SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 501
         WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
  recognize Cris Rivera, who retired as chief executive officer of
  Rio Grande Regional Hospital on March 31, 2023, after a
  distinguished career of more than 36 years in health care
  management with Hospital Corporation of America Healthcare; and
 
         WHEREAS, Cris Rivera is a visionary leader in health care
  administration whose diligence and dedication have benefited
  countless staff members and patients at the hospitals she has
  served; a native of Edinburg, Cris was named chief executive
  officer of Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen in November of
  2012, and she became the first Hispanic woman to serve in the
  position; and
 
         WHEREAS, While earning her bachelor's degree from
  Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, Cris began her career in
  health care by working as a phlebotomist; she went on to earn her
  master's degree in administration and health care management
  from Our Lady of the Lake University, and she first joined the
  staff of Rio Grande Regional Hospital in 1982 and was employed as
  a lab supervisor; and
 
         WHEREAS, Cris went on to serve in top leadership roles at a
  number of other HCA Healthcare-affiliated hospitals in Texas,
  Kansas, and Louisiana before returning to Rio Grande Regional
  Hospital in 2012 to begin her tenure as chief executive officer;
  under her leadership, the institutions she served were
  recognized among the nation's top-performing hospitals, and Cris
  was instrumental in successfully implementing plans for facility
  expansion and renovation projects and in establishing
  specialized health care clinics; and
 
         WHEREAS, While serving at Rio Grande Regional Hospital,
  Cris was devoted to her mission to recruit talented and dedicated
  physicians to South Texas and to make quality health care more
  accessible to the residents of the Rio Grande Valley; among her
  achievements as chief executive officer, she recently signed an
  agreement partnering Rio Grande Regional Hospital and HCA
  Healthcare with The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley;
  through this partnership, resident physicians from the
  university's medical school will be placed in training positions
  at Rio Grande Regional Hospital and at Valley Regional Medical
  Center in Brownsville; and
 
         WHEREAS, Widely respected and admired for her effective
  leadership and prudent administration, Cris worked to create a
  rewarding environment for her staff and to empower them to pursue
  excellence in health care; her passion for serving her community
  and her uncompromising commitment to the highest standards of
  health care management have greatly benefited the residents of
  the Rio Grande Valley, she is indeed deserving of special
  recognition on her outstanding accomplishments; now, therefore,
  be it
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
  Legislature, hereby commend Cris Rivera on her years of exemplary
  leadership in health care management and extend to her
  congratulations on her retirement and best wishes for the future;
  and, be it further
 
         RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
  her as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.
 
  Hinojosa
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        President of the Senate
     
        I hereby certify that the
    above Resolution was adopted by
    the Senate on May 2, 2023.
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        Secretary of the Senate
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate