Certified Healthcare Trustee and Leader Spotlight: March
Texas Healthcare Trustees is proud to recognize Certified Healthcare Trustee and Leader (CHTL) designees who demonstrate a commitment to excellence in healthcare governance. This monthly spotlight highlights trustees who have pursued continued education to strengthen their leadership and better serve their hospitals and communities. William Morris, MD, CHTL, has dedicated decades to advancing health care quality and governance at Peterson Health.
Winfred Parnell, MD, CHTL
Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation, Dallas
“Many leaders arrive with great intentions, but without a deep, foundational understanding of the unique fiduciary and strategic responsibilities of a healthcare trustee, the board’s efficacy can be hampered. Closing that knowledge gap is essential to effective governance.”
-Winfred Parnell, MD, CHTL
THT: Briefly describe your background.
Dr. Parnell: “I am a semi-retired obstetrician-gynecologist with a career long dedicated to both clinical excellence and healthcare governance. My leadership experience includes serving as the Chairman of the Board for Parkland Health & Hospital System and currently contributing to the board of the Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation. Previously, I served as Chairman of the Board for Texas Hospital Trustees, where I held multiple roles, though I am particularly proud of my work as a THT Certified Healthcare Trustee. Additionally, I hold a certification in Nonprofit Governance from the University of Texas at Dallas. My primary goal, bridging my dual background as a physician and a certified trustee, is to infuse the boardroom with the same standard of compassion, care, and quality that I have prioritized at the bedside throughout my medical career.”
THT: Why would you encourage trustees and hospital leadership to become a Certified Healthcare Trustee and Leader?
Dr. Parnell: “I strongly advocate for certification because the healthcare landscape is evolving at a breakneck pace. We are currently facing a wave of policy shifts and technological innovations that will fundamentally reshape the industry within just a few years. This environment demands that leaders possess not just passion, but a high level of agility and informed oversight.
Achieving and maintaining certification serves as a powerful testament to a board’s accountability and commitment to the communities they serve. Furthermore, as regulatory scrutiny regarding governance intensifies, certification acts as a crucial indicator that the board and executive management are aligned, prepared, and operating at the highest standard of professional competency.”
THT: As a board member, what has been the proudest moment for you or your board?
Dr. Parnell: “While I have had the privilege of being part of many significant milestones throughout my tenure, my proudest moment was leading the effort for the entire Board of Managers at Parkland Health & Hospital System to become Certified Healthcare Trustees. Seeing that collective commitment to professional development was a defining moment for our board culture.”
THT: What would you say is the biggest reward and biggest challenge of being a board member?
Dr. Parnell: “The greatest reward is the opportunity to work alongside fellow mission-driven individuals who are deeply invested in their communities. There is immense satisfaction in witnessing that commitment formalized through certification.
Conversely, the most significant challenge is addressing the gap in preparedness that often exists for new board members. Many leaders arrive with great intentions, but without a deep, foundational understanding of the unique fiduciary and strategic responsibilities of a healthcare trustee, the board’s efficacy can be hampered. Closing that knowledge gap is essential to effective governance.”
Interested in becoming a CHTL? Learn more here Certified Healthcare Trustee and Leader – Texas Healthcare Trustees