Contact: Monty Jones, (512) 499-4363

Date: December 17, 1998

UT System News Release

Ronald Garvey Named President of
U.T. Health Center at Tyler

Garvey, a former hospital administrator in Dallas, has served as interim chief administrative officer of the Health Center since January. He succeeds George A. Hurst, who retired after 27 years as leader of the center.

"Dr. Garvey has amply demonstrated during the past year that he is eminently qualified for this important leadership role," said Donald L. Evans, chairman of the Board of Regents. "We are fortunate to have an administrator of his broad experience and extraordinary skills."

A.W. "Dub" Riter Jr., a member of the Board of Regents from Tyler, said: "Under Dr. Garvey's superb leadership, the Health Center will be well-positioned to continue to serve Texas as we enter a new century of challenges in health care, research, and education. Dr. Garvey has served with great distinction in his interim position, and we are delighted to make his appointment permanent."

Chancellor William H. Cunningham said: "Dr. Garvey has an unparalleled grasp of the issues facing the Health Center as it moves into a new era of service to Texas. He is without doubt the right person for this critically important position."

Dr. Charles B. Mullins, executive vice chancellor for health affairs, said: "Dr. Garvey has a unique combination of talents and experience that will assure his success as president of the Health Center. He has won wide acclaim as a hospital administrator, a medical educator, and a physician, and he will bring similar distinction to his service as president.

Garvey was president and CEO of Zale Lipshy University Hospital in Dallas from 1987 to 1991. From 1960 to 1993, he served on the staff of the U.T. Southwestern Medical Center, where he was a professor of surgery.

A native of Olean, N.Y., Garvey received a bachelor's degree from Harvard College in 1949 and a medical degree from the University of Buffalo in 1953. He received a master's of business administration degree in health care administration from the University of Dallas in 1986.

He began his medical career in Dallas with an internship at Parkland Memorial Hospital in 1953. After service in the Air Force he returned to Parkland for his residency in 1956. From 1959 to 1960 he was a research fellow, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, at Parkland Hospital in the areas of arthritis and metabolic disease.

Garvey joined U.T. Southwestern in 1960 as an instructor of surgery and held a succession of academic and administrative appointments. He maintained a private practice in surgery from 1961 to 1983, and he was the team physician for the Dallas Cowboys from 1963 to 1972 and a consultant for the team from 1972 to 1993.