Mega Doctor News
One of the fastest growing regions in the United States, the Rio Grande Valley is made up of some of the poorest counties in the nation, with issues like poverty and lack of access to healthcare posing a problem for hundreds of thousands of residents in the region’s medically underserved communities.
But Rio Grande Valley residents now have another voice in Austin to help ensure that efforts are made to provide quality, cost-effective, and accessible healthcare throughout the region.
Lance Ames, the Chief Executive Officer at South Texas Health System Edinburg and STHS Children’s, has been appointed to the Texas Hospital Association’s Board of Trustees. His term begins immediately and expires on December 31, 2026.
Founded in 1930, the Texas Hospital Association (THA) is the leadership organization and principal advocate for the state’s hospitals and health care systems. As one of the largest hospital associations in the nation, the THA strives to enhance its members’ abilities to improve accessibility, quality and cost-effectiveness of health care for all Texans.
The organization represents more than 85 percent of the state’s acute-care hospitals and health care systems, which employ more than 400,000 healthcare professionals throughout the Lone Star State.
“I’m honored to receive an appointment to the board of the Texas Hospital Association, an organization that has spent decades advocating for hospitals, caregivers and support team members to ensure adequate funding and resources are dedicated to meet the needs of each community in Texas,” says Ames. “I look forward to representing the great people of the Rio Grande Valley and serving as a voice in the decisions being made about healthcare across the state, including our medically underserved communities across the region.”
Ames, who began his career with STHS in 2013, has expanded hospital services at STHS Edinburg and STHS Children’s, driven a focus on quality, compassionate care, and overseen the completion of a $105 million new patient tower project. Under Ames’ leadership, STHS Edinburg has been named a Best Regional Hospital by U.S. News & World Report, the only Valley facility to earn the special designation for three consecutive years, among many other national recognitions. Throughout his tenure at STHS, he has demonstrated his dedication to supporting the healthcare needs of the ever-expanding Rio Grande Valley through the development of much-needed service lines for the adult patients at STHS Edinburg and pediatric patients at STHS Children’s, the first dedicated children’s hospital in the region.
Ames is passionate about mentoring future healthcare leaders and dedicates his time to serving the community. He is the incoming chairperson of the Board of Directors for the Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce, where he has served as an active member for the past six years. He also dedicates his time away from work to serving as a youth basketball coach and youth group leader at church. Lance and his family enjoy exploring the beautiful Valley in his free time and are honored to be part of this growing community.
