The DFW Hospital Council (DFWHC) hosted a Young Healthcare Executive Cohort meeting for 20 attendees this morning at its headquarters in Irving. DFWHC President/CEO W. Stephen Love served as host of the event, which included speakers Russell Laughlin of Hillwood Properties; Chris Gallagher of Access Physicians; Kelsey Mellard of Honor Health; and Joey Sudomir, chief informatics officer at Texas Health Resources.

The event also served as an opportunity for North Texas hospital young healthcare executives to network in a collaborative fashion.

“The DFWHC Board of Trustees initiated this new program for young healthcare executives under the age of 40,” Love said. “This program encourages collaboration, networking and mission-oriented programs to assist our up and coming healthcare executives within North Texas.”

Each year the DFWHC Board of Trustees selects a Young Healthcare Executive to be recognized at its Annual Awards Luncheon. The individual becomes a one-year ex-officio board member, receives a scholarship to the Texas Hospital Association Leadership Fellows Program and becomes the lead board member of the Young Healthcare Executive Cohort.

During today’s event Clint Abernathy, president of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance and Jeffrey Cellucci, chief operating officer of Kindred Healthcare shepherded the inaugural class. In 2018, Frazier Hay, vice president, professional and support services at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano and recipient of the 2017 Young Healthcare Executive of the Year Award to be presented October 31 at DFWHC’s 69th Annual Awards Luncheon, will serve on the DFWHC Board and assist with the Young Healthcare Executive Cohort.