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Office
of News and Information
December 9, 2002 |
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AUSTIN - Dr. Michael D. McKinney, former chief of staff to Gov. Rick Perry, has been appointed vice chancellor for health affairs in the University of Texas System. Dr. McKinney is a family physician who was commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission from 1995 to 1998 and served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1984 to 1991. He was Gov. Perry's chief of staff from August 2001 until November. Dr. McKinney, whose appointment began Dec. 1, will concentrate on business management and financial issues related to the six health science institutions in the U. T. System. The vice chancellor reports to the executive vice chancellor for health affairs. A search is currently under way for the position of executive vice chancellor, which is being filled on an interim basis by Dr. James C. Guckian. "The U. T. System is very fortunate to have been able to recruit Mike McKinney for this key administrative role," said Chancellor Mark G. Yudof. "His wide experience in medicine, government and public service will be of tremendous value to the U. T. System as we seek to maintain and enhance our services and programs in health education, research and patient care." Before joining the Governor's Office, Dr. McKinney served for three years in a variety of executive positions with Centene Corp., a managed care company. As Texas commissioner of health and human services, Dr. McKinney oversaw 11 state agencies, a staff of 64,000, and a budget of $24 billion. He was appointed to that position by Governor George W. Bush. Dr. McKinney's other career experience includes serving as medical director of an insurance company and a health care plan; a consultant to the Texas health commissioner; a member of the Physician Payment Review Commission in the Federal Office of Technology; and a family practitioner in Pasadena and Centerville. In the Texas House of Representatives, he represented District 15 (Leon, Madison, Grimes, Houston, and Montgomery Counties). He was speaker pro-tempore of the House from 1989 to 1990. Dr. McKinney earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Houston and an M.D. from the U. T. Medical Branch at Galveston.
Contact
person: Emily Battle,
(903) 565-5604
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