Alumni/ae Profiles

Richard Bracken, CHE
President and Chief Operating Officer
HCA

Nashville, Tennessee

M.H.A. 1977

Residency: New Hanover Memorial Hospital, Wilmington, NC

Mr. Bracken began his career with HCA in 1981 and has held various executive positions with HCA, including CEO of Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, President of HCA's Pacific Division, and President of HCA's Western Group. He was promoted to COO in 2001, and assumed the role of President and COO in 2002. He was added to the HCA Board of Directors in 2002. Recognizing Mr. Bracken's accomplishments, the Departments' Alumni/ae Executive Committee bestowed on him the first Outstanding Alumnus Award in 2002.

Mr. Bracken is a strong supporter of the Department, and, along with other alumni/ae such as Marilyn Tavenner (MHA 89), Jeffrey Dorsey (MHA 73) and Wick Lyne (MHA 71), was instrumental in the establishment of the HCA Scholarship for Emerging Healthcare Leaders in 2003.   This $1 million dollar endowed scholarship will help the Department continue to attract and educate the most qualified students seeking a master's degree and careers in health administration.

Leo Brideau, FACHE
President and Chief Executive Officer
Columbia St. Mary's

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

M.H.A. 1980

Residency: Veterans Administration Medical District #7 (McGuire Medical Center), Richmond, Virginia

Most of Mr. Brideau's career has been spent at the teaching hospital, Strong Memorial Hospital of the University of Rochester, serving as Hospital's Deputy Director for Patient Care Services, then Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, then General Director and Chief Executive Officer. Six years ago, Mr. Brideau put together their integrated academic health care delivery system, Strong Health, leading the creation of a managed care organization that contracted on behalf of the system's hospitals and 900 doctors. Three years ago, Mr. Brideau joined Columbia St. Mary's, a merger that consists of four hospitals, over 20 clinics, a college of nursing and several children's schools.

As evidence by his past service as Chair of the Board of the Hospital Association of New York State, his membership in the Board of the American Hospital Association and its executive committee and chair of its task force on paying for health services, and his present service chairing a statewide task force examining physician supply and demand and serving on the Wisconsin Hospital Association Board, Mr. Brideau believes that health care executives must actively contribute to the shaping of public policy on health care issues.

Sister Patricia Eck, C.B.S., CHE
Chairperson, Board of Directors
Bon Secours Health System, Inc .

Marriottsville, Maryland

M.H.A. 1981

Residency: Sisters of Mercy Health Corporation, Farmington Hills, Michigan

With 18 years of clinical nursing experience and many administrative and leadership roles, including Vice President of Operations, St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, Senior Vice President of Bon Secours-St. Mary's Health Corporation, and executive Vice President of Bon Secours-Richmond Health Corporation, Sr. Pat currently brings a wealth of experience to her role as Chairperson, Board of Directors, Bon Secours Health System. In August 2002, Sr. Pat assumed additional duties as Chair of the Catholic Health Association, USA. Recognizing Sr. Pat's accomplishments, the Departments' Alumni/ae Executive Committee bestowed on her the 2003 Outstanding Alumnus Award.

Sr. Pat is a long-time supporter of the Department, helping to establish the new Bon Secours Scholar Program, serving as a guest lecturer, and working with MHA students serving their residences within Bon Secours Health System. Sr. Pat, through her words and actions, believes that health care executives of today are instrumental in contributing to the education of the health care leaders of tomorrow.

Teresa Edwards, FACHE
Administrator
Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center

Chesterfield, Virginia

M.H.A. 1984

Residency: Virginia Baptist Hospital , Lynchburg, Virginia

When the new Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center opens in the summer of 2005, leading the facility will be Executive Vice President, Administrator, Ms. Teresa “Terrie” Edwards. Having a diverse health care background inclusive of a residency at the Virginia Baptist Hospital in Lynchburg, a position of Associate Administrator at Henrico Doctors Hospital in Richmond, a position as Vice President for Facilities and then the Chief Operating Officer of Williamsburg Community Hospital in Williamsburg, and a position as Executive Practice Administrator for Cardiac and Thoracic Surgical Associates, Ltd. in Richmond, Ms. Edwards is ready to tackle the challenges inherent in establishing and developing a new medical facility.

Ms. Edwards has served as a preceptor to MHA students, and as a mentor and an adjunct faculty member, teaching HADM 661 - Physician Practice Management. As the President of the Richmond Medical Group Management Association (2002-2003) and as Regent for Central and Tidewater areas in Virginia for the American College of Healthcare Executives, Ms. Edwards is particularly well equipped to counsel and advise students as they begin their careers, and the Department is thankful that she often does just that.

Cynthia Fore, FACHE
President, National Capital Healthcare Executives
Senior Healthcare Analyst, Department of Strategic Planning
MAMSI, Inc.

Rockville, Maryland

M.H.A. 1977

Residency: Medical College of Virginia Hospitals, Richmond, Virginia

Just before entering the MHA program, Ms. Fore enjoyed a number of positions, including working as a teacher's aide, as a hospital medical records clerk, and as a physiology laboratory technician at MCV. During her graduate school training at MCV in the mid-70s, Ms. Fore discovered her previously unknown abilities in, and enjoyment of, data analysis. Today, her central career focus remains health care data analysis. Having held a variety of health care analysis positions at a Blue Cross plan, at several consulting firms, and at Kaiser Permanente, Ms. Fore now works for MAMSI performing quality and operations reporting, supporting the analytical needs of the Medical Affairs and Quality Improvement departments

Ms. Fore very much enjoyed working with the Department on the 25th reunion of her MHA 77 class, as it gave her the opportunity to renew friendships with her classmates and to reconnect with the Department. During her years as a student in the MHA program, Ms. Fore worked part-time with the Department. In addition to preparing bundles of articles for class reading assignments, working with the Department allowed Ms. Fore to learn the importance of team learning, specifically, that faculty and alumni/ae working together with the students helps to build a first rate program, a principle that she still applies in her career today.

Sheryl Garland
Vice President, Community Outreach
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System

Richmond, Virginia

M.H.A. 1988

Residency: Medical College of Virginia Hospitals, Richmond, Virginia

Sheryl Garland has held numerous positions with VCU's hospital and health system, working her way up from an administrative assistant in the cost accounting department, MCVH's resident, various planning and strategic development positions, Vice President (VP) of Ambulatory Care Services (ACS), and now the VCU Health System's Vice President for Community Outreach. In her current role, Ms. Garland, building on initiatives she started while VP of ACS, continues to develop and implement initiatives to support the care of uninsured and underinsured populations who access healthcare services within VCU Medical Center (VCUMC). She establishes partnerships with community based agencies, and develops and implements programs which utilize and enhance federal, state, and private revenue streams for patient care activities of the VCUMC.

An active supporter of the Department, Ms. Garland participates in third year oral comprehensives, hires students and graduates for part-time employment, and even talks with prospective students. Recipient of the Richmond YMCA's Outstanding Woman of the year, Health and Science (2000) and the American College of Healthcare Executives Regent's Early Career Healthcare Executive Award (1994), Ms. Garland's hard work, dedication, and success have not gone unnoticed.