HCA creates Distinguished Professorship in Allied Health Professions

By Anne Dreyfuss
C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research

Virginia Commonwealth University has announced the creation of the HCA Distinguished Executive in Residence Professorship in the Department of Health Administration in the School of Allied Health Professions, with a gift from HCA.

The professorship was created as a tribute to HCA’s many VCU graduates, including Richard Bracken, who recently retired as CEO of the company and will step down from the role of chairman at the end of the year. Bracken graduated from VCU’s Master of Health Administration program in 1977 and has enjoyed a long career of more than 30 years with HCA.

“HCA has a long and productive history with VCU, and many of its M.H.A. graduates have become leaders in our organization,” said Milton Johnson, HCA president and CEO. “The establishment of this professorship shows a continued commitment to VCU, a collaborative relationship for the future and support for a program that we believe will ensure future generations of strong, innovative health care leaders grounded in a culture of putting patients at the center of care management.”

The professorship was established in May 2014 and announced at an HCA board meeting in Dallas in October.

“I am so pleased to see this commitment to continued partnership between my two alumni organizations, VCU and HCA,” Bracken said. “Together, they represent the best in health care leadership, both striving for excellence, both fostering a culture that encourages leaders at all stages in their development to be guided by what is best for the patients, organizations and communities they serve. I look forward to seeing more great results from this effort.”

The HCA Distinguished Executive in Residence Professorship will engage top health care executives with the department and its students so that their academic preparation can be applied to the rapidly changing field of health care administration practice.

“This generous gift symbolizes our past and our future,” said Carolyn A. Watts, Ph.D., chairman of the Department of Health Administration in the School of Allied Health Professions. “HCA is a longtime supporter of our programs and our students. The professorship honors our past connection and signals that we’re going through an evolving future in health care together. It helps us make it real for our students.”

Each year, one or more distinguished active or retired industry executives will be selected to serve as the Executive in Residence.

"We look forward to engaging with health care executives from around the country through this professorship, which will serve as an opportunity to enhance and diversify our already robust faculty,” said Cecil B. Drain, Ph.D., dean of the School of Allied Health Professions. “The HCA Distinguished Executive in Residence Professorship will provide another opportunity for students in the Department of Health Administration to learn directly from top-tier professionals in their field.”