Barclay E. Berdan, chief operating officer for Texas Health Resources, has been named the new CEO of the health system effective Sept. 1. Berdan is replacing long-time CEO Doug Hawthorne, who announced in January he was stepping down from the CEO position. Board chair Anne T. Bass led the search committee composed of board members and physicians who conducted a nation-wide search.
“The board recognized that Barclay Berdan has a unique combination of attributes,” said Bass in a news release. “He is a forward-thinking visionary with a personally-engaging leadership style. He brings a well-rounded perspective and unique leadership strengths to the CEO position. At the same time, he represents stability and continuity that will be critical to advancing our strategy as we confront the challenges of a rapidly changing health care environment. He is a true servant-leader who fosters a spirit of collaboration and sets high expectations of performance for every person in the organization.”
Berdan began his career in health care administration in Chicago in 1977. In 1986, he joined the Harris Methodist Health System as the vice president/administrator of Harris Methodist Southwest. He served as president of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth and was named executive vice president of the health system in 2005. In 2007, he became senior executive vice president, System Alignment and Performance for Texas Health Resources. In 2012, he was named Texas Health’s senior executive vice president and chief operating officer. “I am deeply honored to be asked to serve as the next CEO of Texas Health Resources,” said Berdan. “We are at a crossroads in medicine and overall well-being. This is a time of unprecedented and often disruptive change in the health care environment. It’s also a time of great opportunity to make significant advancements in enhancing well-being for the communities we serve across North Texas. We must focus on access and convenience by providing products and services in affordable settings so that we can meet the needs of those we serve in every stage of their life’s journey. We will become the benchmark of quality, safety and customer experience that other health systems around the country want to emulate.” Berdan has been involved in several business, community and health-related organizations, including the Texas Association of Volunteer Hospitals, Texas Hospital Association, LifeGift, American Hospital Association, Dallas Fort Worth Hospital Council, American Heart Association, Tarrant County, and Fort Worth Sister Cities International. He earned his B.S. in biology from Texas Christian University and his MBA from the University of Chicago, specializing in hospital administration.
Texas Health Resources is one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health systems in the United States. The health system includes 25 acute care and short-stay hospitals that are owned, operated, joint-ventured or affiliated with Texas Health Resources. It includes the Texas Health Presbyterian, Texas Health Arlington Memorial, Texas Health Harris Methodist and Texas Health Huguley Hospitals, Texas Health Physicians Group, outpatient facilities, behavioral health and home health, preventive and fitness services,