Board

Jay Fox joined Baylor Waxahachie in 2007. Prior to that he served as executive director of Our Children’s House (OCH) at Baylor in Dallas and as vice president of operations for Baylor Specialty Health Centers. Under his leadership, OCH planned two facility expansions that included additional patient beds, therapy space and an outpatient surgery center and also added eight outpatient clinics. Fox serves an active role as a board member in many organizations both professional and non-profit-related. His board appointments include: Children’s Hospitals & Related Institutions of Texas, past-president, The North Texas chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), The Health Industry Council and the Council of Policy Development for the Texas Hospital Association, Baylor Surgicare at Mansfield, Baylor Surgicare at Ennis.

Stan Morton, FACHE, has served as president of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton since March of 2003. A seasoned health care leader, he previously served as chief executive officer at Medical Center of Arlington, the Las Colinas Medical Center and the Jo Ellen Smith Medical Center in New Orleans., La., along with other industry management roles. Morton is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and is active in community affairs. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches and a master of business administration degree from the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University. Morton and his wife, Karla, reside in Denton and are the parents of a daughter, Kathryn, and son, Matthew.

Eric Evans became chief executive officer of Lake Pointe Medical Center, a 112-bed hospital in Rowlett, in 2010. He most recently served as vice president and chief of staff to Tenet President and CEO Trevor Fetter, where he assisted in the development of corporate strategy and championed key quality and growth initiatives. Prior to serving as chief of staff, Evans led a mix of clinical and ancillary departments as Lake Pointe’s chief operating officer. Evans also served as associate administrator and director of business development at Lake Pointe, where he was responsible for physician relations and recruiting, marketing, strategic planning and growth initiatives. He joined Tenet in 2004 as an associate in its leadership development program. Prior to joining Tenet, Evans worked as an industrial engineer at Saturn Corporation.

Brett McClung, a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, began serving as president of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth in May 2007. Prior to joining Texas Health Southwest Fort Worth, he was the president of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Azle. McClung joined Texas Health Azle in May 2005 after serving as vice president for ambulatory, support services and business development at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth. He has been associated with Harris Methodist hospitals and Texas Health Resources in various roles since 1993. McClung serves the community and the health care industry in a variety of volunteer roles including: Healthy Tarrant County Collaboration (Treasurer), Trinity University Healthcare Alumni Board (President-Elect), Faculty and Moderator for American College of Healthcare Executives, Tarrant County Health Impact Council of the United Way, Revenue Leader for the Tarrant County March of Dimes, and Member/Past-Chairman, Chamber of Commerce, Fort Worth South Area Council.

John Jay Shannon, M.D., came to Parkland Health & Hospital System after more than a decade at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, where he served as senior attending physician and associate chairman of medicine for Respiratory and Intensive Care Medicine. Shannon graduated cum laude from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, with a bachelor’s degree in biology. He received his medical degree from Rush Medical College in 1986, completed his internship, residency and chief residency at Parkland and his specialty training in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Robert Earley attended and graduated from The University of North Texas. After graduation he promptly went to Washington D.C. to serve on the staff of United States Congressman Tom Vandergriff. Earley moved back to South Texas to seek a seat in the Texas House of Representatives. When Earley announced his candidacy he was only 23 years old, making him the youngest candidate in the state seeking an office in the Texas Legislature that year. Earley was elected to serve in the Texas House of Representatives in May of 1984. While serving in the Texas House of Representatives for 10 years, Earley was chairman of the Energy committee. Earley was named as a Sr. Vice President for JPS Health Network in 2005. In May 2008, Earley was appointed Interim President and CEO for JPS Health Network. On Feb. 4, 2009 he was appointed as the President and CEO by the Tarrant County Hospital District Board of Managers.

In August 2007, Rick Merrill became the new President and CEO of Cook Children’s. Merrill’s selection came following an exhaustive nationwide search, which lasted more than a year. Merrill is a respected leader in the pediatric health care industry. Under Merrill’s leadership Cook Children’s began a new era of “promise.” Cook Children’s new promise is: “Knowing that every child’s life is sacred, it is the promise of Cook Children’s to improve the health of every child in our region through the prevention and treatment of illness, disease and injury.”

Jonathan Davis joined Methodist Charlton Medical Center as president in October 2009. Before joining Methodist, Davis served as president/chief executive officer of Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center in Pittsburg, Kansas, part of a four-hospital health system, where he oversaw implementation of a five-year, multi-million dollar master facility plan, construction of a cardiac step-down unit, the recruitment of numerous physicians to the community, a founding membership in the Midwest Cancer Alliance with the University of Kansas Medical Center, an increase in market growth, and a renewed sense of community involvement. Prior to serving at Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center Davis served as chief executive officer of St. Anthony’s Medical Center, part of a four-hospital health system in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Daniela Decell began her career in healthcare as a critical care nurse at Saint Joseph Hospital and began her management career with Plaza in 1996 as the Neuroscience Service Line Director. She became Chief Nursing Officer in 1997 and Chief Operating Officer in 2000. Daniela received her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Texas Christian University in 1985. In 1991, she earned her Master’s Degree in Nursing Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington, became a Certified Healthcare Administrator in 2004 and achieved Fellow status in the American College of Healthcare Executives in 2007.

Caleb O’Rear, a Denton native, took the reins as chief executive officer of Denton Regional Medical Center in 2007. He began working for the hospital 14 years ago as director of marketing. He worked as associate administrator, becoming chief operating officer in 2005. O’Rear, who has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree in healthcare administration from Trinity University in San Antonio, has served as a board member for several local organizations including the United Way of Denton County. Denton Regional Medical Center is a 208-bed hospital providing services to an estimated 100,000 Denton residents and 750,000 residents in the region from west to Wichita Falls, east to Sherman and north to Oklahoma.

Tom Trenary was named president of Baylor Medical Center at Garland in July 2008. His impressive career in health care spans more than two decades and encompasses senior leadership roles at health care organizations across the country. Prior to joining Baylor, Trenary was the vice president of operations for MedCath, a cardiovascular health care system based in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this capacity he oversaw planning, hospital operations, physician relations and recruitment. Other health care systems Trenary has provided senior leadership for include Transitional Hospitals Corporation, Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NME) and Community Hospitals of Central California.

Robert Walker joined the administrative staff at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in 1979. He was named executive vice president and administrator in 1989. Robert’s responsibilities include management of the day-to-day operations of the hospital to ensure that the highest degree of medical care is provided to our patients. Robert is a native of Garland, Texas. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from East Texas University and his Master of Healthcare Administration degree from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Bob is a 33° Scottish Rite Mason and holds fellowship status in the American College of Healthcare Executives.