Dear UTMB Colleagues,

Since my arrival as president, I have come to understand the many intricacies and dynamics of UTMB, with a keen eye on identifying opportunities for growth and improvement. Today, I wish to share with you a significant organizational restructuring aimed at enhancing collaboration and communication across the institution.

UTMB has shown remarkable resilience and commitment to excellence over the years. However, it has become increasingly clear that to foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation, we need to break down the traditional silos that currently exist across the institution. We must do this to ensure that UTMB embraces the rapid, coordinated growth that present times demand.

It is against this backdrop that I announce a new, integrated leadership structure within our Clinical Enterprise, along with some changes in our Academic Enterprise and in Institutional Support. By aligning goals and incentives, we create a platform that will not only expedite our strategic efforts but will also significantly enhance the delivery of health care services to the communities we serve. Quality patient care is at the heart of everything we do, and this restructuring is a testament to our unwavering commitment to that cause. Compassion for life and science remain cornerstones of our future.

I’m confident this restructuring will bring greater focus to innovation while expanding on the significance of our clinical and translational research, ultimately leading to the availability of new treatments and technologies for our patients.

To ensure the success of this reorganization, I made the strategic decision to elevate physician leadership across the Clinical Enterprise. By doing so, we are placing our trust in the hands of those who are at the forefront of patient care, empowering them to lead the way in this new era of collaborative excellence.

Effective immediately, I am announcing the following organizational changes:

Clinical Enterprise

• In addition to my position as president of UTMB, I will assume the role of CEO of the UTMB Health System.

• Dr. Vicente Resto is now the Chief Physician Executive, Faculty Group Practice, and Senior Vice President, Health System Ambulatory Operations and Surgical Services, where he will oversee UTMB Health’s clinic operations and surgical and procedural areas.

• Dr. Gulshan Sharma will remain Senior Vice President and Chief Medical and Clinical Innovation Officer, with additional responsibilities of overseeing the Chief Nursing Executive and Patient Services.

• Christine Wade is now Vice President, Surgical and Procedural Services, leading our operating rooms and procedural areas across the enterprise. She will continue to serve as the interim Chief Nursing Executive. 

• Wayne Keathley is Acting Chief Operating Officer of the UTMB Health System, overseeing operations for all campuses, a number of diagnostic and therapeutic areas, Health System finances and Correctional Managed Care.

• Jim Amato will remain Vice President, Academic Medical Center Galveston, where he will oversee Galveston Campus operations.

• Stephen Jones is now Vice President, Regional Hospitals and Health System Strategy, providing leadership for our hospitals outside of Galveston, maintaining responsibilities for service line development and adding management of the Department of Radiology.

• Ann Varghese is now Administrator, Clear Lake Campus, and Administrator, League City Campus.

• Merry Phillip is now Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Clear Lake Campus, and Associate Chief Nursing Officer, League City Campus.  

• Dr. Owen Murray will remain Senior Vice President, Offender Services as he continues to manage our Correctional Managed Care operations.

• Jenny Sarpalius will continue as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the UTMB Health System, overseeing Decision Support, government reimbursements, Health System accounting and Correctional Managed Care finance.

• Dr. Salim Hayek will join UTMB as Vice President, Chief Transformation Officer, where he will oversee transformation of care and science across the system.

• Robert Trieu is now the Associate Vice President, Faculty Group Practice Business Development and Clinical Operations.

Additionally, UTMB is currently conducting a nationwide search for its new Chief Nursing Executive.

Academic Enterprise

In the Academic Enterprise, I’m announcing the following changes:

• Dr. Deborah Jones is now Senior Vice President and Dean for the UTMB School of Nursing with added responsibilities to serve as the Chief Integration Officer where she will drive coordination and implementation of processes across the institution to ensure a fully integrated system of care delivery.

• David Hileman is now Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer.

• Dr. Vineet Gupta will join UTMB as Vice President, Innovation and Technology Development and Transfer.
  

Institutional Support

In terms of Institutional Support, I’m announcing the following:

• Philesha Evans is now the interim Chief Human Resources Officer. 

• Craig Kovacevich will remain Associate Vice President, Alternative Care Models, but the Population Health enterprise and the Access Center now report to Becky Korenek, Executive Vice President and Chief Business and Strategy Officer.

Additionally, UTMB is currently conducting a nationwide search for its new Chief Financial Officer and Chief Development Officer.

I am confident that this restructuring will herald a new chapter in the storied history of UTMB, one where innovation, collaboration, and excellence are not just ideals we strive for, but the very pillars upon which our institution stands. I look forward to working closely with all of you in making this vision a reality. You can see the updated organizational chart here.

Please know I appreciate that changes at this level can create a wide range of feelings among employees. I assure you this leadership reorganization is focused on the future of UTMB Health. We have a strong institution with a strong culture. With this reorganization, we will have the integrated, collaborative structure needed to ensure we can serve our learners, patients, and communities with excellence in a rapidly evolving health care landscape. Leaders are committed to working with you throughout this transition to answer your questions and help ensure you are positioned to do your best work.  

Thank you for your continued dedication to our institution, our mission, and everyone we serve together.

Sincerely,

Jochen Reiser, MD, PhD
President of the University Of Texas Medical Branch
CEO, UTMB Health System
Professor, John Sealy School of Medicine
John D. Stobo, MD Distinguished Chair