Central Texas Healthcare Diversity Summit

Dr. Gibbs is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease and is the Vice President for Institutional Diversity at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. In this capacity, he serves as the director of institutional programs and initiatives related to diversity issues. He has designed, developed, and produced workshops and seminars, both internal and multi-center, focused on minority faculty and staff development. His work includes diversity initiatives for organizational advancement, mentoring, and cross-cultural communications. He is the Chairman of the Diversity Council and the Affirmative Action Officer at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. He has served as a member of the Chancellor's advisory task force on the status of minority faculty and staff at The University of Texas, and is a member of The University of Texas System Committee on the Status of Women and Minorities. In his present role as Vice President for Institutional Diversity he directs the Workforce Diversity, Outcome Measures and Compliance, Recruitment and Representation, and the Diversity and Cancer Disparities programs at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. He also serves on the Board of Advisors for the University of Houston's International Institute for Diversity and Cross-Cultural Management. Dr. Gibbs received his Bachelor's degree in biology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and his M.D. degree from Harvard Medical School. He has also received postgraduate training at the John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA, and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Gibbs is someone who has impacted the outlook of diversity, not only in the workplace but also in the community.

A member of the firm’s Healthcare, Life Sciences & Pharmaceuticals team, Bill focuses his practice on administrative and regulatory defense and litigation within the healthcare industry. He advises both individual healthcare providers and institutional healthcare clients on state and federal licensure and compliance and enforcement matters, with an emphasis on proactive measures that ensure compliance and minimize litigation risk. Bill’s experience comprises all aspects of healthcare professional licensure and practice, long-term care licensure, regulation and enforcement, medical staff issues, credentialing and compliance with rules of state and federal regulatory agencies, and allegations of fraud and abuse matters. Bill has litigated on behalf of his clients in state and federal administrative courts, as well as in numerous Texas district courts. Bill’s work on behalf of clients has included: * Assisting healthcare professionals in obtaining license reinstatement before the Texas Health Professions Licensure Boards after suspension or revocation. * Representing physicians and advanced practice nurses in peer review and credentialing matters with healthcare systems. * Representing long-term care providers before state and federal regulatory agencies in compliance and enforcement matters, including litigating federal appeals. * Serving as first-chair in administrative appeals and cases against federal, state and local government regulatory agencies on behalf of entities and healthcare professionals. * Working with healthcare entities on compliance issues, including audits. Before joining Husch Blackwell, Bill was a partner at Brown McCarroll. Professional Associations and Memberships * American Bar Association, Commission on Law and Aging, 2013; Health Care Section, Long-Term Care Task Force, chair, 2013; Nursing and Allied Professionals Task Force, vice chair, 2013 * American Health Lawyers Association * Austin Bar Association, Health Law Section * State Bar of Texas Awards and Recognitions * Austin Under 40, legal category, 2006 * Texas Diversity Council, Individual DiversityFIRST Award, 2011, 2014 * Texas Super Lawyers, Rising Star, Health Care, 2006 Civic Involvement * American Red Cross of Central Texas, Board of Directors, 2010-present * Austin Symphony Orchestra, Board of Directors, 2009-present * Austin Symphony, BATS Young Member Group, Board of Directors, 2002-present * Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas, Board of Directors, 2002-2006; Foundation Board, 2006-present, chair, 2005-2007 * Central Texas High School, Mock Trial Competition, administrator and regional coordinator, 1996-2005 * Leadership Austin, Essential Class, 2008 * National Black Graduate Students Association, Legal Affairs, associate director, 1996-2001; Advisory Committee to the Board of Directors, 1996-2001 * Samaritan Center for Counseling, Board of Directors, 2005-2010; president, 2009-2010 * Texas Appleseed Project, One-to-One Mentorship Program, Steering Committee, 1999-2004; mentor, 1999-2001 * University of Texas at Austin Law School, Career Services Mentorship Program, mentor, 1999-present * Young Women’s Alliance, Advisory Council, 2013-present

Geronimo M. Rodriguez Jr. currently serves as Vice President of Diversity and Community Outreach with Seton Healthcare Family in Austin, Texas. He joined the Seton Family in June 2006 to help expand efforts across the healthcare system in the areas of diversity, inclusion, cultural competence, federal contract compliance and workforce development. Mr. Rodriguez has served as an Adjunct Faculty member at the LBJ School of Public Affairs teaching US Latino Policy Issues and as an Adjunct Faculty member at St. Edward's University focused on Political Leadership, Political Management/Managing Crisis and Mass Media and Politics. Mr. Rodriguez has over twenty years of public service experience advising federal, state and local elected officials and helping manage presidential, gubernatorial, and attorney general campaigns. Mr. Rodriguez also served in the White House Office of Congressional Affairs where he helped in legislative preparations for the Seattle Round of the World Trade Organization. In addition, he served as Deputy Associate Director and later Acting Associate Director in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel where he was responsible for recommending a third of the President's senior level appointments. He was also responsible for advising senior White House staff on appointments affecting the Hispanic community. Mr. Rodriguez is currently Co-Chair of the Central Texas Health Industry Steering Committee, a collaboration between health care and academia focused on the nursing/allied health pipeline and inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals. He serves as Chair of the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Board Member of Leadership Austin, Board Member of the Impact Center, and a member of the Austin Area Research Organization. He also serves as Chair of the Development Committee and Board Member of KLRU-TV, the local public television station. In addition, he serves as a Texas Advisory Board Member for Environmental Defense, Tri-Chair of the AISD Performing Arts Center Task Force, and is an alumni of the Texas Lyceum. Mr. Rodriguez is co-author of the Diversity chapter in Hospitals: What They Are and How They Work. In September 2008, he received the Syracuse University Chancellor's Citation for achievement in public service. In May 2007, he was chosen one of 25 Young Americans to participate in the American Swiss Foundation Young Leaders Conference in Thun, Switzerland. In March 2007, he received the Austin Under 40 Award for Government/Political Affairs. He was named a 2006 and 2005 Rising Star by Texas Monthly. In 2001, he received the St. Edward's University Alumni Achievement Award. Mr. Rodriguez also served as Student Body President of St. Edward's University. As a child, Mr. Rodriguez spent eight months of each year as a migrant farmworker traveling with his parents from South Texas to the Northwest United States following the harvest seasons. His parents continue to harvest crops in Oregon. Mr. Rodriguez, a native of Alamo, Texas, graduated from St. Edward's University with a bachelor's degree, cum laude, where he received a four year academic scholarship and a College Assistance Migrant Program Scholarship. Mr. Rodriguez also attended the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow and received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.

Sally Gillam is the Chief Nursing Officer at St. David’s South Austin Medical Center. Sally has been in her role for more than 25 years, managing all aspects of nursing care. The nursing community has seen the facility grow tremendously in size and scope under Sally's watch. SDSAMC has not only earned distinguished ratings while successfully navigating impressive numbers of regulatory pathways with distinguished ratings, but also expanded previously existing operations and created many new lines of business across its spectrum of patient care. Sally serves on the board of the Texas Organization of Nurse Executives, the Concordia University Austin nursing advisory board and the Nursing Legislative Action Coalition. Dr. Gillam recently authored a journal publication examining the cost and extent/timing of beneficial effects for employees in large hospital emergency departments who are provided nonviolent crisis intervention training. The study comprised an industry milestone, as it's the first quality improvement study published on workplace violence in the healthcare sector. Sally also authored a position paper on strategic planning and organizational management adopted by the National Advisory board; received an HCA leadership award; a gubernatorial appointment to the Texas Department of Insurance Board and has been the keynote speaker at numerous local and national events. Sally recently earned her doctorate from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. At the outset of her nursing career, Sally obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor followed by a master’s degree in Human Services Administration from St. Edward’s University.

Dr. Lana Petru is President and CEO of Líder·ology Consulting Group, LLC. Lana Petru, has been instrumental in the growth and implementation of learning content delivery for corporate and executive education. Her passion for building effective learning models and provide tailored delivery of performance-enhancing learning events for organizations makes her most suited to lead any learning and development initiative. Lana has worked in education for approximately 20 years with the last 15 years in the areas of business development and professional development. The foundation of Lana’s expertise comes from her experience in instructional design, and curriculum and content development as a K-12 educator. Lana has developed several post-secondary education programs including Spanish language, English language, diversity, and leadership programs. Lana’s years of extensive research in leadership for her dissertation position her as an expert in most leadership theories, especially Transformational Leadership. Her exploration of transformational leadership established the impact leadership style has on organizational success. Lana has also conducted extensive research in “Element of the Bond” Theory, Adult Learning Theory, Multiculturalism, and Dispute Resolution Theory. Some of Lana’s more recent activities include her work as Subject Matter Expert for the development of the Women of ALPFA Leadership Workshop Series. Lana also conducts guest lecturing and speaking engagements for several non-profit organizations on the following topics; leadership, conflict resolution, women’s leadership, multi-cultural issues, diversity, literacy and language development, educational reform, and sports education for women. Lana’s work as Co-Founder of a nonprofit, PODER2Educate, demonstrates her commitment to education and serving the community. PODER2Educate’s mission is to make a positive impact on student success by increasing parent involvement in schools. Lana has served as an adjunct faculty for several higher education institutions in the areas of general education, teacher education, and leadership development. Lana earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in English with minors in both Spanish and Sociology. She completed a Master’s of Arts in Education and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. Lana has completed extensive graduate work in Sociology and Political Science and she is a licensed non-attorney mediator through Texas State University-San Marcos. Lana is also an EQ Certified Facilitator and possess other certifications in Performance Consulting and DISC.