New board member joins ECHD
District 5 once again has its own representative on the Ector County Hospital District board since David Nelson took his oath of office at the beginning of Tuesday’s meeting.
“I’m excited about it,” Nelson said after the meeting.
A Certified Public Accountant with Nurses Unlimited Inc., Nelson was selected for the District 5 position during the board’s November meeting.
He and the other candidate, retired physician Al Karickoff, were interviewed during an executive session closed to the public.
After the previous District 5 representative, Ceretha Cartwright, resigned in August so that she could move to San Diego to be with family the board began accepting applicants for a new representative.
But as Nelson joined the board, Dr. Chittur Ramanathan, the chief of staff, said his goodbyes.
While he’s remaining at MCH to focus on his practice, his term as chief of staff ended.
“It’s been a good experience,” Ramanathan said.
After serving for three years, Ramanathan will be replaced by Dr. Tamrasha Williams, the vice chief of staff, MCH Executive Director of Communications/Marketing Jacqui Gore said.
While the normal term for a chief of staff is two years Ramanathan served three since Dr. Francisco Salcido, who was supposed to assume the position, resigned for health reasons, Gore said.
The vice chief of staff is elected, and then transitions into the chief of staff position once that person’s term is complete.
Ramanathan continued on in the position to give Williams, who was elected as vice chief of staff, an opportunity to learn, Gore said.
To recognize Ramanathan for his time as chief of staff, CEO Bill Webster presented him with a plaque.
“He’s a kind and gentle soul,” Webster said.
In other action the board:
- Recognized the December employees of the month: Catherin Stuart, clinical, J.R. Edmiston, non-clinical and Leisha Sanchez, nursing.
- Viewed CBS7 Mike Barker’s program on MCH’s stroke camp and had stroke survivors present board members with crafts made at the camp.
- Recognized Dr. Chittur Ramanathan.
- Board members will hear the review of minutes from the Nov. 1 meeting.
- Approved committee reports.
- >> Approved the 2012 board/finance committee meeting dates.
- Approved the Texas Tech University Health Science Center at the Permian Basin report.
- Approved the Chief Executive Officer’s report.
