UTHealth Houston Fleming Center Launches Inaugural Executive Certificate in Healthcare Management & Leadership with Student-Led Innovation Showcase
UTHealth Houston George McMillian Fleming Center for Healthcare Management marked a significant milestone with the completion of its inaugural Executive Certificate in Healthcare Management & Leadership, a specialized program designed to empower mid- and senior-level professionals with the strategic, operational, and leadership skills needed to transform health care systems. Culminating in a service line innovation competition on May 30, 2025, the spring cohort of participants presented real-world proposals to an expert panel of judges, highlighting their vision for the future of patient care.
The certificate program brought together a multidisciplinary cohort of leaders from across the country. Participants came from clinical, operational, and academic backgrounds and collaborated in teams to develop comprehensive, scalable proposals to improve service lines in pediatric care, sepsis response, and breast cancer management.
The final presentations reflected rigorous training in strategic planning, financial analysis, data-informed decision-making, ethical leadership, and community engagement. Each team proposed a new or expanded service line rooted in clinical excellence and supported by sustainable business models.
Tackling Childhood Obesity in El Paso – Winning Team
The Pediatric Team, featuring Risa Baltes, Jana Rogers, and Sarah Ure, proposed a dedicated Pediatric Weight Loss Clinic to address the urgent public health crisis of childhood obesity in El Paso County. Their model integrates culturally tailored education, AI-driven patient engagement tools, and a lean operational structure. With a focus on underserved Hispanic communities, the clinic aims to reduce BMI percentiles and HbA1C levels within one year of enrollment while maintaining financial sustainability by year two.
Improving Sepsis Outcomes Through Coordinated Rapid Response
The Sepsis Team, led by Richard Burke and Elizabeth Dozier, recommended the introduction of a Sepsis Coordinator as a Rapid Response Service Line. The role would drive early recognition, compliance with CMS SEP-1 bundles, and targeted performance monitoring via AI-enhanced dashboards. Their model demonstrated how even a 10% reduction in hospital length of stay could generate cost savings exceeding $200,000 annually, while promoting equity and evidence-based care for all sepsis patients.
Building a Breast Center of Excellence in New Mexico
Dr. Sangeetha Prabhakaran and Carol Mannamplackal presented a comprehensive Breast Service Line proposal for a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Focused on addressing disparities in breast cancer outcomes among Hispanic and Native American populations, the proposal included goals for national accreditation, multidisciplinary care, and high-volume screening with revenue generation through increased downstream services. Their patient-centered approach integrates survivorship programs, research opportunities, and advanced imaging technology.
The final competition was judged by a panel of senior leaders in healthcare and communications:
- Courtenay Siegfried, Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications, UTHealth Houston
- Alicia O’Gilbert, MPH, MBA, CPH, Executive Director of Neurosciences
- Theresa Tran, MD, MBA, FACEP, Assistant Dean for Clinical Population Health and Advocacy
- Robert B. Morrow, MD, MBA, Executive in Residence, School of Public Health
- Meredith Raine, Associate Vice President, Public Affairs
Each judge brought unique expertise in health systems leadership, clinical operations, strategic communications, and public health advocacy.
With the success of its debut cohort, UTHealth Houston Fleming Center plans to continue offering the Executive Certificate in Healthcare Management & Leadership, supporting a growing network of professionals ready to innovate, advocate, and lead. The Fall 2025 Executive Certificate in Healthcare Management & Leadership is now taking applications, deadline to apply: August 2, 2025.
For more information about the Executive Leadership Certificate click here.
Photos from the Inaugural Executive Certificate Final Presentations