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HARLINGEN, Texas - William D. “Bill” Adams, FACHE, has been named Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer for Valley Baptist Health Center in Harlingen, Texas.
James Eastham, FACHE, President & Chief Executive Officer of Valley Baptist Health System, which oversees both of Valley Baptist’s hospitals in Harlingen and Brownsville, said he was proud to announce the appointment of Mr. Adams as the new CEO for the hospital in Harlingen.
“Strong leadership is important for our health system,” Mr. Eastham said. “We have searched for a Chief Executive Officer who complements our strengths and addresses opportunities while working closely with physicians, employees, board members and our community. As Valley Baptist continues to strengthen health services to area residents and improve the health of the communities we serve, we are honored to welcome Bill and Tita Adams back to the Valley and to Valley Baptist.”
Mr. and Mrs. Adams are returning to the Harlingen area from Charleston, West Virginia where Mr. Adams served as Vice President and Administrator for Charleston Area Medical Center’s Memorial Hospital for the past 5 ½ years. Previously, Mr. Adams worked at Valley Baptist in Harlingen for 21 years, including as Sr. Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and as Vice President for Clinical Services.
“During his tenure at Valley Baptist, Bill made many invaluable contributions, including solidifying Valley Baptist’s relationship with the Regional Academic Health Center,” Mr. Eastham noted.
The RAHC, operated by the University of Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio, serves third and fourth-year medical students as well as internal medicine residents, with Valley Baptist serving as the teaching hospital. Plans call for the RAHC to eventually expand into a full-fledged medical school for the Valley. The RAHC is located on 18 acres of land donated by Valley Baptist on Treasure Hills Boulevard.
Mr. Adams said it took a team effort by physicians, Valley Baptist administration and board members, and community leaders to bring the RAHC to Harlingen back in 2002.
“I look forward to being part of the team to expand the RAHC into a full four-year medical school over several years - and also to enhance Valley Baptist’s relationship with the Veteran’s Administration, so that the men and women who served our country and who live in the Valley can receive the medical care they need without traveling to San Antonio,” Mr. Adams added.
Mr. Adams’ commitment to medical education was also underscored when he worked with Dr. Bruce Leibert to develop a Family Practice Residency Program at Valley Baptist in 1996. Dr. Leibert continues to serve as director of the program, which trains young physicians in a Christ-centered clinical practice, helping to alleviate a shortage of primary care physicians in the Valley.
Also while previously at Valley Baptist from 1983 to 2004, Mr. Adams worked on teams that helped bring several new clinical programs to the Harlingen area, including a wound care center, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), stereotactic breast biopsy, pulmonary rehabilitation, mobile lithotripsy, and home infusion therapy, among others.
Mr. Adams is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration from Auburn University and a Master of Science in Hospital and Health Administration from the University of Alabama in Birmingham.
Mr. Adams previously served as a board member for Su Clinica Familiar, from 1986 to 2004, and as a two-time board chairman. He also served as board chair of the Valley-wide Trauma Regional Advisory Council (TRAC), from 2000 to 2004.
Mr. Adams’ wife, Tita Ferris Adams, grew up in Harlingen and is the daughter of Dr. John and Sara Ferris. Bill and Tita Adams have three children and one grandchild. Their son Billy lives in Corpus Christi, their son John Henry is attending graduate school at Trinity University in San Antonio, and their daughter Amy is an incoming freshman at Texas A&M University.
While in West Virginia, Mr. Adams enjoyed snow skiing. But now that he is back in the Valley, he is looking forward to getting back to several other hobbies -- including off-shore fishing.
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