Longtime Parkland CEO, Dr. Anderson, Dies At 68
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) -- The longtime CEO of Parkland Hospital in Dallas and public health care advocate, Dr. Ron Anderson, has died at age 68.
Dr. Anderson was the President and CEO of Parkland Health & Hospital System for 29 years before retiring in 2011. In the 1980's, he was thrust into the national spotlight when he spoke out against a practice called "patient dumping", or transferring patients because of their inability to pay.
Under Anderson, the system grew to include 12 local health care clinics, 12 school-based clinics, and an outreach service that provides medical care in more than 20 homeless shelters around Dallas County.
"Dr. Anderson was the most compassionate person I have ever met," said DFW Hospital Council CEO W. Stephen Love. "He championed the plight of the most vulnerable in our society and many lives have been saved in North Texas because of his clinical caring compassion for others. Ron supported local, state and national healthcare organizations by bringing value and expertise on delivering the best healthcare to all patients."
According to Parkland, Dr. Anderson died of cancer.
"Dr. Anderson epitomized the ideal of the servant leader," said Debbie D. Branson, Chair of Parkland's Board of Managers. "His passionate dedication to improve health care for the poor and underserved inspired a generation of caregivers.
Dr. Anderson served as chair of the DFWHC in 1992, received the Boone Powell Senior Award of Excellence in 2002, and has been serving on the DFWHC Foundation Board of Trustees since its inception.
On Wednesday, the Parkland Board of Managers unanimously endorsed a plan to name the hospital's new medical/surgical outpatient clinic after Dr. Anderson.
"We need to celebrate his life by continuing his mission of social justice, fairness and health care excellence," said Love.
Fred Cerise, MD, MPH, succeeded Dr. Anderson as CEO of Parkland Health & Hospital System in March.
Services to honor Dr. Anderson are pending.
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