Editor’s note: The San Antonio Report is pleased to feature the weekly bigcitysmalltown podcast hosted by Robert Rivard, co-founder of the Report. We’ll be publishing a brief synopsis of the podcast each Tuesday.
In 2005, George Hernández stepped up to lead University Health with a clear vision in mind.
“My vision when I became CEO was, ‘Why can’t we be a top-tier academic medical center here in South Texas?”’ Hernández told Robert Rivard in the latest episode of the BigCitySmallTown podcast.
“We already had a lot of really great doctors. Our facilities weren’t really up to standard and we just needed a little time to develop that.”
Nearly two decades have passed, and as University Health looks forward to continued growth, Hernández looks forward to retirement. Edward Banos took over as CEO on July 1.
During the podcast, Hernández looked back on his years trying to make his vision a reality, sharing with Rivard many of University Health’s successful expansions, including the Sky Tower and Women’s and Children’s Hospital, as well the struggles the system has endured.
Hernández says that the COVID pandemic was an especially hard time, since the hospital system “never closed.”
“I actually think the pandemic made us stronger as a team,” Hernández said, because the hospital had to ensure that patients and employees were able to receive proper supplies.
Throughout the conversation, Hernández highlighted the need for University Health to move closer to San Antonio’s communities, part of the strategic growth of the hospital system to “take health care services to where people live.”
As for retirement, Hernández plans to spend time with his grandchildren. He notes that generational change is a positive thing for continued growth.
“We have an expiration date,” Hernández said, with a laugh. “I think it’s important to have fresh people come in. I’m going to miss my job tremendously.”
