The New Academic Medical Center Moment in Austin

Partnerships, and innovation reshaping healthcare delivery and life sciences growth in Central Texas

• 

  Claudia Lucchinetti

  Claudia F. Lucchinetti, M.D., serves as dean of Dell Medical School and senior vice president for medical affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. In these roles, she oversees Dell Med’s work in education, research and clinical care, including operations at UT Health Austin, Dell Med’s clinical practice, and leads the University’s comprehensive health care strategy. She also holds the Frank and Charmaine Denius Distinguished Dean’s Chair in Medical Leadership. A neurologist with specialization in neuroimmunology and experimental neuropathy, she is an internationally recognized expert in the clinical and neuropathological underpinnings of the broad spectrum of inflammatory demyelinating diseases, including multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica and MOG antibody associated disease. Lucchinetti comes to Austin from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where she was dean of clinical and translational science and director of the Center for Clinical and Translational Science. She also served as chair of the Department of Neurology and chair of the neurology enterprise subspecialty council, where she oversaw strategic and operational responsibilities across Mayo Clinic sites nationwide. She was the Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Professor of Neurosciences at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, where she remains a professor of neurology. Additionally, she served on the Mayo Clinic board of governors and board of trustees. She earned her medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago and, after an internship at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center, completed a neurology residency and a fellowship in neuroimmunology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. As a Mayo Foundation Scholar, she trained in experimental neuropathology with Hans Lassmann, M.D., at the Brain Research Institute in Vienna, Austria. Lucchinetti’s research contributions include a landmark study describing four patterns of tissue damage in early multiple sclerosis; it suggested that MS lesions form differently among patient subgroups. This work markedly refined medicine’s understanding of the disease, indicating the potential for individualized therapy based on pathological subtype. Following paradigm-changing research that found evidence for early inflammatory cortical damage in MS, Lucchinetti was the first to propose that the disease progresses from the outermost layers of the brain before extending into deeper regions. As a result, scientists and physicians better understand the sequence and timing of damage to the nervous system resulting from MS, leading to novel imaging biomarkers of the disease and new treatment strategies. She was also first to propose that based on pathology, neuromyelitis optica, a condition where the immune system damages the spinal cord and the nerves of the eyes, was an antibody-mediated disease targeting the perivascular space and, with a team of Mayo collaborators led by Vanda Lennon, M.D., identified the first biomarker targeting the water channel expressed on astrocytes, a subtype of glial cells. These and subsequent studies have reshaped our understanding of neuromyelitis optica and its relationship to MS and opened a field of research into the roles of astrocytes in the central nervous system. Lucchinetti has been the recipient of significant research grant funding from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences and the U.S. Department of Defense. She is also on the Council of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2016 John Dystel Prize for MS Research. To date, she has authored more than 220 peer-reviewed articles, with an h-index of 88.

  The University of Texas, Austin

  SVP for Medical Affairs

  Keynote

  Claudia Lucchinetti

  SVP for Medical Affairs

  The University of Texas, Austin

Expanding Austin Healthcare

Capacity Growth, Specialty Expansion and the Regional Strategy Behind the Next Wave

• 

  Harbir Singh

  Harbir Singh, MD, MBA is a board-certified emergency physician, entrepreneur, and healthcare executive. He is also the founder of TXM Hospitals and creator of the ThinkMicro™ philosophy. Under the ThinkMicro approach, Singh stresses the importance of focusing on 'micro' details that make a big difference, such as reducing unnecessary waiting, empowering real-time medical decision-making, and delivering personalized attention that treats patients as people, not production units. Prior to TXM, Dr. Singh served on the Board of Directors for the Texas College of Emergency Physicians and on committees for the American College of Emergency Physicians, TCEP, and the Texas Medical Association. He is frequently called to the Texas Legislature to advocate for physicians and patients. Dr. Singh earned his MBA from the University of Tennessee’s physician executive program after medical school at Penn State. He completed his Emergency Medicine residency at UT Southwestern/Parkland — the same emergency room that treated President John F.

  TXM Microhospital

  Founder

  Harbir Singh

  Founder

  TXM Microhospital

• 

  Mark Ambler

  Mark S. Ambler, MD, joined ARC in 2001, and practices at ARC Southwest. He currently serves as Associate Chief of ARC Family Medicine, and is on the ARC Executive Board. Dr. Ambler serves on the ARC Clinical Quality Committee and ARC Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Committee, is a longtime volunteer physician for the Volunteer Healthcare Clinic, and has consistently been named a Texas Super Doctor®, from 2017-2024. Dr. Ambler serves a critical leadership role for adult primary care, responding to the needs of physicians and advanced practice clinicians (APCs), staff, and patients.

  Austin Regional Clinic

  Associate Chief Medical Officer for Primary Care

  Mark Ambler

  Associate Chief Medical Officer for Primary Care

  Austin Regional Clinic

• 

  Susan Hewlitt

  After more than a decade fundraising, planning events and advocacy for the Real Estate Council of Austin, Susan continued her journey to help create a world class city to live, work and play and began her career in Healthcare Philanthropy at The Seton Fund in 2013. First, working with our amazing community and physician leaders raising needed funds for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin. Inspired by the mission of Ascension as a means to advance care and access for all led to her current role where she leads Dell Children’s Foundation and continues to be guided by that same mission to provide resources to serve everyone, regardless of the diagnosis, within the pediatric ecosystem. Her efforts are currently focused on leading Dell Children’s HERE Campaign for programmatic growth and expansion of specialty care for children in Central Texas. The campaign’s mission is to ensure that all children can remain close to home and close to family, while being holistically cared for by the best specialists in the country. Susan makes service to our community a priority with the goal of positively impacting our healthcare resources to improve equity and outcomes. Susan and her family enjoy all of the great things Austin has to offer including ACL festival, Ladybird Lake and tacos. Susan is originally from Kansas City, stands by KC BBQ, attended Iowa State University for her undergraduate degree and received a Masters in Healthcare Transformation from the University of Texas, Dell Medical School in partnership with the McCombs School of Business.

  Dell Children's Foundation

  Executive Director

  Susan Hewlitt

  Executive Director

  Dell Children's Foundation

• 

  Whitney Fuessel

  Whitney is a Partner and Regional Practice Director for Health in the South-Central Region for HKS, while officing in Houston. With over 28 years of experience in health, specifically focusing on the experience of humans in the built environment. Her fresh ideas draw from her team of designers and planners working on academic health projects, creating a collaborativ,e balanced approach. She is a leading voice for the healthcare in architecture. Career highlights include:  Chaired the American Institute of Architects Committee on Architecture for Health in Houston along with serving on the committee as student liaison and sponsorship chair for more than 10 years.  2017 received the AIA Presidential Citation for the work done while working with the AIA.  Founding Board Member of Women in Healthcare, served as sponsorship chair and currently on the National Advisory Council  Dean Advisory Board, Texas A&M School of Architecture  2024 Women of Impact for Go Red for Women  Selected as one of the 2015 Dallas Business Journal’s “Who’s Who in Healthcare”.  Participates in American College of Healthcare Architects (ACHA) portfolio review committee  Serves as juror and speaker on numerous occasions at Texas A&M, Rice University, Stephen F. Austin, Florida State University and numerous health conferences.

  HKS

  Partner and Regional Practice Director for Health

  Whitney Fuessel

  Partner and Regional Practice Director for Health

  HKS

• 

  Inti Gonzalez

  Inti Gonzalez is President of Gonzalez Shah Smith, Inc. He earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Texas at Austin and brings 17 years of experience designing mechanical systems across higher education, healthcare, and government facilities. He leads complex, multi-discipline projects from concept through construction, coordinating closely with clients and design teams to keep projects aligned on scope, schedule, and budget. His approach emphasizes practical, high-performing solutions that support long-term operations, maintainability, and energy efficiency.

  Gonzalez Shah Smith

  President

  Inti Gonzalez

  President

  Gonzalez Shah Smith

• 

  Brian Jarrett

  Brian Jarrett serves as Vice President of Business Development at Gordon Highlander, where he leads executes growth opportunities while strengthening key client partnerships across Texas and the broader South-Central region. With more than 25 years of experience in commercial real estate development and construction management, Brian brings a vast understanding of the full project lifecycle from early land development through final execution. This allows him to connect clients with solutions that truly serve their long-term goals. Prior to joining Gordon Highlander, Brian held the role of Regional Managing Director of Project Management, where he oversaw operations across Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico. In this role, he led multidisciplinary teams responsible for delivering complex build-to-suit, corporate interior, and large-scale development projects. Brian’s expertise spans real estate development, capital improvements, build-to-suit delivery, and tenant improvements, with extensive experience across public sector, healthcare, industrial, corporate office, data/IT, and manufacturing environments. Throughout his career, Brian has built a reputation for aligning people, process, and purpose—coordinating seamlessly with brokers, operators, end users, and project teams to drive successful outcomes. At Gordon Highlander, Brian is committed to building relationships that go beyond transactions. His focus is not only on delivering results, but on helping clients and partners finish well and build a lasting legacy

  Gordon Highlander

  VP, Business Development

  Moderator

  Brian Jarrett

  VP, Business Development

  Gordon Highlander

From Innovation to Commercialization

How Research, Talent and Partnerships Are Expanding Austin’s Life Sciences Footprint

• 

  John Tarlton

  John serves as Tarlton's Chief Executive Officer and is responsible for the overall vision and strategy for the company. As an engineer and entrepreneur, John helps scientists make the transition from academic research to commercialization and beyond. He also supports innovators' growth and success through proven infrastructure and community engagement.

  Tarlton

  CEO

  John Tarlton

  CEO

  Tarlton

• 

  Timothy Sullivan

  Timothy Sullivan is a seasoned technology innovator and entrepreneur with a five-decade track record of launching and growing technology-based companies. He is a driving force in the creation and growth of over a dozen technology ventures, with three successfully acquired by major corporations and one achieving a public offering. As Founder and CEO of Zeteo Biomedical, he is the co-inventor of the company’s novel drug and biologic delivery platforms and holds more than 50 U.S. and international patents in nasal, nose to brain, ophthalmic and sublingual delivery device and fill/finish packaging technologies. In addition to Zeteo, Timothy is Co-Founder and Principal at INFUSE Foresight, a boutique strategy consulting firm assisting clients large and small to evaluate and create actionable strategies for succeeding in complex, rapidly changing, global operating environments. Throughout his career, he has built and led high-performing teams in drug/device combination product development, manufacturing and commercialization. Timothy serves on advisory boards for the University of Texas/Dell Medical School, the Austin Community College Bioscience Incubator, and is a board member of BioAustinCTX and CyberCompass LLC. Timothy holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Business, Physics, and Strategic Foresight from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh and the University of Houston. He recently celebrated 36 years of marriage with his wife, Lisa, and is the proud father of two accomplished children with families of their own.

  Zeteo Biomedical

  Founder & CEO

  Timothy Sullivan

  Founder & CEO

  Zeteo Biomedical

• 

  Victoria Ford

  Victoria Ford is the Acting Director of the THBI Foundation, the sister organization to the Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute which represents the life science industry in Texas. She has over 32 years of Texas public policy experience including policy development, advocacy and administration. She previously served as Chief Policy and Regulatory Officer at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission where she managed over 2,200 employees across five divisions responsible for regulating health care facilities, streamlining business processes and programs, enhancing data and analytics, and more. Ford holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a Master of Public Administration from UT San Antonio.

  THBI Foundation

  Acting Director

  Victoria Ford

  Acting Director

  THBI Foundation

• 

  Chris Cook

  Chris Cook was appointed Chief Operating and Legal Officer of the Company in April 2025. He joined the Company as Senior Vice President and General Counsel in October 2022. He previously served as the Global Head of Litigation and Government Investigations for Alcon, a publicly traded medical device and pharmaceutical company, as well as the Vice President and division General Counsel for Walmart Central America in San Jose, Costa Rica. Chris also spent seventeen years at Jones Day, where he was a litigation partner in the firm's Washington, DC and Chicago offices. Chris served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Chicago and graduated from Harvard Law School.

  Filana Therapeutics

  Chief Operating & Legal Officer

  Chris Cook

  Chief Operating & Legal Officer

  Filana Therapeutics

• 

  Arlis Brodie

  A graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, Arlis has been providing business development and marketing leadership within the building design industry in Texas for more than 25 years. She joined Telios, a building systems engineering firm, in 2011 to strategize, coordinate and lead the development of new opportunities aimed at bringing MEP and Technology solutions to clients. With a broad focus on healthcare, life science and commercial projects, Telios is a leader in developing appropriate solutions for complex systems. Healthcare and life science clients include Cellipont Bioservices, Houston Methodist Research Institute, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas Children’s Hospital, Texas A & M University, and Rice University.

  Telios

  VP

  Moderator

  Arlis Brodie

  VP

  Telios

From Plan to Patient

What It Takes to Deliver Healthcare Amid Costs, Constraints and Complexity

• 

  Sharon Alvis

  Sharon is a thought leader and high-performing executive with experience bringing healthcare products to market. She delivers a comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions of providers, payers, and patients, and has assisted innovative companies that are redefining the status quo by navigating the nuances of the industry. Her career trajectory has been marked by serving in senior management positions with health plans, hospitals, and physician organizations, including holding primary responsibility for multiple start-ups and successfully leading HMOs, PPOs, a Physician Hospital Organization (PHO), and an EAP. Sharon brings expertise in understanding the delivery system and the motivators of these various industry participants and stakeholders. Before joining Sendero Health Plans, Sharon served as Market President for Curative Insurance Company, where she led the development of a new PPO fully insured product catering to employers.

  Sendero Health Plans

  President & CEO

  Sharon Alvis

  President & CEO

  Sendero Health Plans

• 

  Jeffrey Shilt

  Dr. Jeffrey Shilt is an esteemed orthopedic surgeon and serves as President of Austin and Central Texas at Texas Children’s Hospital. He previously served as the Vice Chair-Community Surgery and the Chief Surgical Officer at Texas Children’s Hospital in The Woodlands. He continues to serve as the Medical Director of the Motion Analysis & Human Performance Lab. Dr. Shilt is a Professor of Orthopedics and Scoliosis Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, the Pediatric Sports Medicine Liaison to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board for USA Cycling. Dr. Shilt joined Texas Children’s in 2016 from St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital in Boise, Idaho, where he was a pediatric orthopedic surgeon and Director of the Spasticity Clinic and motion analysis lab. Prior to that, he served as the Residency Program Director and Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and as Director of Pediatric Orthopedics at Wake Forest Baptist Health’s Brenner Children’s Hospital. A recognized leader in both academics and clinical practices, Dr. Shilt has completed basic science research in the treatment of children with spastic cerebral palsy and sports medicine applications of tissue engineering. He was the team physician for the USA triathlon team at two world championships, as well as for a professional cycling team. He also has served as a medical consultant for multiple world champion athletes, Olympians and gold medalists, and professional Ironman and other endurance athletes. Among Dr. Shilt’s honors and awards, he was recognized by the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America with the Angela Kuo Young Investigator Research Award and the Howard Steele Scientific Papers Award. A Missouri native, Dr. Shilt obtained his medical and undergraduate degrees through the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s combined BA-Medical Degree program directly out of high school. He completed a general surgery internship and orthopedic surgery residency at the Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans, a year of basic science research at the Pediatric Research Institute at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis and a pediatric orthopedic fellowship at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. After completing his clinical training, Dr. Shilt completed the personalized leadership development program at Wake Forest University Babcock Graduate School of Management’s Institute for Executive Education. Dr. Shilt’s research interests include sports performance and the treatment of endurance sports injuries and the orthopedic management of cerebral palsy. Dr. Shilt is happily married to his wife, Erin, and the couple have four children.

  Texas Children's

  President

  Jeffrey Shilt

  President

  Texas Children's

• 

  Ashley Dias

  Ashley Dias is a Healthcare Practice Lead in Texas and a member of the firmwide Healthcare Practice Council. An architect, planner, and designer, Ashley is a thought leader on topics such as “Hospitals of Tomorrow”. Her experience includes many of the top academic medical centers in the U.S., more than 10 pediatric health systems, and more than 25 hospitals worldwide. Ashley provides strategic leadership of the Healthcare Practice, which is among the largest in Perkins&Will’s global firm.

  Perkins&Will

  Principal

  Ashley Dias

  Principal

  Perkins&Will

• 

  Luke Christen

  Luke Christen is a Partner at PhiloWilke Partnership, where he provides leadership within the firm’s architectural practice. He is closely involved in guiding project teams and shaping design strategy across the firm’s work. Luke’s professional focus includes large-scale new hospital campuses and complex campus renovation projects, bringing a comprehensive understanding of long-term planning, phased delivery, and the operational demands of healthcare environments. His experience supports clients in navigating growth, transformation, and reinvestment at a campus-wide scale. Through his leadership role, Luke collaborates with multidisciplinary teams and clients to deliver thoughtful, high-performing design solutions that balance vision, functionality, and long-term value. He brings a practical, leadership-driven perspective to industry conversations on healthcare design, project delivery, and the evolving role of architecture in supporting institutions and communities.

  PhiloWilke

  Partner

  Luke Christen

  Partner

  PhiloWilke

• 

  Daniel Payne

  Daniel Payne has over 25 years of experience in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industry. His project portfolio ranges from small-scale renovations to new hospital developments exceeding $850 million, giving him a practical perspective on both day-to-day execution and large program delivery. His career ranges from construction management as a General Contractor to strategic leadership as an Owner’s Representative. While earning his MBA in Finance, he transitioned into client advocacy, focusing on helping organizations make better capital planning and project delivery decisions. Daniel has specialized in healthcare for over 15 years. He enjoys working closely with providers to plan, design, and deliver facilities that improve access to care while managing cost and operational disruption. His experience includes hospitals, outpatient clinics, and medical education facilities across Texas, California, and New Mexico. As a Certified Construction Manager and industry mentor, Daniel is a strong advocate for disciplined front-end planning, emphasizing that well-planned projects reduce upfront (and ongoing) capital costs, reduce operational costs, improve operations, and ultimately lead to better patient outcomes.

  Broaddus & Associates

  Project Manager

  Daniel Payne

  Project Manager

  Broaddus & Associates

• 

  Adam Laufer

  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.

  PARADIGM Structural Engineers

  Associate

  Moderator

  Adam Laufer

  Associate

  PARADIGM Structural Engineers