George B. Hernández, Jr. has been president and chief executive officer of the Bexar County Hospital District, doing business as University Health System, since January 2005. He joined University Health System in 1990 as Vice President of Legal Services, serving as General Counsel for the organization, including its HMO, Community First Health Plans, Inc. and its other subsidiary components. He took on additional responsibilities as second-in-command to the President/CEO in 2000, when he was promoted to Executive Vice President/Assistant Administrator of University Health System.
As part of the executive team, Hernández led several initiatives to strengthen the fiscal health of the organization and improve the health of the community. He spearheaded University Health System's effort to secure over $35 million from tobacco company settlement proceeds from the State of Texas' tobacco settlement and built strategic partnerships with community clinics, federally qualified health centers and private physicians to improve access to primary and specialty care. Additionally, under his leadership, University Health System's $100 million indigent health membership program, CareLink, increased member collections more than $3 million from 2001-2003.
Hernández has worked with Bexar County's legislative delegation to pass several major pieces of legislation to protect University Health System, as well as Bexar County taxpayer interests. His efforts were key to the passage of HB3588 in 2003, which provides steady funding for trauma care, to help assure these critical services remain available for residents of Bexar County and South Texas.
Hernández is a native of San Antonio and earned a bachelor's degree in political science from St. Mary's University. He earned his law degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining University Health System, Hernández served as Chief of the Civil Section in the Bexar County District Attorney's Office and started his career as an Assistant City Attorney for San Antonio. Hernández is a 1970 graduate of Central Catholic High School.
Among his numerous professional and service affiliations, Hernández serves as vice chair for the Daughters of Charity Services of San Antonio, a board member for the United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County, a member of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Access to Health Care in Texas, a member of the Board of Trustees for the Texas Hospital Association, a member of the Governor's Texas Health Care System Integrity Partnership, and as local government representative for the Texas Health & Human Services Commission Task Force for Local Health Care Initiatives.
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