Government Relations
The Assistant Vice President for Government Relations is a division in the Office of Health Policy and Legislative Affairs. Government Relations Division consists of five (5) areas: federal government affairs, county government affairs, community health promotions, health outcomes program, and community based mental health services.
Team leaders in the five major areas are:
- Federal Government Affairs—Douglas Matthews
- County Government Affairs—Charlie Worthen
- Community Health Promotions—Becky Walsdorf
- Health Outcomes program—Kathy Tiernan
- Community Based Mental Health Services—Fred Thomas
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| Douglas Matthews Assistant Vice President for Government Relations |
Charles A. Worthen, Jr. Director of County Affairs |
- Federal Gov. Affairs
- County Gov. Affairs
- Community Health Promotions
- Health Outcomes
- Community Based Mental Health Services
- Work with federal officials to secure support and educate them on UTMB needs and priorities
- Work with elected congressional officials and their staff on UTMB behalf
- Meet with federal government officials on grant funding opportunities
- Coordinate campus visits for federal officials and their staff
- Coordinate meetings for UTMB staff in Washington, DC with federal officials
- Convey UTMB’s position on proposed federal legislation
- Assist UTMB staff with securing federal government approvals
- Work with county officials on UTMB Healthcare issues
- Attend monthly meetings with Galveston County officials
- Assist UTMB Leadership Team with county government meetings
- Assist with campus visits for County, State and Federal Officials
- Community Health-related events including health fairs and speakers
- Work with Marketing and Business Development office to develop relationships and implement marketing strategies that help promote UTMB as the health care provider of choice throughout Galveston County (i.e. Galveston Women's Conference)
- Community health education events (i.e. diabetes and cardiovascular disease patient education classes, “Unnatural Causes” lecture series)
- Partner with entities to develop unique health care programming and service delivery pilot programs
- Focus on senior adult health education and relationship development
- Play an active role in helping UTMB maintain a role as a good corporate citizen (i.e. SECC and sponsorships)
- Develop and implement systematic planning to expand community engagement for improved outcomes
- Coordinate Community Health Access Program (CHAP)
- Maintain community projects and programs
- Direct Mental health and substance abuse project
- Develop and implement systematic planning expand community engagement for HPLA
- Incubate and evaluate programs for UTMB Health Policy and Legislative Affairs
- Serve on research team
- Community liaison for health promotion projects
- Assist in evaluation of CHP
- Direct, Summer Research program for High School Students
- Community liaison for health promotion projects
- Liaison to City of Galveston Families, Children and Youth Board (FCY)
- Direct telepsychiatry clinics (2 at current at Ball High and Austin Middle School)
- Supervise multidisciplinary staff, schedule clinics and assure adequate coverage
- Meet with school administration, principals and counselors regarding family referrals to clinics
- Negotiate and manage contracts of service providers with department of psychiatry
- Manage communications to outside stakeholders (schools, school board, project advisory board, parents, etc.)
- Direct Research/Funding applications