Andy Stern, the managing director of Club Oaks Consulting, board member of AMN Healthcare and co-chair of Medical City Healthcare, was announced today as the 2019 recipient of the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council’s (DFWHC) Distinguished Health Service Award. He will be recognized during DFWHC’s 71st Annual Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, October 8 at Irving Convention Center.

Stern’s career spans over four decades dating back to 1975 when he served for two years as Staff Assistant to President Gerald R. Ford at the White House. Stern is also deeply involved in healthcare on a local, state and national level. Since 2001, Stern has been a member of the board of directors of AMN Healthcare (NYSE: AHS), the nation’s leading provider of comprehensive healthcare staffing and workforce solutions.

In addition to AMN Healthcare, he serves as co-chair of Medical City Healthcare and has been on its flagship Medical City Dallas board since 1993 including seven years as chair. He also is a board member of Dallas Medical Resource. On a statewide basis, he serves on the board of HOSPAC, the political action committee of the Texas Hospital Association. He served as chair of the Texas Healthcare Trustees and a member of the Texas Hospital Association board for two years.

Nationally, Stern has chaired both the American Hospital Association’s Committee on Governance, its Leadership Development Committee and continues to serve on the board of the American Hospital Association PAC. He was the founding chairman of the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center and a past chairman of the Sixth Floor Museum, the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, Dallas Area Agency on Aging, the Dallas 40 and the Dallas Friday Group.

Stern has been managing director of Club Oaks Consulting since September 2017 when he sold Dallas-based Sunwest Communications, Inc., one of Texas’ largest independent public relations firms. Stern was elected chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Sunwest in 1984 after serving as the company’s president at its formation in 1982.

“Andy Stern has been a respected leader in North Texas for many years,” said W. Stephen Love, president/CEO of DFWHC. “As a volunteer trustee, I can’t think of a single person more dedicated and engaged with the community. Andy is enthusiastic in his vision and has used his extensive experience to improve healthcare in both Texas and the U.S. We are looking forward to honoring him.”

Since 1948, DFWHC’s Annual Awards Luncheon has been an opportunity for North Texas hospitals to acknowledge important friends of healthcare. The Distinguished Health Service Award has been bestowed annually for 71 years to DFW-area residents including Charlie Powell (2018), Larry James (2017), Margaret Jordan (2016), Dr. Merlyn Sayers (2015), Dr. Wright Lassiter, Jr. (2014), T. Boone Pickens (2012), Ray and Nancy Ann Hunt (2009) and Ross and Margot Perot (2008).

The luncheon’s keynote speakers will be Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters of The Washington Post who broke the Watergate scandal in 1972. They will discuss the 45th anniversary of Watergate, their bestselling book “All the President’s Men” and how it pertains to today’s political climate.

The reception begins at 11:00 a.m. followed by the luncheon and awards from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Recipients of the Young Healthcare Executive of the Year and the Kerney Laday, Sr. Trustee of the Year awards will be announced in August. Sponsorships and tickets will also go on sale in August.

For questions, please contact Chris Wilson at chrisw@dfwhc.org or call 972-719-4900.