HARLINGEN, November 3, 2006 -- James G. Springfield, FACHE, President & Chief Executive Officer of Valley Baptist Health System, announced that Shane Spees has been named President of Valley Baptist Hospital Holdings, Inc. Mr. Spees previously served as Sr. Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of VBMC-Harlingen.

Mr. Spees joined Valley Baptist in Aug. 2004, coming to the Valley from Houston, where he served as Assistant Vice President of Operations at Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital. Mr. Spees received a Master of Healthcare Administration degree from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law, and a Bachelor of Public Administration from the University of Mississippi. 

Mr. Spees joined Valley Baptist in Aug. 2004, coming to the Valley from Houston, where he served as Assistant Vice President of Operations at Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital.   Mr. Spees received a Master of Healthcare Administration degree from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law, and a Bachelor of Public Administration from the University of Mississippi. 

Jim D. Wesson, FACHE, has been named to replace Mr. Spees as Sr. Vice President and CEO of VBMC-Harlingen. Mr. Wesson has been with Valley Baptist for nine years, most recently serving as Sr. Vice President and CEO of VBMC-Brownsville. He previously served as Vice President at VBMC-Harlingen and as Executive Director for Valley Health Care Network.

Leslie Bingham, who joined Valley Baptist approximately two years ago as Chief Operating Officer of the Brownsville hospital, has been promoted to Sr. Vice President and CEO of Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville. Ms. Bingham previously served as CEO for five years at Dolly Vinsant Memorial Hospital in San Benito. She has 16 years of experience in healthcare administration.

Ms. Bingham and Mr. Wesson will report to Mr. Spees, who in turn will continue to report to James E. Eastham, Chief Operating Officer for Valley Baptist Health System. 

Other changes at Valley Baptist include the appointment of Linda L. McKenna, RN, MPA, as Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Integrated Services. Ms. McKenna will coordinate managed care contracting for Valley Baptist’s Regional Integrated Delivery System, which includes two acute care inpatient hospitals, a skilled nursing facility, a durable medical equipment company, home health, hospice and infusion care, an imaging center, ambulatory surgery centers, and a 350-member physician-hospital organization. Ms. McKenna has served as Vice President for Government Affairs at Valley Baptist for the past two years.

Tomas A. Gonzalez, MD, MBA, has been named as Sr. Vice President of Marketing, Strategy and Six Sigma (the quality improvement program at Valley Baptist). Dr. Gonzalez is a Certified Master Black Belt in Six Sigma, which has improved patient care and led to national recognition for Valley Baptist. Dr. Gonzalez also recently received the Healthcare Administration Leadership Award from the American College of Healthcare Executives, South Texas Chapter. Dr. Gonzalez previously served as Vice President for Six Sigma at Valley Baptist.

“I am excited about these internal promotions and anticipate the great value each of these individuals will bring to Valley Baptist in their new roles,” Mr. Springfield said. “I am pleased that we have so many people within our organization who have distinguished themselves here at Valley Baptist.”