One of our main focuses this year will be to significantly improve access and improve the level of service provided in our clinics. A key to this will be completing the Clinical Strategic Plan before the end of the year. Upon completion of the plan we will move judiciously to implement our newly developed strategies. To accomplish this, we are making some changes in the clinical leadership in the School of Medicine. Dr. Dean Kinsey, in his role as Vice Dean for Clinical Programs and Planning, will be focusing exclusively on finalizing UTMB’s clinical strategic plan. Dr. Donald Prough, Professor and Rebecca Terry White Distinguished Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, will serve as the Chief Physician Executive of the Faculty Group Practice, reporting to the Dean of Medicine. Christine Keating, the Executive Director of UTMB Hospitals and Clinics, will serve as the Faculty Group Practice Chief Operating Officer, reporting directly to the Dean of the School of Medicine.

In his role as Chief Physician Executive, Dr. Prough will serve as the general administrative officer and sit on the Board of Directors of the UTMB Galveston Medical Service, Research and Development Plan. He will Chair the Executive Committee of the Faculty Group Practice and work as an integral member of the Joint Clinical Operation Group for the School of Medicine and the hospital.

Dr. Prough earned a medical degree from the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and completed an internship and residency at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He also completed a fellowship in cardiac anesthesia at the University of Alabama. Before joining UTMB in 1992, Dr. Prough served as Professor of Anesthesiology and Medical Director of the Regional Cerebral Blood Flow Laboratory at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University. He also served as Co-Director of the ICU Laboratory at the North Carolina Baptist Hospital and as Assistant Professor and Head of Cardiac Anesthesia at the National Naval Medical Center.

In her role as Faculty Group Practice Executive Director Operations, Christine will provide support to the SOM physician leadership in planning, directing and coordinating outpatient care activities. She will direct the management and oversight of all UTMB Faculty Group Practice clinics. Christine joined UTMB in 1994 and has leadership experience in operations improvement, business development, and project and labor management. Christine earned a bachelors degree from Centenary College and a master’s degree in health care administration from Trinity University. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Texas Hospital Association Leadership Council.

I believe these changes will allow us to complete our strategic plan in a timely manner and make the necessary changes in access and service delivery in our clinics. Our progress in this area will depend on everyone working together to achieve excellent patient service and care, and developing an off-island strategy that will allow us to continue our historic missions of medical education and indigent care here on the island. We look forward to working with you to move UTMB into the position of being the Premier Provider of Service Excellence in the region.