Vice Chancellor for External Relations at The University of Texas System Brings Extensive Health Business Background to the THI Board

 

HOUSTON, TX – Texas Heart Institute (THI) – the nonprofit organization founded by Dr. Denton Cooley and dedicated to reducing the devastating toll of cardiovascular disease through innovative and progressive programs in research, education, and improved patient care – today announced that Randa S. Safady, Ph.D. has joined its Board of Trustees effective immediately. Safady currently serves the thirteen universities and their owned or affiliated hospitals within The University of Texas System – the largest public education, research, and healthcare system in Texas – where she is Vice Chancellor for External Relations, Communications, and Advancement Services, a member of the Chancellor’s executive management team, and the System’s chief advancement and communications officer.

 

Her extensive background in philanthropic and communications strategy, capital campaigns, endowment administration/compliance, and other aspects of non-profit work will add a critical layer of health-based expertise and strategic guidance to the Texas Heart Institute as it embarks on its 60-year anniversary milestone of pushing the boundaries of discovery in the fight against cardiovascular disease.

 

“Randa Safady represents a tremendous addition to the Texas Heart Institute Board of Trustees,” emphasized Board Chair Eric Wade. He added, “She is a proven leader and gifted communicator who brings a number of critical skillsets to Texas Heart Institute’s Board of Trustees. I have no doubt she will be an outspoken asset in furthering the Board’s steadfast commitment to propelling the Institute far into the future. This is an exciting time for THI, and Randa is ready to be a part of the many Next Firsts that are on the horizon across all aspects of the Institute.”

 

In addition to her roles at the UT System, Safady is Chairman of the Austin Community Foundation Board of Governors and President-Elect of the Headliners Club of Austin, and she serves on the board of directors of the Austin Crime Commission, Austin Music Treatment Foundation, the UT Foundation, and the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service at the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs.  She is also a member of The Philosophical Society of Texas.

 

Safady has received numerous honors and accolades over the course of her illustrious career, which include the Texas State University’s College of Liberal Arts Distinguished Alumnus Award; Austin Business Journal’s Women of Distinction Award; UT Austin Moody College of Communication’s Robert Jeffrey Award for Distinguished Service; and St. Edward’s University’s Presidential Medallion. Further, she created and served as executive producer of State of Tomorrow — a PBS series that documented the impact of universities’ research on society, which garnered five EMMY Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ Lone Star division as well as earning the top national media award from the American Academy of Nursing.

Safady received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas State University and a Ph.D. in higher education administration from The University of Texas at Austin. She has served in the higher education/health care advancement and communications profession for almost 40 years.

 

“Texas Heart Institute is exceptionally regarded for cardiovascular discovery and life-saving innovations in addition to fostering the professional development of the world’s most brilliant minds in heart health,” Safady noted. “I am profoundly honored to serve, and I look forward to learning from everyone at Texas Heart Institute and contributing to its progress in any way that I can.”

 

Texas Heart Institute Board of Trustees is made up of Chair Eric D. Wade (Chair); Vice Chair Alfred C. Glassell, III; and Members Robert T. Blakely; David M. Grimes, II; T. Douglas Lawson; Bradley T. Lembcke, MD; Gina A. Luna; Rodney H. Margolis; Thomas McGinn, MD; Reed Morian; David A. Ott, MD; Mark Parrington; Alan M. Speir, MD; and Liz Youngblood, MBA, RN, FACHE.

 

Its Trustee Ex-Officio is Joseph G. Rogers, MD, CEO and President of the Texas Heart Institute.

 

ABOUT TEXAS HEART INSTITUTE (THI)

The Texas Heart Institute, founded by world-renowned cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Denton A. Cooley in 1962, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the devastating toll of cardiovascular disease through innovative and progressive programs in research, education, and improved patient care. THI’s scientists and physicians conduct fundamental biomedical, translational, and clinical research in cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, molecular-based medicine, stem cell and gene therapy, and regenerative medicine both independently and in collaboration with organizations worldwide. As global leaders of patient care for nearly six decades, Texas Heart Institute has been ranked among the top cardiovascular centers in the United States by U.S. News & World Report for the past 30 years. THI is dedicated to spreading awareness and sharing updates on ways to prevent, treat and defeat cardiovascular disease. With over 10 million visitors coming to its website from around the world every year, www.texasheart.org is just one of the ways THI is helping to educate people on the importance of heart health. For more information, please visit https://www.texasheart.org.

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