NEWSROOM ARCHIVE
October 17, 2007
Travis County Commissioners Court Reappoints Dr. Donald Patrick to the Healthcare District Board of Managers
On Tuesday October 16, 2007, the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously reappointed Dr. Donald Patrick for a second term to the Travis County Healthcare District Board of Managers.
Donald W. Patrick, M.D., J.D., currently serves as the Executive Director of the Texas Medical Board, the body responsible for regulating healthcare in Texas. Previous to this position, Dr. Patrick practiced neurosurgery in Austin from 1969 to 2001 and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Neurological Surgery. After graduating from Baylor University College of Medicine in 1962, he completed his neurosurgical residency at a Baylor affiliated program. Dr. Patrick served in the U.S. Army as the Chief of Neurosurgery at the 24th Evacuation Hospital in Long Binh Vietnam from 1967-68. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his dedicated service.
In addition to his distinguished medical career, Dr. Patrick also earned a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 1996 and is certified to practice law in the State of Texas.
Dr. Patrick's additional distinctions and honors include: Chief of Staff of Brackenridge Hospital in 1984; Distinguished Alumnus of Texas A&M University Kingsville; President of the Pflugerville School Board, serving from 1985-88; and President of the Texas Association of Neurological Surgeons from 1988-89.
Responding to his reappointment to the Board, Dr. Patrick said:
I was thrilled to be appointed to the TCHD Board of Managers when we first began in 2004. I am even more thrilled to be reappointed. We would have not got off the ground without the generous cooperation of the Travis County Commissioners Court. They provided capable staff, meeting space, much needed advice and counsel, and have continued to be helpful as our fledgling organization has begun to mature.
Under the guidance of our President and CEO, Patricia Young-Brown, we now have our own staff of conscientious, innovative, and skillful individuals who continue to overcome the obstacles we face.
The Seton System, which contracts with us to manage Brackenridge, has ensured it to be a state of the art hospital with a first class medical staff. They contribute huge amounts of money and talent to the benefit of the citizens of Austin and are to be congratulated for their devotion to their mission.
As a group, the TCHD Board of Managers is a collection of dynamic leaders who have coalesced, each using their own brand of experience and wisdom, into a vital volunteer force striving to create and nurture health care for our patient population. It has been one of the highlights of my life to be associated with such amazing colleagues.
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.