Baylor Health Care president honored by hospital association

Joel Allison, president and chief executive officer of Baylor Health Care System in Dallas, has been named the recipient of the Texas Hospital Association’s Earl M. Collier Award for Distinguished Health Care Administration.

Established in 1965, the Collier Award is the highest honor bestowed by the statewide association. Allison was to receive the award Jan. 22 at the group’s annual leadership conference in Austin.

“Joel Allison exemplifies the leadership qualities that this award recognizes,” said Dan Stultz, president of the Texas Hospital Association. “He is an approachable, hands-on leader whose commitment to patient care is an example for all.”

Allison has been on the front lines of change throughout his career, which included leadership in a turnaround situation, a faith-based facility, a public sector facility and a children’s hospital before joining Baylor in 1993. He spent seven years as senior executive vice president at Baylor before becoming president and CEO in 2000.

“I am so honored to receive this award, especially since I was fortunate to know Mr. Collier,” Allison said. Early in his career, Allison served as an administrative resident at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene, where Earl Collier built his reputation as the dean of hospital administration in Texas.

“Although he had retired as CEO, he was still very much involved with the hospital, visiting patients and staff every day,” said Allison. “Mr. Collier believed in making patients the center of all that you do, and that has influenced me throughout my career.”

To those who work with him, Allison’s commitment to quality is apparent.

“When you are around Joel, you know that quality and patients come first,” said Irving Prengler, vice president of medical staff affairs at Baylor University Medical Center. “Whether you are with him one-on-one or in a crowd of thousands, you’re always aware of what the Baylor vision is. When he tells you about our vision, it’s not rote recitation. It’s got energy and enthusiasm—and it makes you believe you can attain that vision.”

In addition to his active involvement with the Texas Hospital Association, Allison is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Nationally, he serves on the Healthcare Leadership Council and the National Quality Forum, and he also is a member of the United Surgical Partners International board.

In addition, he serves on numerous state and local boards. He is the recipient of numerous awards and consistently is ranked by Modern Healthcare as one of the “100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare.”  

Allison and his wife, Diane, have a daughter, two sons and five grandchildren.