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SENATE RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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recognize Cris Rivera, who retired as chief executive officer of |
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Rio Grande Regional Hospital on March 31, 2023, after a |
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distinguished career of more than 36 years in health care |
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management with Hospital Corporation of America Healthcare; and |
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WHEREAS, Cris Rivera is a visionary leader in health care |
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administration whose diligence and dedication have benefited |
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countless staff members and patients at the hospitals she has |
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served; a native of Edinburg, Cris was named chief executive |
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officer of Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen in November of |
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2012, and she became the first Hispanic woman to serve in the |
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position; and |
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WHEREAS, While earning her bachelor's degree from |
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Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, Cris began her career in |
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health care by working as a phlebotomist; she went on to earn her |
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master's degree in administration and health care management |
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from Our Lady of the Lake University, and she first joined the |
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staff of Rio Grande Regional Hospital in 1982 and was employed as |
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a lab supervisor; and |
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WHEREAS, Cris went on to serve in top leadership roles at a |
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number of other HCA Healthcare-affiliated hospitals in Texas, |
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Kansas, and Louisiana before returning to Rio Grande Regional |
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Hospital in 2012 to begin her tenure as chief executive officer; |
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under her leadership, the institutions she served were |
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recognized among the nation's top-performing hospitals, and Cris |
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was instrumental in successfully implementing plans for facility |
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expansion and renovation projects and in establishing |
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specialized health care clinics; and |
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WHEREAS, While serving at Rio Grande Regional Hospital, |
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Cris was devoted her mission to recruit talented and dedicated |
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physicians to South Texas and to make quality health care more |
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accessible to the residents of the Rio Grande Valley; among her |
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achievements as chief executive officer, she recently signed an |
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agreement partnering Rio Grande Regional Hospital and HCA |
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Healthcare with The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; |
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through this partnership, resident physicians from the |
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university's medical school will be placed in training positions |
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at Rio Grande Regional Hospital and at Valley Regional Medical |
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Center in Brownsville; and |
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WHEREAS, Widely respected and admired for her effective |
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leadership and prudent administration, Cris worked to create a |
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rewarding environment for her staff and to empower them to pursue |
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excellence in health care; her passion for serving her community |
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and her uncompromising commitment to the highest standards of |
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health care management have greatly benefited the residents of |
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the Rio Grande Valley, she is indeed deserving of special |
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recognition on her outstanding accomplishments; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
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Legislature, hereby commend Cris Rivera on her years of exemplary |
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leadership in health care management and extend to her |
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congratulations on her retirement and best wishes for the future; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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her as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. |