN REGIONAL CLINIC RIGOBERTO VILLA JR, CHAAOFFICE COORDINATOR, HEALOGICSEXECUTIVE MBA HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM COHORT 2021 SOULES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLEREMBA@UTTYLER.EDU 903.565.6528 UTTYLER.EDU/EMBA
Executive MBA Healthcare Management ProgramCohort 2021VANESSA BERNAL, CCRPCLINICAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR, PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION DEPARTMENT AT THE MCGOVERNMEDICAL SCHOOL AT UTHEALTH - HOUSTONVanessa Bernal is a Clinical Research Coordinator II in the PhysicalMedicine and Rehabilitation Department at the McGovern MedicalSchool in Houston, Texas. She has led a successful career in the healthcare industry with 10 years of experience in clinical research where sheindependently manages day to day operations for industry-sponsoredtrials including outcomes, budgets, and timelines; personnel, facilities,and supplies. Vanessa’s experience in clinical research involvesinvestigator-initiated and industry-sponsored trials. She simultaneouslymanages multiple research studies under different principalinvestigators.Vanessa is SoCRA certified and obtained a Bachelor of Science inKinesiology – Exercise Science degree and a minor in Italian from theUniversity of Houston. Vanessa is fluent in Spanish and Italian. She enjoys spending time exploring the outdoorswith her partner and their two terriers.EXECUTIVE MBA HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM COHORT 2021 SOULES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLEREMBA@UTTYLER.EDU 903.565.6528 UTTYLER.EDU/EMBA
Executive MBA Healthcare Management ProgramCohort 2021DENNIS W. COOK, PHD-C, MSN, RN, CJCP, CPHQ, CPPS, HACP, CSSBBSYSTEM DIRECTOR, REGULATORY COMPLIANCE, CHRISTUS TRINITY MOTHER FRANCES HEALTH SYSTEMDennis Cook is the System Director of Regulatory Compliance atCHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System. A seasoned healthcarequality, patient safety, and accreditation leader, Dennis has extensiveexperience in developing and implementing programs and processes tomeet, exceed, and sustain, quality and patient safety goals andaccreditation standards in hospitals, healthcare systems, academicmedical centers, and ambulatory surgery centers. Over his 13 yearsworking in healthcare quality and patient safety, Dennis has had theopportunity to work in various leadership positions that have improvedpractice and performance for the betterment of patient safety and qualityoutcomes. These positions include his current System Director role alongwith previous roles as AVP of Patient Safety and Quality of the HCA nationwide Ambulatory Surgery Division as well as the University of New MexicoHospitals in Albuquerque, New Mexico.Dennis previously worked with hospitals across the state of Texas as the Vice President of Quality and PatientSafety at Texas Hospital Association where he developed programs to assist THA member hospitals in eliminatinghospital-acquired conditions and patient harm as part of the CMS-funded Partnership for Patients program. Hiscareer focus in quality improvement and patient safety started at Houston Methodist Hospital where hetransitioned from his role as an inpatient nurse practitioner to manager of patient safety/systems design.Dennis is nearing the completion of a PhD program at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, inwhich he is focused on quality and patient safety science, processes, and outcomes. With this degree andknowledge, and with his MBA – Healthcare Management, Dennis looks to continue on his leadership journeyfocusing on elevating quality and patient safety programs that will improve healthcare practice.EXECUTIVE MBA HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM COHORT 2021 SOULES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLEREMBA@UTTYLER.EDU 903.565.6528 UTTYLER.EDU/EMBA
Executive MBA Healthcare Management ProgramCohort 2021RALPH DE SIMILIEN, MD, MPHASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY - UT HEALTH EAST TEXASRalph de Similien is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatryat UT Health East Texas. An alumnus of Teach for America and theAmeriCorp programs, he previously taught elementary school sciencebefore entering the medical profession through Wayne State UniversitySchool of Medicine, where he obtained his Doctor of Medicine (MD)degree.He completed his residency in Psychiatry at Howard University Hospitalin Washington, DC., his Public Psychiatry fellowship at Yale University,and his MPH degree at Harvard University.Ralph’s interests range broadly in the area of Health Care Management.Among these interests are included (but not limited to) minority mentalhealth; public, community, and rural mental health; teaching; academicleadership and administration; mental health delivery in the young adult population; and in studying andaddressing the financial impacts of the social determinants of health on our present system of care delivery andcare management.EXECUTIVE MBA HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM COHORT 2021 SOULES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLEREMBA@UTTYLER.EDU 903.565.6528 UTTYLER.EDU/EMBA
Executive MBA Healthcare Management ProgramCohort 2021JAMIE JACK DOWELL, BS, PMPPROGRAM DIRECTOR, PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE, CHRISTUS GOOD SHEPHERD HEALTH SYSTEMJamie Jack Dowell is the Program Director in the Project Management Office atCHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System. Jamie has 15 years of healthcareexperience with 10 years of operational management experience. Prior to hercurrent role, Jamie served as the Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer,Executive Office Manager and Project Manager. Her passion for healthcarebegan with her first position as a night-shift unit clerk in the Trauma IntensiveCare Unit.Under her leadership, Jamie has demonstrated success in the areas ofoperational, communication and departmental management. Jamie has alsobeen instrumental in the management of the hospital’s COVID-19 response.Jamie holds an Associate and Bachelor degree in Healthcare Administrationfrom LeTourneau University in Longview, TX. In her spare time, Jamie and herhusband, Marcus, along with their two dogs enjoy spending their time in thekitchen creating culinary masterpieces. And, when not in the kitchen, they enjoytraveling, the arts, and outside activities with their canine companions.EXECUTIVE MBA HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM COHORT 2021 SOULES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLEREMBA@UTTYLER.EDU 903.565.6528 UTTYLER.EDU/EMBA
Executive MBA Healthcare Management ProgramCohort 2021JOSEPH ELLIOTT, PMPOPERATIONS ANALYST, PATIENTCARE EMSJoseph Elliott is an Operations Analyst for PatientCare EMS. He began apublic safety career with the City of Tyler Police Department in 1999where he served as a 911 Dispatcher and Dispatch Supervisor. Josephlater joined ETMC EMS, completed EMT training, completed a BA inHistory, and earned a promotion to Director of Support Services for anETMC subsidiary, Paramedics Plus, in Oakland, California. At theconclusion of that contract in 2019, Joseph returned to Tyler as acorporate operations analyst for the new parent company, PatientCareEMS, where he works to improve operational efficiencies in their 7agencies across the country. He holds a PMP certification.Joseph enjoys playing chess, backpacking with his family, working fromhome, wearing masks, and maintaining social distance.EXECUTIVE MBA HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM COHORT 2021 SOULES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLEREMBA@UTTYLER.EDU 903.565.6528 UTTYLER.EDU/EMBA
Executive MBA Healthcare Management ProgramCohort 2021JAMIE FREELS-RUNEY, BSSENIOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONAL, EATING RECOVERY CENTER AND INSIGHT BEHAVIORAL HEALTHJamie Freels-Runey is the Senior Business Development Professionals for theEating Recovery Center and Insight Behvavioural Health. She has over 20years’ experience working in hospital administration from Universal HealthSystems (UHS), Springstone Health, and Memorial Hermann Health CareSystem. Her experience includes in-house and corporate communications,long- and short-term marketing plans, and referral development throughBusiness-2-Business relationships. Jamie’s expertise also includes hospitalstartup systems, marketing development, event planning, vendor fairs,community development, and the training and supervision of othermarketing professionals. She is passionate about communication andcreating efficient systems. Jamie has been with Eating Recovery Center andPathlight Mood and Anxiety Centers for 4 years and is currently a SeniorProfessional Relationship Liaison.EXECUTIVE MBA HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM COHORT 2021 SOULES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLEREMBA@UTTYLER.EDU 903.565.6528 UTTYLER.EDU/EMBA
Executive MBA Healthcare Management ProgramCohort 2021ELIZABETH GARZA, MDRURAL FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENT, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER TYLERElizabeth Garza is a second-year rural family medicine resident with TheUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler in Pittsburg, Texas. Sheis a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Texas MedicalAssociation, and American Medical Women’s Association. She will serve asco-chief resident during her third year of residency. She earned hermedical degree from the UT Long School of Medicine at the UT HealthScience Center at San Antonio. While attending medical school, she servedas president of both the Catholic Medical Student Association and theHospice and Palliative Care Interest Group. Her leadership roles alsoinvolved serving as a Mentor in Medicine for other medical students.Elizabeth earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with a Minorin Chemistry at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, where she wasinvolved with Chapel Choir, The Society of Honors Scholars, Delta Zeta, andthe university’s work-study program. While attending St. Mary’s University,she also met her husband, Zach.Elizabeth was born in Goliad, Texas. She loves to return home to visit her parents and grandparents whenever herschedule allows. She also finds time to visit her younger sisters wherever they are at the time. She has a love forlearning and reading and spends her time doing so when she is not spending time with family.EXECUTIVE MBA HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM COHORT 2021 SOULES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLEREMBA@UTTYLER.EDU 903.565.6528 UTTYLER.EDU/EMBA
Executive MBA Healthcare Management ProgramCohort 2021SONYA M. GRIGSBY, DNP, APRN, AGACNP-BCACNP-TRINITY CLINIC INTENSIVISTS, CHRISTUS TRINITY MOTHER FRANCES HOSPITALADJUNCT FACULTY, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLERSonya Grigsby is an ACNP with the Trinity Clinic Intensivists at ChristusMother Frances in Tyler, Texas. Sonya is also adjunct faculty at TheUniversity of Texas at Tyler teaching ICU clinical rotations. She is alsocompleting the Post MSN FNP program at UT Tyler.Previously, Sonya spent nine years working as an RN in the ICU at ChristusMother Frances Hospital in the medical/surgical unit. She also spent timeas charge nurse in the unit, responsible for delegating nursingassignments, overseeing admissions, discharges, and supervision ofbedside staff. Sonya also works at OSF in Peoria, Illinois as ACNP in the ICU.She maintains multiple state licenses and continue to work as critical carelocum NP.Sonya received her BSN from the University of Texas at Tyler followed byMSN at Walden University. She competed her CCRN in 2016, FCCS in 2019,ENLS in 2017.She recently completed her Doctor of Nursing practice (DNP)in May 2020 from the University of Texas at Tyler. Sonya is a member of the ETNP, TNP, AANP, TNA, ANA, SCCM,ANCC, and Texas DNP. She also severs as a TNA Expert advisor on the APRN/Policy Committee and was a TNADNP Fellow in 2019. Sonya is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing andpresented her DNP poster presentation at the 2020 Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Conference. She hascoauthored multiple published articles on the role of the DNP.EXECUTIVE MBA HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM COHORT 2021 SOULES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLEREMBA@UTTYLER.EDU 903.565.6528 UTTYLER.EDU/EMBA
Executive MBA Healthcare Management ProgramCohort 2021SARAH HERBEL, MDFAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENT, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER TYLERSarah Herbal is a family medicine resident at The University of Texas HealthSciences Center Tyler. She was raised in Coushatta, Louisiana, where shedeveloped a love of rural communities. Upon completion of high school, shewent on to become the first in her family to attend college, graduating CumLaude with a bachelor’s degree in Molecular and Cellular biology from LouisianaState University-Shreveport. Following graduation she took an internship as alaboratory technician at ADA Carbon Solutions. There she learned qualitycontrol analysis of carbon for mercury capture and water purification. Duringher internship she continued to work at her hometown hospital where shegained valuable patient care experience and developed a passion for ruralmedicine.Sarah completed her medical school education at Louisiana State UniversityHealth Sciences Center-Shreveport. During that time she was an active member in American Academy of FamilyPhysicians, Louisiana Academy of Family physicians, and the Family Medicine Interest Group at LSUHSCShreveport. She continued to pursue opportunities to work in the rural setting, completing the Primary Care RuralPreceptorship Program (PCRPP). In July 2020, Sarah started her Family Medicine Residency at the University ofTexas Health Sciences Center at Tyler. She is currently in her first year of residency training with plans of returninghome to give back to the rural community that first sparked her passion of medicine. Sarah intends to use theknowledge gained in the MBA program to better serve the entire healthcare system in her hometown in ruralLouisiana.EXECUTIVE MBA HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM COHORT 2021 SOULES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLEREMBA@UTTYLER.EDU 903.565.6528 UTTYLER.EDU/EMBA
Executive MBA Healthcare Management ProgramCohort 2021WILLIAM HOOKS JR, MDMEDICAL DIRECTOR OF PROCEDURAL SERVICES & CHIEF MEDICAL INFORMATION OFFICER, TITUS REGIONAL MEDICALCENTERWilliam Hooks is the Medical Director of Procedural Services as well as ChiefMedical Information Officer at Titus Regional Medical Center. He is a native ofMount Pleasant, Texas and received an Associates of Science in Chemistry atNortheast Texas Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Biology atStephen F. Austin State University where he graduated Summa Cum Laude andHighest-Ranking Senior. Later, William attended medical school at the Universityof Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.While a medical student, William joined the United States Navy as an officerwhere he ultimately served 13 years, earning several commendation medals andawards throughout his service. After completing a Transitional Internship at theNational Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD, he completed a 3-year tour as a Flight Surgeon. He was stationedin California, deploying twice aboard the USS Ronald Reagan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2009,he moved back to Bethesda, MD where he completed his residency in Anesthesiology at Walter Reed NationalMilitary Medical Center. His final tour of duty in the Navy was at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune where he wasstationed for 3 years before resigning his commission and moving back to Mount Pleasant. William is boardcertified in Anesthesiology and is a member of the medical staff at Titus Regional Medical Center. He serves asthe Medical Director of Procedural Services as well as Chief Medical Information Officer. Additionally, he is thecurrent Chief of Staff at TRMC. He enjoys spending time with his family, camping and playing tennis.EXECUTIVE MBA HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM COHORT 2021 SOULES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLEREMBA@UTTYLER.EDU 903.565.6528 UTTYLER.EDU/EMBA
Executive MBA Healthcare Management ProgramCohort 2021RAVI KAJADIRECTOR, TELADOC HEALTH, INC.Ravi Kaja is the Director of corporate applications at Teladoc Health, aleading provider of telehealth services in over 130 countries across theworld. His current work involves leading and solution designingtelehealth projects and serving as the conduit between the business andmultiple IT areas. His ability to see interconnections between businessprocesses and data enable him to be a key driver for sustainablesolution design at Teladoc Health.Previously, he spent 5 years as a data architect and subject matterexpert at EmblemHealth, one of the largest nonprofit health planswhere he was instrumental in implementing a 20M pharmacy benefitsmanagement process with Express Scripts. Prior to joiningEmblemHealth, Ravi spent 8 years as a DW/BI consultant at MassMutualFinancial Group where he was responsible for developing data warehouse and business intelligence strategies.Ravi is passionate about addressing health care issues across the world including cost, access to care, and qualityof care and plans on helping organizations execute health care strategies that bridge the gap. He has a Bachelorof Technology in Electrical Engineering from JNTU, India and Master of Engineering in Electrical and ComputerEngineering from University of Utah in Salt Lake City.EXECUTIVE MBA HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM COHORT 2021 SOULES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLEREMBA@UTTYLER.EDU 903.565.6528 UTTYLER.EDU/EMBA
Executive MBA Healthcare Management ProgramCohort 2021CHRIS MALONESENIOR PROJECT MANAGER, CHILDREN'S HEALTH SYSTEMS OF TEXASChris Malone is the Senior Project Manager for Children's Health Systems of Texas inDallas, TX. Children’s is a leading provider of pediatric healthcare in North Texas,licensed for over 600 beds in three hospitals, covering over 4,000,000 square feet ofreal estate which he is responsible for managing and improving through his role inthe Planning, Design, and Construction department. Chris manages construction formajor capital projects. These projects range from a couple hundred thousand toseveral hundred million dollars. He oversees all aspects from inception to turn over.Previously Chris spent nearly 15 years working with general contractors in the DFWarea. He has completed projects in K-12, Higher Education, Healthcare, TenantImprovement, and government both local and federal. He has built projects in over 7states. Chris was previously the owner of a Custom Home Builder company. At Children’s, Chris serves on thePRIDE Committee to help promote equality and diversity throughout the organization. Currently he serves on acouple of sub committees with Pride, most recently developing and implementing the Transgender EmployeePolicy.EXECUTIVE MBA HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM COHORT 2021 SOULES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLEREMBA@UTTYLER.EDU 903.565.6528 UTTYLER.EDU/EMBA
Executive MBA Healthcare Management ProgramCohort 2021ROSE A. ORJI, MBBSACTIVITY THERAPIST, UT HEALTH BEHAVIOR HEALTH CENTER (BHC)Rose A. Orji is an Activity Therapist at the UT Health Behavior HealthCenter. She is originally from the city of Lagos, Nigeria where she practicedGeneral Medicine before moving to the United States. “Witnessing thegreat inefficiency in the Nigerian health care system (as compared to thatof the United States) was part of my initial motivation to obtain this formaltraining in healthcare management,” she wrote.While in the United States, she has, over the past 5 years, worked at theUT Health Behavior Health Center (BHC) here in Tyler, TX as an ActivityTherapist in their inpatient psychiatric department. She is currently amember of the Nigerian Medical Association as well as, the NationalMedical Association and wants to be part of the movement of theNigerian diaspora community making subtle foundational changes in theNigerian’s healthcare system from abroad.Her long-term goal is to return to clinical practice of general medicine where she hopes to couple her clinical skillsand managerial knowledges to enhance patient access to health care. “I want to go back to clinical practice but,with the added ability to speak both the language of an administrator, as well as that of a care provider. I believethat such ability will enhance my efficiency in healthcare management and medical care delivery,” she added.EXECUTIVE MBA HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM COHORT 2021 SOULES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLEREMBA@UTTYLER.EDU 903.565.6528 UTTYLER.EDU/EMBA
Executive MBA Healthcare Management ProgramCohort 2021LITTON ALVIN SCHEXNAILDREOWNER, DBS ALLERGY, LLCLitton Schexnaildre is the Owner of DBS Allergy, LLC. He is a strategic executivewith 25 years of experience in multiple industries capable of leading largegroups in challenging times. Litton was born and raised in Louisiana andgraduated from Louisiana State University with an Industrial Engineeringdegree. Post-graduation his first career was in the Oil and Gas industry. In the20 years he was in the industry, he had the opportunity to travel the world andlive in Canada where he ran Operations for several years. In 2016 he startedhis second career in Healthcare managing the operations for a small marketingbusiness. In 2017, Litton started DBS Allergy, LLC after recognizing a need anda competitive advantage. He utilizes engineering principles and experience tooptimize top and bottom lines. He brings a strong background from largecorporations to small business ownership success.His goal for the EMBA-HCM program is to learn critical details about the Healthcare industry while optimizing thebusiness skills required to successfully manage in the industry. Additionally, he wants to expand his network,assist his classmates whenever possible, and improve his collaboration skills. He has been married for 17 years,has 3 children, and resides in The Woodlands, TX. He enjoys hunting and fishing for fun and playing basketball forexercise.EXECUTIVE MBA HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM COHORT 2021 SOULES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLEREMBA@UTTYLER.EDU 903.565.6528 UTTYLER.EDU/EMBA
Executive MBA Healthcare Management ProgramCohort 2021RONADE MARTINE SIMILIEN, PH.D.CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, HAITI SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE & RESEARCH LLCRonade Martine Similien is the CEO of Haiti Sustainable Agriculture &Research. She has 10 years of experience in Agriculture researchspecifically in Biofuel, bioenergy, plant production, plant breeding andgenetic. She holds her BA from Iowa State University and her MS andPh.D. degrees from South Dakota State University. Her academic andprofessional backgrounds are in the areas of teaching and research.Ronade currently owns and operates Haiti Sustainable Agriculture &Research (HSAR), an international nonprofit Organization 501(C) (3)headquartered in Sioux Falls, SD. Founded in 2010, the organizationwas developed to support women in agriculture by strengthening theircapacity in agricultural production, agroforestry, and pastoralism.Ronade’s interests in the area of Health Care Management stems from herinterest in managed care especially as pertained to dementia and Alzheimer’s care: areas that she worked inbefore her doctorate studies. She has several publications in the American Society of Agronomy and presents atthe Forages focus.EXECUTIVE MBA HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM COHORT 2021 SOULES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLEREMBA@UTTYLER.EDU 903.565.6528 UTTYLER.EDU/EMBA
Executive MBA Healthcare Management ProgramCohort 2021SAMANTHA SMITHDIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, CEDAR PARK REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (CPRMC)Samantha Smith is the Director of Business Development for Cedar ParkRegional Medical Center (CPRMC). As a part of an innovative executiveteam, Samantha identifies opportunities for joint ventures, physicianpractice acquisition, and hospital service line growth/development. In heralmost 8 years at CPRMC, Samantha has developed over 25 physicianpractices, facilitated in 4 practice acquisitions, participated in 3 jointventure projects, started up 6 new hospital service lines, and reducedpatient outmigration in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She ispassionate about developing and implementing a strategic growth planbased on market intelligence and data driven findings.Prior to joining CPRMC, Samantha was an Account Executive and Recruiterin the healthcare staffing industry where she started up two new lines ofbusiness in both local and national markets. She earned a Bachelor ofScience degree from Texas Tech University and received a Professional inHuman Resources Certification from the Human Resource Certification Institute. Samantha is known to beoutgoing and always happy to build new relationships both professionally and personally. In her personal life,Samantha enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, taking exercise classes, and bay fishing.EXECUTIVE MBA HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM COHORT 2021 SOULES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLEREMBA@UTTYLER.EDU 903.565.6528 UTTYLER.EDU/EMBA
Executive MBA Healthcare Management ProgramCohort 2021VERA M. STROMAN TURNEYPROGRAM DIRECTOR, CHRISTUS GOOD SHEPHERD WOUND CARE CENTER- MARSHALLVera Turney is the Program Director at the Christus Good ShepherdWound Care Center in Marshall, Texas and is responsible for theoperational and clinical performance of the center. She received herBachelor of Science from East Texas Baptist University in 2008 and hasworked for local and nationally recognized companies in the healthcareindustry, such as: At Home Healthcare, Encompass Health and Healogics.She has over 10 years of healthcare management experience and is oftenconsulted for her advance knowledge in marketing and businessdevelopment.Vera is passionate about connecting her community with resources thatcan best meet their needs and serves on various boards, committees andnetworking groups. She never turns down an opportunity to share thebenefits of advance wound care or to advocate for underserved populations.She resides in Longview, Texas with her husband, Marcus and two sons, Langston (age 9) and Cohen (age 5).EXECUTIVE MBA HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM COHORT 2021 SOULES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLEREMBA@UTTYLER.EDU 903.565.6528 UTTYLER.EDU/EMBA
Executive MBA Healthcare Management ProgramCohort 2021IGAL TARASH, D.O., B.S.PSYCHIATRY AND BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE PROGRAM RESIDENT, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER TYLERIgal Tarash is a Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine resident at TheUniversity of Texas Health Sciences Center Tyler. He was born in Tehranand raised in a Jewish family. Igal grew up immersing himself in the richIranian culture of architecture, art, literature and poetry. Due tosociocultural difficulties his family moved to the United States when hewas seventeen via a 1 year stop in Vienna where he initially faced manylanguage and cultural barriers. Shortly after arrival to the states, hestarted attending a community college before transferring to UCLA whereIgal graduated with a degree in cognitive neurosciences. After watching aloved one die at a young age and seeing its impact on the rest of his family,Igal became determined to pursue medicine such that he could helpothers by giving back the gift of health.Igal’s intimacy with Iranian, American and Jewish cultures and observing the stigma of mental health in manycultures along with his intense fascination with the largely unmapped complexity of how neurons and synapsesaffect personality and behavior inspired him to decide upon psychiatry as his way forward. He and his girlfriendmoved to Tyler for residency training; they are very
executive mba healthcare management program cohort 2021 executive mba healthcare management program cohort 2021 soules college of business the university of texas at tyler emba@uttyler.edu 903.565.6528 uttyler.edu/emba dennis w. cook, phd-c, msn, rn, cjcp, cphq, cpps, hacp, cssbb system director, regulatory compliance, christus trinity mother frances health system
