DFW Healthcare Summit

Jen Rodosta is a senior healthcare executive with extensive experience in strategic implementation, capital development, and organizational transformation. She currently serves as Executive Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Children’s Health and a leader in developing a $5 billion campus in collaboration with UT Southwestern Medical Center, one of the largest pediatric infrastructure investments in the country. With 20+ years in healthcare experience across acute, academic, and ambulatory care settings, Jen has led complex initiatives that integrate operational strategy, facility development and patient experience, making her a trusted voice in healthcare transformation.

Charles Shelburne is the Vice President of Real Estate & Campus Planning for Baylor Scott & White Health, the largest nonprofit healthcare system in Texas. The system includes 51 hospitals, more than 800 patient care sites, over 7,300 active physicians, nearly 50,000 employees, and the Scott & White Health Plan. With more than 20 years of experience in healthcare planning and strategic real estate development, Charles specializes in delivering comprehensive real estate solutions for complex, large‑scale healthcare environments. His expertise spans strategic planning, capital budgeting, client relationship development, and project management for a multi‑million‑square‑foot healthcare system. In his role at Baylor Scott & White, Charles leads a multidisciplinary team focused on healthcare development, planning and design, occupancy management, and enterprise-level real estate documentation. He is recognized for aligning facility strategies with organizational goals to support long‑term growth, operational efficiency, and a high‑quality care environment. Charles holds a Master of Architecture from Texas Tech University. He also serves as the Vice President of the North Texas Chapter of the Association of Medical Facility Professionals (AMFP) and is an active board member of the Deep Ellum Foundation (DEF).

Juan Fresquez serves Methodist Health System as President of Methodist Mansfield Medical Center. A healthcare leader with over 35 years of acute-care hospital management experience, Juan has demonstrated abilities in the areas of operations, leadership, physician relations, cost management, quality/process improvement, compliance, clinical quality management and customer service. During his time with the Methodist Health System, Methodist Mansfield Medical Center achieved the prestigious 5 Star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in 2020. In August of 2020, he guided the opening of Methodist Health System’s first de novo Ambulatory Surgery Center on the campus of Methodist Mansfield. Additionally, Juan served as president of Methodist Midlothian upon its opening in November of 2020. Prior to joining the Methodist Heath System Juan served in numerous executive roles with Tenet Healthcare in the Texas and Arizona markets where he was instrumental in improving patient satisfaction, quality, and financial performance. Juan also serves as Chair - Board of Trustees for the DFW Hospital Council which is a 501(c)(6) that unites North Texas hospitals and industry leaders to advance quality healthcare through advocacy, education and networking. Additionally, Juan was elected to the Mansfield City Council in May of 2024, serving Place 4. He has also served the City of Mansfield as a member of the Mansfield Economic Development Corporation. Juan has been married to his wife Carla for 36 years and has 3 grown children. He remains active in the community serving on numerous development and community boards.

Justin Pond is Chief Operating Officer at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Waxahachie, where he leads hospital operations, growth initiatives, and performance improvement with a clinician’s mindset. He began his career as an RN in the emergency department before moving in administration, pairing frontline insight with business acumen. Justin serves on the Texas Hospital Association Management Corporation Board and is a past chair of the THA Leadership Development Council. Locally, he is active in the community as a board member of the United Way of West Ellis County. He also shares his expertise as an adjunct lecturer in healthcare finance for the Baylor University Executive MBA program. Known for building teams and systems that advance access, quality, and engagement, Justin focuses on practical solutions that improve the patient experience and strengthen operational performance. He has led multiple facility development and modernization efforts and is currently overseeing a $240 million campus expansion project, further advancing the region’s capacity for growth and long-term community impact. He holds a BSN from the University of North Carolina Greensboro and an MBA from Baylor University. Outside the hospital, he focuses on time with his family who loves to travel and hike.

Alan Kramer grew up in Texas and completed his bachelors degree at Baylor University and masters degree in Health Management at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. Alan serves as Associate Vice President of Health System Emerging Strategies & Market Development at UT Southwestern Medical Center. In this role, Alan is responsible for UT Southwestern’s digital health, virtual care, patient access strategy, advanced analytics, practice acquisition & development, market development, and physician outreach. Previously, Alan worked at Baylor Scott & White Health in Dallas, Texas and Emory Healthcare in Atlanta, Georgia. Alan currently lives in Dallas with his wife, Carmen, twin boys and daughter. In his free time, Alan enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf.

Clayton Smith’s background includes over 15 years of experience in healthcare facilities management as well as 10 years in construction management and design. He currently is the Sr. Vice President, Facilities for Children’s Health System of Texas in Dallas, Texas where he supports Engineering, Planning Design & Construction, and Environmental Services for 5+ million SF of Hospital, Clinical, and Business occupancies. He earned his bachelor’s degree in construction management from Missouri State University and his MBA from Webster University. He is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and a Certified Healthcare Facility Manager. He has contributed to many industry publications including Management in Healthcare, Healthcare Facility Magazine, the Healthcare Facilities Network, and ANSI Standards.

Ajith Pai, PharmD, MBA, FACHE, leads Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth with a steady focus on excellence, collaboration, and community impact. Since assuming the role of president in July 2022, he has guided the hospital through a period of remarkable achievement and growth. Under his leadership, Texas Health Southwest earned recognition as the #9 hospital in Dallas–Fort Worth in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings, was named the #1 hospital in Fort Worth and #19 in Texas on Newsweek’s 2025 America’s Best-in-State Hospitals list and was honored as a Premier Top 100 Hospital. The hospital also recently embarked on a transformative $223 million expansion, including a new five‐story patient tower slated to open in 2028. Before joining Texas Health Southwest, Ajith served as President of Texas Health Cleburne, where he built strong partnerships with physicians, strengthened operational performance, and fostered a culture centered on safety, quality, and engagement. Across his leadership roles, he has remained committed to advancing patient care while nurturing meaningful relationships with employees, medical staff, governance leaders, and the broader community. Ajith’s professional foundation blends clinical expertise with business acumen. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy and later completed his Master of Business Administration at The University of Texas at Dallas. A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, he served as the 2025 Chapter President of ACHE of North Texas. His belief in the power of advocacy has shaped his service beyond the hospital walls—most recently as the 2025 Chair of the Texas Hospital Association Political Action Committee (HOSPAC), as a member of the Texas Hospital Association Board of Trustees, and as a representative on the American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board 7. Away from his professional responsibilities, Ajith finds his greatest joy in time spent with his family—his wife, Myriam, and their three children, Elyse, Nikhil, and Yvette.

Dr. Steve Miff is the President and CEO of Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation (PCCI), a leading, non-profit, artificial intelligence and cognitive computing organization affiliated with Parkland Health, one of the country’s largest and most progressive safety-net hospitals. Spurred by his passion to use next-generation analytics and technology to help serve the most vulnerable and underserved residents, Steve and his team focus on leveraging technology, data science, and clinical expertise to obtain unique social-determinants-of-health data and incorporate those holistic, personal insights into point-of-care interventions. Steve was the recipient of The Community Council of Dallas’ 2017 Social Innovator of the Year award, the 2020 Dallas Business Journal Most Inspiring Leader award and the winner of the 2021 DCEO and Dallas Innovates healthcare award. Steve was also named to the 2020 and 2021 Dallas 500 Most Influential Leaders Award. Under his leadership, PCCI was named one of the 2019 Dallas Best Tech Startups by the Tech Tribune and the award recipient for the 2022 Corporate Citizenship Award. He was also named the winner of the Tech Titans Emerging Company CEO Award in 2023. Also, Dallas Innovates and Dallas Regional Chamber named Steve as a Top AI Innovator in its inaugural AI75 list. Steve earned his PhD and MS degrees in biomedical engineering and a BA in economics from Northwestern University. He has been an adjunct professor of biomedical engineering for more than five years and has authored more than 100 thought leadership, white papers, and peer-reviewed publications. He is also the co-author of the 2020 Building Connected Communities of Care book released by HIMSS publishing and Amazon. In 2021, Steve and PCCI’s work have been featured in Time Magazine, NEJM, IHI, HealthLeaders, NPR, CBS, NBC, and many other leading news and scientific venues. Before joining the nonprofit world, Steve served as the General Manager of Sg2, a national advanced analytics and consulting business serving over 1,200 leading healthcare systems, and as the Senior Vice President of clinical strategy, population health, and performance management at VHA (Vizient Inc.). He has also performed in various roles at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and St. Agnes Hospital System. Steve has served on the Senior Board of Examiners for the Baldrige National Quality Program, on the Executive Quest for Quality Prize Board Committee for the American Hospital Association, and as an editor and reviewer for the NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery. He currently participates on multiple other associations and boards, including Health Evolution, Healthcare Executive Forum CEO, and the Northwestern University Biomedical Engineering Advisory Board. Steve is a first generation American and he lives in Dallas with his wife of 26 years and their precocious ten-year old daughter. He is a data and technology geek, an avid sports enthusiast, world traveler, and a self-taught sous-chef and mixologist. Dr. Steve Miff is the President and CEO of Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation (PCCI), a leading, non-profit, artificial intelligence and cognitive computing organization affiliated with Parkland Health, one of the country’s largest and most progressive safety-net hospitals. Spurred by his passion to use next-generation analytics and technology to help serve the most vulnerable and underserved residents, Steve and his team focus on leveraging technology, data science, and clinical expertise to obtain unique social-determinants-of-health data and incorporate those holistic, personal insights into point-of-care interventions. Steve was the recipient of The Community Council of Dallas’ 2017 Social Innovator of the Year award, the 2020 Dallas Business Journal Most Inspiring Leader award and the winner of the 2021 DCEO and Dallas Innovates healthcare award. Steve was also named to the 2020 and 2021 Dallas 500 Most Influential Leaders Award. Under his leadership, PCCI was named one of the 2019 Dallas Best Tech Startups by the Tech Tribune and the award recipient for the 2022 Corporate Citizenship Award. He was also named the winner of the Tech Titans Emerging Company CEO Award in 2023. Also, Dallas Innovates and Dallas Regional Chamber named Steve as a Top AI Innovator in its inaugural AI75 list. Steve earned his PhD and MS degrees in biomedical engineering and a BA in economics from Northwestern University. He has been an adjunct professor of biomedical engineering for more than five years and has authored more than 100 thought leadership, white papers, and peer-reviewed publications. He is also the co-author of the 2020 Building Connected Communities of Care book released by HIMSS publishing and Amazon. In 2021, Steve and PCCI’s work have been featured in Time Magazine, NEJM, IHI, HealthLeaders, NPR, CBS, NBC, and many other leading news and scientific venues. Before joining the nonprofit world, Steve served as the General Manager of Sg2, a national advanced analytics and consulting business serving over 1,200 leading healthcare systems, and as the Senior Vice President of clinical strategy, population health, and performance management at VHA (Vizient Inc.). He has also performed in various roles at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and St. Agnes Hospital System. Steve has served on the Senior Board of Examiners for the Baldrige National Quality Program, on the Executive Quest for Quality Prize Board Committee for the American Hospital Association, and as an editor and reviewer for the NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery. He currently participates on multiple other associations and boards, including Health Evolution, Healthcare Executive Forum CEO, and the Northwestern University Biomedical Engineering Advisory Board. Steve is a first generation American and he lives in Dallas with his wife of 26 years and their precocious ten-year old daughter. He is a data and technology geek, an avid sports enthusiast, world traveler, and a self-taught sous-chef and mixologist.

Michaela has more than 10 years of experience in healthcare real estate, specializing in portfolio optimization and strategic healthcare development. She has partnered with health systems, physician groups, and investors nationwide to manage large lease portfolios, lead site selection efforts, and structure transactions that align with both business and clinical goals. Known for bridging operator needs with strategic outcomes, Michaela delivers solutions that enhance efficiency and expand patient access. She earned her degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. At Prevarian, Michaela will focus on advancing healthcare development opportunities through strategic partnerships and innovative real estate solutions.

Current Responsibilities Ethan Garner is a Managing Director & Region Lead specializing in Healthcare & Life Sciences Brokerage at JLL. Mr. Garner joined JLL in June 2020 and will serve as a Regional Healthcare & Life Sciences Lead based out of our Dallas offices. Mr. Garner is focused on partnering with local and national companies to drive Dallas’ growth as the nation’s leading emerging life sciences cluster. He is tasked with expanding JLL’s footprint in the areas of healthcare and life science leasing and transaction management as well as serving as an integrated partner on multi-service line solutions, often including property and facilities management, capital markets and construction management. Experience Prior to joining JLL, Mr. Garner spent 11 years with Fortune 500 REIT Welltower (WELL), where he oversaw the leasing of more than 85 properties totaling in excess of five million rentable square feet spanning from Ohio south to Texas and as far west as Southern California. He was responsible for over 1,000 lease transactions with lease values totaling in excess of $500 million and maintained an occupancy in excess of 93% portfolio wide. Mr. Garner was also responsible for sourcing and underwriting new acquisitions and developments in excess of $400 million. Education and Affiliations Mr. Garner is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, holding a B.S. in Human and Organizational Development as well as a Certified Commercial Investments Member (CCIM) designation. He serves as iC3 Chair on the Bio NTX facilities Advisory Committee and is an active volunteer for the Armstrong Dad's Club, North Texas Food Bank, Cornerstone, and Incarnation Academy. Mr. Garner resides in Dallas with his wife and their four children aged 6 to 10.

Dave Ericksen has spent the past 30+ years in banking with the past 15+ years dedicated specifically to the healthcare industry. Currently Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Umpqua Bank Healthcare Banking’s Commercial Healthcare Team, which specializes in helping hospitals and independent physician groups grow, find revenue cycle efficiency, and advises on strategic objectives.

As a real estate partner at Hunton Andrews Kurth, Katy represents owners, developers and investors in real estate transactions covering all asset types, with a focus on life sciences and healthcare real estate. Her practice encompasses a broad range of transaction-types, including financing, leasing, acquisition, disposition, construction and development of improved and unimproved single asset and portfolio properties. She leverages her broad real estate practice with a creative, energetic and solution-oriented mindset to be a true partner with her clients; understanding the delicate balance between developing and negotiating terms and structures to protect them, and getting the deal done.

Paul Sabal is a registered architect and interior designer with more than 43 years of experience in the architecture and engineering industry. With extensive knowledge in healthcare design and construction, Paul has been involved in all aspects of the process, from initial land and facility planning to design and construction administration. He has worked in large firms, multi-office settings, and national practices, making him well-versed in healthcare design trends and best practices. Paul's expertise extends to regulations, legislation, and reimbursements in the industry. As the Principal/Healthcare Practice Leader at HFA, he brings his wealth of experience to lead a team in challenging industry norms and developing innovative solutions for clients. With a focus on leveraging new AEC technologies, Paul aims to revolutionize how healthcare projects are planned, designed, constructed, operated, and maintained.

Rachel has dedicated her career to the design of children’s healthcare projects. As the pediatric practice leader for HKS, she is responsible for assisting in the overall design direction and planning issues of inpatient and outpatient pediatric projects across the firm. Rachel works closely with patients, families, and caregivers to ensure the owner and ultimately the end user’s vision for the project is fulfilled. She feels that process improvement should be a key driver on any project, from reducing waste in hospital operations, to enhancing collaboration between design and construction team members.

Jaime brings 25 years of industry experience to her role as Senior Vice President of Healthcare Development, where she oversees development, market growth and strategy for Ryan healthcare in the Western Division. She collaborates with health systems, physician groups, owners and operators to develop new and repurposed healthcare facilities. She facilitates growth strategies through real estate acquisitions, development, creative capital solutions and building services. A proven leader with comprehensive and diversified industry perspective, Jaime provides creative approaches to identifying reasonable and attainable solutions. Using detailed analyses, research, critical thinking and problem solving, she identifies the most efficient and effective means to achieve the desired result for all parties involved. Jaime greatly values relationship building, which she fosters through trust, integrity, respect and passion for her field. Combining her two interests of healthcare and real estate, she’s inspired to lead her division with financial aptitude, reliability, high-volume task management and prioritization, and deal creativity.

Stacey Brimmer has spent the last 20 years working to bring a thoughtful approach to each of her projects. When designing spaces for healthcare, Stacey takes a human-centric, evidence-based approach, asking questions and investigating concepts that help her confirm that patient and staff needs are met while achieving design objectives. As a design director, she has spearheaded the creation of sustainable and viable strategies for over 80 healthcare projects with numerous healthcare typologies, from small clinics to expansive multi-building medical center master plans. Stacey’s philosophy is we are all connected to the environment around us, and knowingly or not, design provides the opportunity to foster a positive connection to where we live, work, and recover. Her passion for interior design began in grade school and she has spent nearly two decades gaining experience in a variety of sectors. Stacey’s experience in other market sectors has also allowed her to find unique product solutions for healthcare applications and communicate with a diverse group of individuals. She is most proud of the Methodist Midlothian project, which is both functional and aesthetic without feeling like a hospital — which she deems as high praise.

As the Senior Vice President of National Healthcare for The Christman Company, Brian is client and relationship-focused and dedicated to leading and expanding the vital healthcare market segment which accounts for approximately 30 percent of Christman’s revenue. Throughout his impressive 28-year tenure at Christman, he has overseen numerous landmark healthcare initiatives, showcasing his exceptional leadership skills. Notably, Brian has successfully overseen the completion of hundreds of millions of dollars in new construction and expansion projects nationally. His extensive knowledge of the unique requirements of healthcare construction allows him to provide innovative solutions early in each of his projects. Additionally, as a LEED Accredited Professional, Brian prioritizes the integration of sustainable design and construction principles into his projects, striving to optimize their value on a national scale.

Drew Garst is a Principal with Boulder Associates, serves on the Board of Directors, facilitates design efforts across the firm, and resides in the Dallas office of Boulder Associates. Driven to solve complex challenges in interesting, creative ways, Drew is the firm's ASC Design Leader, applying his forward-thinking expertise to planning functional, effective, and resilient outpatient surgical environments. He works beyond the physical requirements of a surgery center to understand the regulatory and day-to-day operational needs of his clients. Drew joined BA in 2002 and graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Environmental Design and Master of Architecture with a Certificate in Health Systems and Design.

Roman serves as the General Manager, overseeing operations at McGough’s Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas office. Joining McGough in 2018, he brings over 25 years of experience in the construction industry. With a career predominantly focused on Healthcare, Roman’s previous roles included Project Management, Budget Development, Scheduling, Team Management, Transition Planning, and Owner Representation. Throughout his career, Roman has played pivotal roles for prominent clients, including Parkland, Children's, Cooks, UTSW, University of Nebraska, Texas Health & Human Services, and various others across the Central and Southeastern US. His diverse experience equips him with a comprehensive knowledge base, crucial for proactively identifying and overcoming challenges that face Healthcare Institutions. Roman's passion lies in finding innovative solutions to the intricate challenges of the healthcare construction environment. He strongly believes in constructing "smart" to meet present needs while preserving opportunities for the future. Roman earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Construction Management from the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Julie rarely does anything without a goal in sight and a plan to achieve it. Case in point: when she first suspected in high school that architecture might be her future profession, she hand wrote letters to the leaders of the top-ranked local firms – an endeavor that solidified her path. Whether working on a project, tackling global design initiatives like sustainability and resilience, or challenging herself to a new running goal, Julie believes in working smart and consistently getting out of her comfort zone. In each of these, but especially in healthcare environments with the potential to create life-changing outcomes, she’s driven by how research and metrics can be applied to produce continual improvement.

Meagan Gibbs is a Healthcare Engineering Director and Healthcare Area Market Sector Leader at HDR. She leads complex hospital, academic medical, and lab projects across the Central U.S., focusing on infrastructure resilience, constructability, and long-term operational performance. With deep expertise in MEP systems for 24/7 environments, Meagan works closely with owners to navigate regulatory requirements, phasing in live facilities, and capital planning decisions that balance first cost with lifecycle value. She is known for driving disciplined delivery, aligning technical rigor with schedule and budget certainty, and pushing teams beyond code-minimum solutions to deliver systems that support the research and care mission of the spaces.

Adam is an Associate with PARADIGM Structural Engineers and has been with PARADIGM for over 9 years. He has managed designs in the mission critical, life science, advanced manufacturing, industrial, healthcare, and commercial market sectors throughout the United States. Over his career Adam has contributed to complex retrofit projects, new building design, and tenant fit out projects. His areas of expertise include performance-based design of structures to be occupiable following earthquakes and other natural disasters. PARADIGM Structural Engineers has offices in San Francisco, Chicago, and in early 2024 in Dallas. PARADIGM specializes in the structural design of new buildings and rehabilitation of existing buildings throughout the United States and the world. Over the past 24 years, PARADIGM has become recognized in the structural engineering and construction community as the firm to look to for innovative, sustainable, and reliable design solutions to structural engineering challenges. Our team focuses on providing intelligent structural solutions within the Mission Critical, Science & Technology, Healthcare, Aviation and Commercial markets.