About this Event
Mount Pleasant Country Club (1000 Country Club Dr., Mount Pleasant, TX 75455)
Wednesday, October 21
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Networking (Drinks, and hors d’oeuvres will be provided)
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM Panel Discussion
Description:
The only constant in life is change, and no industry has experienced more change and upheaval in recent years than the healthcare industry. Hospitals have been caught up in a sweeping trend of consolidation and there has been much debate about whether consolidation in the healthcare sector will help or hurt patients, with many arguing that fewer hospitals will result in higher prices and inferior care. Others argue the exact opposite. The forces driving changes are varied, as are the approaches hospitals are taking to adapt. One of the clearest consequences of change is the recent surge in merger and acquisition activity. As a leader in the healthcare industry, executives must be prepared to lead their organization, their employees and community through this transition.
Event Host: CHRISTUS Health
Moderator:
E. Kenneth Hutchenrider, Jr., FACHE
President
Methodist Richardson Medical Center
Panelists:
Kurt DeVaney
President
Christus Health - Mt. Pleasant
Zach Dietze
Chief Executive Officer
UT Health Tyler | UT Health North Campus Tyler
William Hooks, Jr., MD
Chief Medical Officer
Christus Health - Mt. Pleasant
Bios:
Ken Hutchenrider joined Methodist Richardson Medical Center as President in July, 2010.
He has more than 30 years of executive experience with a result oriented record of substantially increasing financial stability and strengthening team management to build a tradition of providing the best care possible to the communities served.
During his tenure, Ken administered the assimilation of the hospital into the Methodist Health System, as well as the development of the current hospital at George Bush and Renner Roads. He has overseen the subsequent and ongoing expansions, including the fifth and sixth floor addition, the Emergency Department/Lab expansion and the current OR addition and Ambulatory Surgical Center. Additional accomplishments include the establishment of a new wound care center, Level III Nursery, development of the Da Vinci surgical program, Level 3 Trauma Program, Comprehensive Stroke Program, the successful recruitment/employment of new medical staff members and the prestigious nursing designation as a Magnet facility.
Prior to July 2010, Ken served as the Chief Executive Officer of Galesburg Cottage Hospital, in Galesburg, Illinois. Previously in his career, Ken served in executive roles including Chief Executive Officer of the Terre Haute Regional Hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas. Ken started his career in a clinical position as a Paramedic Shift Supervisor in Pasadena, Texas.
He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&M University and a Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Houston, Clear Lake.
In 2018, Ken was proudly elected to serve on the Richardson City Council in Place 5 and currently serves as Mayor Pro Tem. He is actively involved in the community and has served as the Chairman of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce and President of the Plano Independent School District Foundation. Ken is an enthusiastic supporter of the PISD and RISD Health Sciences Academy. Ken served as the Regent for Northern Texas for the American College of Healthcare Executives
Ken has received many accolades, including the Chamber’s Education Hero Award, the American Heart Association SOAR Award, the Community Health System Outstanding Achievement Award, and Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
On a personal note, Ken and his wife Melinda have two adult daughters. Karilyn is in her first year of medical school at New York Institute of Technology at Arkansas State University. Kimberly graduated from Texas A&M University and is currently working as a Patient Care Technician while applying to Medical School. When he’s not spending time with his family, you will most likely find Ken on the golf course.
Kurt DeVaney is a healthcare executive with more than a decade of progressive leadership experience in hospital and health system operations. He currently serves as the President for Christus Health Mount Pleasant Hospital in Mount Pleasant Texas.
Throughout his career, Kurt has focused on improving operational performance while advancing quality, patient access, employee engagement, and sustainable financial results. In his most recent role as Chief Operating Officer for the Christus Good Shepherd Health System, he led significant expense reduction initiatives, improved net operating income, supported growth in emergency and outpatient services, reduced clinical supplemental pay, and helped implement operational strategies to improve patient throughput and length of stay. He has also led major growth initiatives, including the opening of two freestanding emergency departments.
Prior to joining Christus Health, Kurt served in several executive leadership roles with INTEGRIS Health, including Chief Hospital Executive for both INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center and INTEGRIS Bass Baptist Health Center. His experience spans acute care, cardiovascular services, oncology, surgical services, inpatient rehabilitation, behavioral health, ambulatory operations, and major capital and facility expansion projects. Across these roles, he has led teams through significant improvements in financial performance, physician and employee engagement, patient experience, operational efficiency, and strategic growth.
Kurt began his healthcare leadership career through an administrative residency with INTEGRIS Health and holds a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from Trinity University and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Siena College. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives. His leadership approach centers on developing strong teams, creating operational accountability, and aligning people and strategies to improve the health and well-being of the communities healthcare organizations serve.
Kurt and his wife Elise have one son, Kai, who is three and a half years old. They enjoy travelling, fishing, hiking and making it to the beach whenever possible.
Zach Dietze is an accomplished healthcare executive with a proven record of leading complex hospital operations, driving strategic growth, and advancing organizational performance across acute care settings. Since 2022, Zach has served as Chief Executive Officer of UT Health Tyler and UT Health North Campus Tyler, providing leadership for two key healthcare facilities serving the East Texas community.
Under his leadership, UT Health Tyler, a 432-bed Level I Trauma Center, and UT Health North Campus Tyler, with 104 staffed beds and 70 inpatient behavioral health beds, have continued to advance clinical excellence, operational performance, physician engagement, and strategic growth. Zach is focused on strengthening the delivery of high-quality care while ensuring the organizations remain responsive to the evolving needs of the patients and communities they serve.
Prior to joining UT Health East Texas, Zach served as Chief Operating Officer of Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a 626-bed tertiary care hospital. During his tenure, he led initiatives focused on improving patient safety, expanding service lines, strengthening financial performance, and enhancing the patient experience. Under his leadership, Hillcrest achieved significant improvements in quality outcomes, substantial growth in robotic-assisted surgery, and recognition for excellence in stroke and rehabilitation care.
Earlier in his career, Zach served as Chief Executive Officer of Seton Medical Center Harker Heights in Texas, where he led the organization through a period of significant growth while achieving sustained improvements in quality, patient satisfaction, physician recruitment, and financial performance.
A native of Central Texas, Zach grew up in Round Rock. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Government from The University of Texas at Austin and his Master of Healthcare Administration from Trinity University in San Antonio.
Outside of his professional responsibilities, Zach enjoys spending time with his wife, Ashley, and their three young boys.
Dr. William W. Hooks, Jr. is a board-certified anesthesiologist and healthcare executive with over 20 years of combined clinical, operational, and military leadership experience. Currently serving as Chief Medical Officer at CHRISTUS Health Mount Pleasant, he drives physician engagement, digital transformation, and strategic initiatives to improve quality, safety, and efficiency. As Medical Director for Perioperative & Procedural Services, he leads multidisciplinary teams delivering anesthesia, ICU, and pain management services.
Dr. Hooks began his academic journey at Stephen F. Austin State University, earning a bachelor's degree in Biology. He then obtained his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. While in medical school, he was commissioned as an officer in the United States Navy, beginning a 13-year career marked by several commendation medals and awards.
His military service included a Transitional Internship at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD, followed by a three-year tour as a Flight Surgeon. During this time, he was stationed in California and deployed twice aboard the USS Ronald Reagan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
In 2009, Dr. Hooks returned to Bethesda, MD, to complete his residency in Anesthesiology at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he served as both Chief Resident and President of the House-Staff Senate. His final assignment with the Navy was at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune, where he held the positions of Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology and Vice-President of the Medical Staff before honorably resigning his commission and rank of Lieutenant Commander and moving back to Mount Pleasant.
A passionate advocate for patient safety and quality, Dr. Hooks further honed his expertise by completing the Executive MBA program at the University of Texas at Tyler's Soules College of Business, earning a Master of Business Administration in 2022. This advanced business training reflects his commitment to leadership, particularly in the context of rural American healthcare.
Dr. Hooks is a published author and resides in Mount Pleasant with his wife and daughter. In his spare time, he is an admitted Disney and Marvel enthusiast and enjoys making and performing music with his family.
Event venue & nearby stays
1000 Country Club Dr, 1000 Country Club Drive, Mount Pleasant, United States
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