Gulf Coast Healthcare Diversity Summit

Debora Simmons, PhD, RN, CCNS joined CHI St. Luke's Health (formerly St. Luke's Episcopal Health System) as Senior Vice President & Chief Quality Officer in February 2012. She is considered an expert leader in healthcare quality, patient safety and performance improvement with a history of commitment to the delivery of safe and reliable healthcare by application of evidence-based interventions. Prior to joining CHI St. Luke's Health, Dr. Simmons served as Executive Operations Director for The National Center for Cognitive Informatics and Decision (NCCD) Making in Healthcare at The University of Texas School of Biomedical Informatics. In this capacity, she was responsible for a $15 million funded center established by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT under the Strategic Health IT Advanced Research Projects (SHARPC) Program, which supported improvements in the quality, safety and efficiency of health care through advanced information technology. NCCD is a consortium of nine institutions led by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Dr. Simmons served CHI St. Luke's Health as Supervisor and Nurse Clinician for Cardiology for five years in the early 90s. Since 2005, she has served on the United States Pharmacopeia Safe Medications Use Expert Committee. In 2007, she and her team received the National Patient Safety Foundation: Stand Up for Patient Safety Management Award. In 2008, she received the Cheers award from the Institute of Safe Medication Practices for her work in safety. In 2011, she received the Strategic Health IT Advanced Research Projects Grants and Programs Management Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, she received the Methodist Hospital Nursing Innovation Award (2002), University of Texas Houston Health Science Center School of Nursing 20th Anniversary –Distinguished Alumnae Award (2002), both the Texas Nurses Association "Outstanding Nurse" Award (2003) and "Emerging Leader in Research" Award (2006), Virginia Chandler Dykes Scholarship Recognition Award (2007), and Sigma Theta Tau "Outstanding Doctoral Student" Award (2007). She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with Honors from Texas Woman's University (1990), Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas – Houston Health Science Center (1999), and PhD in Nursing Science from Texas Woman's University (2011).

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

Harris Garcia joined Houston Methodist Hospital as the Director of Security Services in March 2014. Prior to joining HMH, Harris spent 23 years as a U.S. Naval Officer. Aside from completing Naval flight training, Harris is a designated intelligence officer and has received extensive training in countering improvised-explosive devices, diplomacy, and international policy and strategy. His last position, following three tours in the Middle East, was as the U.S. Navy lead for North, West, and Central Africa operations. Harris directly participated in United Nations and NATO operations pertaining to the revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. In addition, he has successfully planned and executed security operations, increasing the capacity of African governments, for the White House and U.S. Department of State. Harris is a graduate of New York University, post-graduate studies at the Naval War College, and attended Pepperdine University for an MBA.