Swindle

UT health east texas managers recognized as rising stars

Becker’s Healthcare recognized two UT Health East Texas leaders as rising stars in the industry.

Tracy O’Daniel, division director of quality, risk and patient safety at UT Health East Texas, and Patrick Swindle, CEO of UT Health-Quitman and UT Health-Pittsburg, were among the 66 people named to the list of health care leaders under 40 years old.

O’Daniel is responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of projects across quality, safety, performance, outcomes and care for UT Health East Texas, which includes 10 hospitals and more than 50 clinics.

O’Daniel studies Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey data, identifies areas of improvement and implements new strategies, as well as supervising patient advocates and We Care employees and initiatives, according to a news release from UT Health.

Swindle, as CEO of UT Health-Quitman and UT Health-Pittsburg, oversees a combined staff of 71 providers and more than 440 employees across two 25-bed acute care hospitals, two Level 4 trauma centers, five physician clinics and one extended-hours center.

He joined the hospital system in 2012 as a program manager for the system’s health information exchange and four years later was named CEO of UT Health-Quitman. Two years after that, he took the reins at UT Health-Pittsburg.

“Individuals on this list have achieved executive positions at hospitals and health systems across the country, founded companies and reached prominence within their organizations. Several are entrepreneurs and thought leaders in advancing patient outcomes and care management,” according to Becker’s Healthcare, which accepted nominations for the list and selected leaders through an editorial review process.

New employees at Henry & Peters

Robin Ashworth has returned to Henry & Peters after obtaining her bachelor’s degree in accounting and Master of Business Administration from UT Tyler. She worked as controller at T.B. Butler Publishing Co. Inc. for seven years, followed by the same position at Mercy Ships. Ashworth began Nov. 4 full time as a manager in the Accounting Solutions department in the Longview office.

Karleigh Foster will graduate with her bachelor’s degree in accounting in December and began her employment initially as a part-time staff associate at Henry & Peters’ Tyler office Nov. 4, converting to full time on Jan. 1. Foster is from Henderson and has been active in both Beta Alpha Psi and in Alpha Chi Omega during her time at UT Tyler. She has also served as a mentor for incoming freshmen as a part of the UT Tyler Honors Program.

Alex Bottom joined Henry & Peters as technology coordinator on a full-time basis Nov. 11. He attended and served as a Marine in Iraq.

Business After Hours

Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce’s November Business After Hours, hosted by True Vine Brewing Co., is set for 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at True Vine Brewing Co., 2453 Earl Campbell Parkway, Tyler.