Dr. Kevin Lutrell, Courtesy

George T. Roberts Jr., chief executive officer of the Northeast Texas Public Health District, began his one-year term July 1 as board president of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, which is the voice of nearly 3,000 local health departments across the United States.

“The theme of my service as NACCHO president centers upon transformational leadership, and for health departments across the United States to maximize the multiple opportunities available for public health professionals,” Roberts said.

Since 2006, Roberts has served as CEO of NET Health, the local health department for the city of Tyler and Smith County. NET Health primarily serves Smith County but also provides the WIC program across a 20-county area.

Roberts has 40 years of health care experience, the majority in hospital administration. He previously worked at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler and Henderson Memorial Hospital in Henderson. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from SMU and a master’s in health administration from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Dr. Lee earns recognition

The University of Texas at Tyler announced that Dr. Shih-Yu “Sylvia” Lee has been selected as an Academy Fellow by the American Academy of Nursing. Lee was selected by a committee of her peers for her contributions to nursing.

“Induction into the academy is a significant milestone in a nurse leader’s career, and we are extremely proud of Dr. Lee,” said Dr. Barbara Haas, associate dean of the UT Tyler College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Academy Fellows are selected based on their impressive contribution to increase access, reduce cost and improve quality through nursing theory, practice and science.”

Lee’s research expertise is in stress-related symptoms management among women. “Sleep, in particular the lack thereof, can create significant stress for women,” said Lee, UT Tyler’s Jacqueline M. Braithwaite Professor of Nursing. “The objective of my research is to establish self-sustainable interventions through the promotion of sleep to improve physical and mental health for women.”

Her focus is on mothers with medically fragile infants, women with gynecological cancer and shift-work nurses in the United States and China.

Lee received her associate degree in nursing from National Taipei Nursing College, her bachelor’s in nursing from the University of Florida and her master’s and doctorate from the University of California, San Francisco.

Super Doctors Rising Stars

Seven Azalea Orthopedics physicians have been named to Texas Monthly’s Super Doctors Rising Stars list as some of the top doctors in Texas for 2019.

They include Dr. Rebel Huffman, Dr. Scott Burlison, Dr. Michael Johnson, Dr. David Kummerfeld, Dr. Kevin Luttrell, Dr. Michael Merrick and Dr. Ryan Patterson.

The Rising Stars edition recognizes outstanding physicians who have been fully licensed to practice medicine in their respective specialties for approximately 10 years or less.

Acquisition

Maverick Technical Systems in Gladewater has acquired a waterjet cutting system, expanding the company’s ability to meet customers’ needs.

Maverick Technical Systems is an electrical/mechanical manufacturing and service organization, specializing in custom-built power and control systems, as well as offering machining and fabrication services.

“The major benefits of adding this technology to Maverick Technical Systems’ capabilities is its versatility, power, speed and accuracy,” said Steven Ramo, vice president of business development.