Thank you for serving: Two trustees complete terms of service

Gary M. Wiltz, MD

Years on the board: 2013-22

Hometown: Franklin, Louisiana

Occupation: Physician and CEO, Teche Action Clinic

Dr. Wiltz celebrated 40 years of service at Teche Action Clinic this year. The native New Orleanian was assigned to the Franklin, Louisiana, clinic after graduation from Tulane University School of Medicine as part of his National Health Service Corps scholarship repayment. What began as a three-year commitment turned into a lifetime of service.

During his tenure at Teche, where he has served as CEO since 2003, Dr. Wiltz led the growth of the once-struggling clinic to become one of the country’s premiere federally qualified health centers. He has served on many boards and committees at local, state, and national levels, and through his association with the National Health Service Corps, he became a member of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC).

As a member of NACHC, Dr. Wiltz met Gary Cloud, PhD, ATSU’s vice president for strategic university partnerships & diversity, who had a shared passion for serving underserved communities. A few years later, after Dr. Wiltz spoke at a Healthcare Hero luncheon, Dr. Cloud asked Dr. Wiltz if he was interested in serving on the ATSU Board of Trustees.

“I was the first MD on the board of an osteopathic program,” Dr. Wiltz says. “There was some hesitancy on their part and my part, too, because I didn’t know how I would be received.

“The only reason I didn’t choose osteopathic medicine was because I wasn’t exposed to it as a premed student. As I developed experiences and came to appreciate the osteopathic tenet of body, mind, and spirit, I fully embraced the philosophy of osteopathic medicine.”

Since his time on the board, Dr. Wiltz has contributed his expertise, particularly in community health and policy, and served as chair from 2018-20. He says it is the best board he’s ever served on and he will miss the camaraderie with fellow members. As he departs, he has a great sense of comfort in knowing ATSU is in steady hands of a progressive visionary leader in Dr. Phelps, his team, and the board.

“I’ve gotten as much as I’ve given,” he says. “It has been one of the greatest privileges I’ve had in my long career.”

Paulina Vázquez Morris, JD, MBA, MHSA

Years on the board: 2013-22

Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona

Occupation: Attorney, Withey Morris PLC

Vázquez Morris has dedicated her career to service, even overcoming personal challenges to improve community health.

She was born in Chicago after her family escaped Cuba in 1960. She moved to Arizona to attend college and earned her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Arizona. After practicing law with Kutak Rock, an international law firm, she attended Arizona State University to earn her master of business administration and master of health services administration degrees.

“I am proud and blessed to be a first-generation American,” Vázquez Morris says. “I have been blessed with a beautiful career and life.”

Throughout her career, she has served as general counsel and administrator to three governors, general counsel to the Arizona Board of Regents, and counsel to a hospital corporation. She was elected by more than 60,000 voters in Maricopa County to serve on the Special Healthcare District Board where she was elected chair twice and helped save the county’s healthcare system and safety net. She even ran for Congress and received endorsements from many business leaders, law enforcement, first responders, and the Arizona Republic.

Then, after her son survived treatment for osteosarcoma, her family worked tirelessly on the Right To Try (RTT) initiative and legislation.

“Under RTT, terminally ill Americans have access to experimental treatments here in the U.S.,” Vázquez Morris says. “We were honored to have stood with the president when he signed RTT into federal law.”

In 2013, Vázquez Morris brought her expertise to ATSU when she was nominated to the Board of Trustees. Using her diverse skill set, she served on several committees, particularly contributing to real estate matters.

“Serving on the ATSU board has been among the highlights of my community service,” she says. “I believe in the ATSU mission of preparing healthcare professionals to provide whole person healthcare through body, mind, and spirit. My sons, Diego and Mateo, and I will truly miss my service on the board.”

Welcome, new members

Kimberly G. Perry, DO, MBA, MHCM, FACEP, FACOEP, ’91

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri

Education: Salve Regina University, ATSU-KCOM, and University of Phoenix

Occupation: Regional chief medical officer, SSM Health

Felix M. Valbuena Jr., MD, DABFM, FAAFP

Hometown: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Education: University of Notre Dame, Universidad El Bosque, and Harvard Business School

Occupation: Chief executive officer, Community Health and Social Services Center