February 20, 2008

The Health Industry Council Appoints North Texas Healthcare Leaders to 2008 Board of Directors

Representing the healthcare industry, new board members to provide strategic guidance on local healthcare initiatives

DALLAS – February 20, 2008 – The Health Industry Council of the Dallas-Fort Worth Region today announced the new members of the 2008 Board of Directors, including Britt Berrett, president and CEO of Medical City, Tim Boes, group vice president of medication solutions for Cardinal Health, Celina Burns, vice president of network development for Humana, Christine Kalish, vice president and chief of staff of UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth, and John R. Thomas, president and CEO of MedSynergies Inc.

“It is important for our board of directors to be representative of the DFW healthcare market,” said Nancy Williams, president of The Health Industry Council. “The combined knowledge and expertise of the board members in different areas of healthcare from payers and suppliers to physician management, will allow our Council to provide a voice for the entire industry.”

The five new board members officially joined the now 21-member board at the annual membership meeting on February 14, 2008.

“It’s an honor to be chosen as a member of the board of directors, and I look forward to bringing a physician business perspective to the council,” said John R. Thomas, president and CEO of MedSynergies. “With healthcare as the number one issue on the domestic agenda, it is important for DFW to be recognized as an innovator in the industry. Each of these key members brings a diverse viewpoint, allowing us to work toward one common goal – affordable healthcare.”

John R. Thomas has been with MedSynergies Inc., a leading provider of healthcare revenue cycle services and technology, since its inception in 1996 and a member of the board of directors since 1999. Mr. Thomas is a national speaker on topics such as revenue cycle management, billing and collections processes and corporate healthcare finance.

Britt Berrett has served as president and CEO of Medical City, a 677-bed hospital, since April 2000. He oversees strategic planning and operations for both Medical City and Medical City Children’s Hospitals, guiding the hospital in its mission to be a dynamic learning healthcare organization that sets the standard of excellence for its employees, patients, physicians and community.

Beginning as senior vice president of sales and marketing in 1997, Tim Boes is now group vice president of medication solutions for Cardinal Health, an international Fortune 19 company providing products and services supporting the healthcare industry with annual sales in excess of $81 Billion.

Celina Burns was recently named vice president of network development for Humana's North Texas region, where she is responsible for the overall management of physician and hospital contracts and network development for Humana's commercial PPO, consumer choice and Medicare health benefit products in the Dallas/Fort Worth service area, and 51 surrounding North Texas area counties.

With more than 25 years of experience in business administration and 15 years in healthcare management, Christine Kalish, MBA, serves as vice president and chief of staff at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. As the senior executive in the Office of the President, she serves as primary strategic and tactical support for the president. Additionally, she is the co-director of the new UNTHSC Leadership Development Institute.

About The Health Industry Council of the Dallas-Fort Worth Region
The Health Industry Council is an association of health-related organizations in the North Texas area dedicated to regional collaboration, innovation and excellence. The Council’s mission is to enhance the reputation, economic development and importance of health-related industries in North Texas. For additional information, please visit www.healthindustrycouncil.org.