In the News

Gov. Perry Appoints Carolyn Hutchinson of Valley Baptist to State Council on Cardiovascular Disease

AUSTIN, March 30, 2006 – Texas Governor Rick Perry has appointed Carolyn Hutchinson, RN, BSN, Clinical Supervisor of Outreach Services with Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen, to the Texas Council on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke.

The mission of the state council is to educate, inform and coordinate activities to reduce the human and financial toll of cardiovascular disease and stroke. The governor appointed Ms. Hutchinson to a three-year term through Feb. 1, 2009.

“It is a great honor and privilege for me to serve on the Texas Council of Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke,” Ms. Hutchison said. “I am hopeful that through the work of this council, the cardiovascular health of the residents of the state of Texas will be positively impacted.”

Ms. Hutchinson is a student member of Texas Nurse Practitioners, a past board member of the Texas Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and a board member of the American Heart Association. She is also the grassroots chair of Smoke Free Harlingen and a past member of the Cardiovascular Nurse Task Force.

Ms. Hutchinson received an associate’s degree in education from Concordia Lutheran College (now Concordia University) and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Mary Hardin Baylor Scott and White School of Nursing. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Texas-Pan American.

Ms. Hutchison, who helped start the Valley Baptist Heart Corner at Valle Vista Mall, has received several honors in the past, including the “Star Hall of Fame” award from the Valley Morning Star after newspaper readers cited her nursing skills. Ms. Hutchinson noted that having the Heart Corner at the mall makes it much easier for many local residents to access life-saving heart screenings and services.

Ms. Hutchinson has been with Valley Baptist-Harlingen for 29 years, starting in 1977 as a staff nurse for the telemetry unit. While visiting her heart patients on the nursing floors, Ms. Hutchison showed a keen interest and passion in educating them about exercise and lifestyle changes that could strengthen their hearts and bolster their overall health. This interest in education increased after Ms. Hutchinson was asked to start the Valley's first Cardiac Rehabilitation Program for VBMC-Harlingen in 1979.

Originally from Sharyland near McAllen, Ms. Hutchinson lives in Harlingen with her husband Edward, and their three children: Dallas, Blake, and Bryce.

Also appointed to the state council by the governor was Dr. Michael Hawkins, of Austin, who will serve as presiding officer of the council. The governor’s appointments are subject to confirmation by the Texas Senate.