For just the second time in HFMA history, all three Chapters in the state of Texas have presidents who are women. (The first time was 2019-2020.) Not surprisingly, they plan to use the platform to advocate for and support female leaders. But that’s not all. They’ve also committed to changing the Texas culture from chapter-specific to state-specific — and that includes creating an environment of inclusion and belonging across the entire state.
Meet the leaders
Anna Stevens, FHFMA, CPA, healthcare industry partner-in-charge at Weaver in Houston, is president of the Gulf Coast Chapter. Her theme for the year is “One Team, One Goal, Always Forward,” which encapsulates her commitment to unity, shared objectives and continuous progress.
Lone Star Chapter President Jamie Hill-Walters, chief customer officer at Janus Health in Dallas, is rallying her Chapter behind an “Energize & Elevate” theme. The goal is to motivate members and increase the sense of belonging and inclusion for all generations.
Rachel Pugliano is a healthcare director at Eide Bailly LLP in San Antonio and president of the South Texas Chapter. Her “Connection & Service” theme refers not only to connecting with HFMA peers and supporting the next generation of healthcare finance professionals but also to giving back to the broader community.
The collaboration plan
The three presidents meet monthly to share ideas and identify ways to collaborate on a state level — such as the HFMA Texas CRCR (Certified Revenue Cycle Representative) Bootcamp, which helps members earn their CRCR certification.
Another collaborative initiative is a statewide day of service planned for Dec. 14 when all three chapters will host volunteer projects. Lone Star will support Family Gateway, which serves families with children experiencing homelessness. The South Texas project benefits ChildSafe, a trauma-focused childcare center for victims of abuse and neglect. And Gulf Coast will work with SIRE Therapeutic Horsemanship, which serves children and adults with special needs.
A culture of inclusion and belonging
The Chapters also are taking an intentional approach to attracting members who represent a variety of ages, genders, ethnicities and career stages. This includes a multiplatform communication plan that employs innovative ways to attract younger generations, such as a social video campaign with testimonials from early careerists and other chapter voices. They’re pairing up seasoned leaders and younger members to co-chair committees and offering more social activities centered around volunteerism and health and fitness. The bottom line is to provide all members with a voice and the opportunity to find someone they can relate to and build lifelong professional and personal relationships.
