NEWSROOM ARCHIVE
September 7, 2006
Travis County Healthcare District Board Appointment Process Yields Lancaster and Sanchez
On Tuesday August 29, the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously selected Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, as the newest member of the Travis County Healthcare District board. He will replace Tom Young, who did not seek reappointment.
Dr. Sanchez, who is stepping down in October after five years as Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, will now direct the University of Texas Institute for Health Policy in Houston. In this new position, Sanchez will be living in Austin and commuting to Houston. Before becoming state health commissioner in 2001, Dr. Sanchez was the lead physician at the Seton Topher Clinic and also served as health authority and chief medical officer for the Austin-Travis County Health and Human Services Department from 1994 to 1998.
"Serving on the board of the Travis County Healthcare District is an opportunity for me to contribute locally using the experience I gained as Commissioner of Health," Sanchez said. "It’s also an opportunity for me to learn from others by being at the table to address the health challenges facing Travis County."
Board Secretary Rose Lancaster sought reappointment to the Board of Managers and on August 10, 2006, the Austin City Council reappointed Ms. Lancaster on a 7-0 consensus vote. Ms. Lancaster remarked, “In being reappointed to the Board of Managers for a four-year term, I continue to be very pleased to be a part of a dedicated board with a wide range of skills, interests, and experiences. The challenges are many but it's exciting to envision what can be done in our local community to improve healthcare for those whose access is limited.”
The Travis County Healthcare District is governed by a nine-member volunteer Board of Managers. Four of the members are appointed by the Austin City Council and four are appointed by the Travis County Commissioners Court. Both governmental bodies jointly appoint the ninth member. The initial terms of the Managers were staggered so that, as near as possible, one-fourth of the members’ terms expire each year. Reappointments and new appointments to the Board serve four-year terms.