With beginnings as an Officer Trainee at the International Bank of Commerce, Abe Martinez soon realized his passion for healthcare management, a career path that would define the next two decades of his professional life. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas at Brownsville, Abe Martinez applied his educational background in business administration to his newly acquired position as Chief Executive Officer at Columbia-HCA Doctors Hospital of Laredo. Responsible for a 107-bed licensed hospital facility, Abe Martinez worked to manage financial and operational dealings. Abe Martinez worked to evaluate managed care contracts, develop strategic plans, and monitor budgets. In March of 1996, Abe Martinez earned a promotion to the dual role of Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, a result of his outstanding work with the hospital. After 6 years in this role, Abe Martinez took on the duties of Chief Executive Officer at Columbia-HCA-Triad at Alice Regional Hospital. There, Abe Martinez oversaw the development of a 160,000 square foot hospital building. Valued at $40 million, Abe Martinez’s direction was integral to the successful and timely construction of the new structure. Additionally, Abe Martinez focused on increasing revenue and adding physicians to the hospital team. Abe Martinez currently resides in Cedar Park, Texas, where he enjoys reading, jogging, and playing the guitar. Actively involved in the March of Dimes Foundation and the American Heart Association, Abe Martinez recognizes the importance in giving back.
Responsible for managing the overall operations of 150 bed licensed hospital facility.
Successfully brought operational focus to facility. Recruited 10 physicians through Income Guarantee and Employed Model (5.01(a)). Nurtured relationship with 20% partner. Rolled out DaVinci robotic surgery program
Took hospital from EBITDA loss of $1.5 million to positive EBITDA of $7.8 million.
Following the end of World War II, the number of diagnosed polio cases in the United States rose markedly, spurring the vaccine research efforts of scientists and virologists across the country.
In April 1955, the University of Michigan held a historical press conference, heralding Dr. Jonas Salk and his colleagues at the institution’s Poliomyelitis Vaccine Evaluation Center. After a rigorous clinical trial employing 1.8 million youths as test subjects, Dr. Salk proved his vaccine capable of preventing paralytic polio up to 90 percent of the time, an impressive accomplishment in the medical field considering the years of trial and error involved. After Dr. Salk’s discovery, March of Dimes altered its mission, choosing to focus on combating infant mortality, premature births, and a wide range of birth defects, congenital and otherwise.
Today, March of Dimes oversees a multitude of research programs and community wellness services, further advocating for infants’ health through educational outreach. Moreover, March of Dimes offers financial assistance to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), facilities designed specifically to treat ill babies. Each year, the organization also bestows $250,000 and the March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology on an individual whose work advances biological science in a demonstrable and actionable manner. Hosting March for Babies, an annual walk that raises money to support the March of Dimes’ activities, the charity boasts distinction as one of the major forces behind the quest to eradicate premature births, collecting over $1.7 billion to date from donors like me.
To learn more about March of Dimes, or to contribute to this truly commendable cause, visit www.modimes.org.
A longtime medical care facility executive, I believe in giving back to the community. In 2005 I earned a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for outstanding service to my local area. I currently support a number of charities and nonprofit organizations including the American Heart Association, March of Dimes, and the Imaginarium of South Texas.
Formerly known as the Laredo Children’s Museum, the Imaginarium of South Texas was established in 1991, taking its current name when it moved to the Mall del Norte in 2007. The Imaginarium seeks to spark children’s imaginations and creativity through interactive exhibits that educate as well as inform. One permanent exhibit, the Magnetic Wonder Wall, allows children to utilize connected gears and pieces in creating magnetic towers and giant ball runs. Other popular exhibits include the HO-scale Union Pacific Train Station, which allows children to conduct moving trains engines and cars; the all-ages safe Toddler Fun Zone; and the Mercado shopping experience. Critter Corner introduces visitors to the Imaginarium’s family of unique and unusual animals: Madagascar hissing cockroaches, an emperor scorpion, a corn snake, tarantulas, and snails.
The Imaginarium of South Texas offers a host of family-friendly educational programs and workshops, including weekly Chain Reaction Workshops, which dynamically illustrate principles of motion and momentum through moving parts and domino-like blocks. Annual Imaginarium summer camp programs include the 10-day Eco Expedition, a 3-day Toymakers workshop, and the 3-day Robo Roundup. The Imaginarium of South Texas is a member of the National Science Foundation-funded TexNET (Texas Network of Exhibit-based learning and Teaching). It also partners with sister institutions such as San Francisco’s Exploratorium and Lubbock’s Science Spectrum.
The Imaginarium is currently developing learner-centered research capacities in collaboration with Texas A&M International, the Texas Migrant Council, and other community organizations. An exciting upcoming Imaginarium spring event is Nano Days, which focuses on understanding micro-scale nanotechnologies. Visit the Imaginarium of South Texas at www.imaginariumstx.org to learn more about this valuable Laredo educational institution.
