By David A. Díaz – Legislative Media
Published: 12-16-08
Will Help Nominate New President of Health Science Center
McAllen construction magnate Alonzo Cantú on Friday December 12 was named by the University of Texas Board of Regents to a presidential search advisory committee that will recommend nominees for the next president of the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio.
The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio operates the UT Regional Academic Health Center in Edinburg and the UT Regional Academic Health Center in Harlingen.
In addition to his sprawling construction and development interests Cantú serves on the board of directors of Doctors Hospital at Renaissance in Edinburg.
Cantú is the only Valley resident named to the presidential search advisory committee. The formation of that panel was announced by Regents’ Chairman H. Scott Caven Jr.
The committee will make recommendations on possible successors to President Francisco Cigarroa M.D. who announced last October his decision to step down as the institution’s president.
The advisory committee will be asked to present the names of no more than 10 candidates – unranked – to the board which will make the final decision.
Cantú was appointed as an external community representatives to the panel which also includes:
• William “Bill” Greehey of San Antonio
• George B. Hernandez Jr. of San Antonio
• Kenneth Kalkwarf D.D.S. dean Dental School UT Health Science Center – San Antonio
• The Honorable Cyndi Taylor Krier of San Antonio
• Teresa “Terry” Lozano Long Ph.D. of Austin
• Kenneth L. Wilson of San Antonio
“The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio is a world-class comprehensive academic health center and a tremendous catalyst for economic development in the San Antonio region. Selecting the next leader of this institution is of utmost importance to the Board of Regents” Caven said.
“The men and women who have agreed to serve on this search committee bring experience a broad perspective and sound judgment to the selection process. We are grateful to all of them for agreeing to serve and we look forward to receiving their recommendations.”
Committee members were selected in accordance with the Board of Regents’ Rules and Regulations which includes a provision for representation on such committees by various constituencies of the institution.
Kenneth I. Shine M.D. interim chancellor and executive vice chancellor for health affairs in the UT System will chair the search committee.
Representing the board of regents on the committee will be Vice Chairman James R. Huffines of Austin Printice Gary of Dallas and Colleen McHugh of Corpus Christi.
Representing presidents of other UT System institutions are Ricardo Romo Ph.D. president of UT San Antonio and Larry R. Kaiser M.D. president of UT Health Science Center – Houston.
Eileen T. Breslin Ph.D. R.N. dean of the School of Nursing and the Dr. Patty L. Hawken Endowed Professor of Nursing will serve on the committee.
Representing the UT Health Science Center – San Antonio staff as selected by the institution’s Staff Advisory Council is Patrick Lazenby an administrator in the Family Nursing Care department.
Neal Jackson a second-year medical student will represent the students on the committee.
James L. “Larry” Holly M.D. of Beaumont will serve on the committee by virtue of his leadership of the School of Medicine’s alumni organization.
The UT Health Science Center – San Antonio faculty representatives as selected by the Faculty Senate are:
• George B. Kudolo Ph.D. professor Department of Clinical Lab Sciences School of Health Professions
• Margaret Brackley Ph.D. R.N. professor and coordinator nurse practitioner majors and director Center for Violence Prevention School of Nursing
• Keith A. Krolick Ph.D. professor Department of Microbiology and Immunology School of Biomedical Sciences.
Spencer Stuart an executive search firm is assisting the UT System in the national search and advertisements for the position will be placed in various publications so the committee can carry out its search as expeditiously as possible.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is the leading research institution in South Texas and one of the major health sciences universities in the world. With an operating budget of $668 million the Health Science Center is the chief catalyst for the $16.3 billion biosciences and health care sector in San Antonio’s economy.
The Health Science Center has had an estimated $36 billion impact on the region since inception and has expanded to six campuses in San Antonio Laredo Harlingen and Edinburg.
Legislative Media reports on major legislation that affects South Texans. Matt Flores contributed to this article. For more on this and related stories and photographs please log on to www.EdinburgPolitics.com
