Michael Cruz has been appointed as the new CEO of BSA Health System. He succeeds former CEO Bob Williams, who retired in March.
Cruz has long had positive memories of the way BSA operates, ever since she was young and her father fell ill.
“I never thought I’d have a role like that when I was younger. When I was 13, my dad was on BSA, because he was diagnosed with leukemia and he was really sick. I also remember a long time ago how the staff were. so kind and compassionate, not only to my father, but also to my family, and that left an indelible impression on me. This was one of the reasons why much later in my career, I decided that maybe that it was an opportunity for me, because it wouldn’t be great to be with people who care so much and are compassionate and conscientious in the work they do, “Cruz said.
Williams had 42 years of service in the healthcare system, including 13 in the CEO position. Cruz joined the BSA team in 2003 as vice president of operations, later becoming chief operating officer.
“We will make sure we create an environment that is supportive, inclusive and that people have a sense of belonging to the place they receive care from or work for,” said Cruz.
Cruz is a native of Amarillo. After graduating from Alamo Catholic High School, he spread his wings, earning his master’s in business administration from Stanford University and a bachelor’s degree in arts from Yale University, specializing in ethics, politics and economics, and international studies with a concentration in Latin America.
After a while, the Panhandle spirit brought Cruz back to Amarillo. He and his wife Shana have three children, Brooklyn, Britlee and Luke.
Cruz said he doesn’t have big plans to turn things around at BSA, but rather wants to build on the solid foundations that have already been established.
“We are so lucky to have such an incredible staff of suppliers. Whether they are at the bedside or supporting those at the bedside, they do an incredible job. to do, “Cruz said.
The pandemic has brought new challenges to the health system, putting workers to the test. Cruz recalls that the sheer volume of individuals who were seriously ill was something he had never seen.
“The staff have done phenomenal work, learning how to best treat and respond to patients in this environment where we were all learning so much about COVID. We have learned how to treat it and how to respond to it, and I couldn’t be more proud. of that goes to the resilience of our staff and leaders and the spirit of the Texas Panhandle. The people here understand how to make things work and stay positive, “Cruz said.
During the pandemic, Cruz saw how supportive the community is. Primary school children sent drawings to the hospital to keep morale high. Local businesses and churches also helped and supported staff during the difficult time.
“The great thing is that it showed that the human spirit is still alive and strong, and that the spirit of the Texas Panhandle and the way we do things at BSA are still going strong, and it’s an amazing thing to see,” he said. said Cruz.
Cruz also serves on the boards of the Amarillo Area Foundation and the St. Andrews Episcopal School. These groups help multiple nonprofits in the Texas Panhandle. The goal is to provide health care, education and development in the Texas Panhandle manner.
He also heads the BSA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, where Cruz stresses how important it is to feel supported and included. The large healthcare system environment can be overbearing, but Cruz stresses that an individual should be able to bring all of themselves to BSA, regardless of ethnicity, race, gender identity, or abilities.
“When a nurse comes to work, she’s not just an oncology nurse. She has a family to come home to. Everyone should be treated with dignity and respect. This applies to both our nurses and our patients. We will do that. so that we create a supportive and inclusive environment, so that people feel a sense of belonging to the place they receive care from or where they work, “said Cruz.
“We are committed to identifying a leader who shares Bob (Williams) commitment to excellence and dedication to our mission to provide quality healthcare in Christian love, service and dignity,” said Michael Lamanteer. , Chief Medical Officer of BSA, in a press release. “Michael exemplifies that spirit.”
Cruz said he was honored and honored to be able to continue to lead BSA’s strong faith-based legacy in a successful direction, all while maintaining the health care BSA provides on a personal and local level.