His involvement in the hospital expanded to various administrative activities, which he enjoyed and after approximately three years as a therapist he became primarily involved in the field of Hospital Administration. He received his Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration from Baylor University, Waco, Texas in 1960.

While on active duty in the Air Force, Don has worked as the Chief Executive Officer in hospital facilities ranging from a 25 bed primary care hospital to a 1200 bed teaching center. Additionally, he had several assignments at the command level of the Air Force with specific responsibilities in hospital facility construction, modification, and maintenance; budgeting and financial performance; and human resources administration, wherein he assigned 2800 physician specialists to facilities around the world. He served for the last three years of active duty as the Deputy Surgeon General for Operations, USAF. He departed the Air Force in 1982, having achieved the grade of Brigadier General.

He became the Associate Vice President for Patient Care and Administrator at the University of Texas - M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas in October 1982. In August 1985, he joined the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System in Houston, as the Chief Executive Officer of their 600 bed Memorial Southwest Hospital. He remained in that role for 6 years, at which time he chose to reduce his working time commitment and became an internal consultant for the Memorial Hermann System with responsibilities in teaching, operational consulting, governing board education, and interim executive roles.

Since 1991, he has developed an educational exchange program between Memorial Hermann and medical facilities in China. He has also been involved in international healthcare consulting with engagements in China, Japan, Okinawa, Korea, India, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, and Saudi Arabia. Don retired from Memorial Hermann after 19 years and is now self-employed.

Don has served his community through board membership and leadership positions in the Alzheimer’s Association, YMCA, Boy Scouts, Kidney Association, United Way, The Hospice at the Texas Medical Center, and St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. He has a great interest in the education of students aspiring to the profession of healthcare administration and has served on the faculty of several universities in various roles. He is Board Certified in Healthcare Administration, and a Life Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, a national professional organization in which he has held numerous committee assignments and leadership positions both locally and nationally. Don is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Health, and also an Honorary Fellow of the American Academy of Medical Administrators.

Don married his high school sweetheart, Jan, in 1952. They have four children and eleven grandchildren.

Back