Raya to Lead George McMillan Fleming Center for Healthcare Management and El Paso Chamber Healthcare Coalition

Ginger Raya, EdD, MHA, MPA, was recently announced as the new lead for the George McMillan Fleming Center for Healthcare Management effective May 16, 2024. 
 
“Dr. Raya is a wonderful choice to lead the Fleming Center for Healthcare Management,” said Aanand Naik, MD, chair of the Department of Management, Policy and Community Health. “She brings many years of experience leading healthcare management teams, developing and disseminating innovative care programs, and mentoring and teaching students.”  
 
In this role, Raya will help connect high-quality healthcare management education and research to an evolving healthcare industry. “The Fleming Center is focused on innovative training and mentoring programs for working healthcare professionals who are leading improvement initiatives and innovations,” Naik said, noting the center’s mission to deliver cutting-edge leadership, finance, quality improvement, and management training. “Dr. Raya is abreast of the newest teaching methods and modalities to develop a new advanced healthcare management certificate program for working healthcare professionals and a podcast series to disseminate this exciting content.” 
 
Naik also noted that Raya’s background and expertise are an excellent match for the future direction of the center as they work to cultivate a healthcare management innovations accelerator. She has already envisioned a strategic plan that integrates implementation and sustainability concepts into the design-thinking of healthcare innovations. 
 
Raya is excited about taking the center in this new direction while expanding on its track record of providing the latest in management and policy practice training. “I look forward to seeing the influence and engagement that the Fleming Center will have on the next generation of pioneering healthcare management scholars, leaders, visionaries, and clinicians who will shape the future of healthcare in the United States,” she said.  
 
Prior to joining UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, Raya was the director of physician services at HCA Healthcare, where she specialized in ambulatory operations, and acquisition and employment of healthcare providers and their practices. Raya continues to be a highly engaged leader in the Texas healthcare sector – she serves as president-elect for the Southwest Healthcare Executives Association chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives and was recently named the 2024-25 El Paso Chamber Healthcare Coalition Chair. 
 
The coalition creates a space for healthcare leaders and the business community to productively address shared concerns, and Raya is excited to collaborate with chamber members to advance these efforts. “The healthcare industry is an important stakeholder in the community, and it is important to have the voice of the membership represented,” she shared. “The coalition ultimately impacts health outcomes, influences policy, fosters innovation, and builds collaboration. It is an honor to lead this committee.”  

Raya is an associate professor in the Department of Management, Policy and Community Health. She received her bachelor’s degree in organizational communication and a Master of Public Administration from The University of Texas at El Paso. She has a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Health Professionals and holds a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from Argosy University.