Edward Banos, University Health executive vice president and chief operating officer, has accepted the position of president and CEO following a unanimous vote of the Bexar County Hospital District Board of Managers. Banos, who joined University Health in 2015, will assume his new position on Monday, July 1, 2024.
His selection during a special meeting of the Board on May 28 completes a five-month national recruitment process, which began after long-standing president and CEO George B. Hernández, Jr. announced his plans to retire in 2024. Hernández’s last day with University Health will also be July 1. “The board of managers has made an outstanding decision. Ed has a deep understanding of our organization, a passion for our mission and the vision to take University Health to even greater heights,” said Hernández. “I am truly excited for Ed and know I am leaving our mission and our future in excellent hands.”
University Health is the only locally owned health system in Bexar County, with a legacy dating back more than 107 years. Today it is one the largest public health systems in Texas with two hospitals and more than 30 clinic and outpatient locations. University Health also includes a nonprofit health plan and a robust nonprofit multi-specialty physician practice.
“George has been a transformational leader,” said Bexar County Hospital District Board of Managers Chair James Adams.
“Over the past 19 years, George’s leadership and vision have enabled University Health to expand its footprint to better serve our community while building a national reputation for advanced care, quality and compassion,” Adams said. “Ed has been a key member of George’s leadership team, so moving him into the role of CEO during this critical time of growth will help ensure our many strategic projects remain on schedule, and this organization continues its relentless focus on mission, stewardship and excellence.”
This is a pivotal time of historic growth for University Health, which is currently constructing two new community hospitals and two large multi-specialty clinics.
The new hospitals, expected to open in early 2027, will include attached medical office buildings and will significantly improve access to a wide variety of health care services in the South and North East sectors of Bexar County. The new clinics, opening by early 2026, will expand care closer to home for thousands of South Side and East Side residents. They will also be new locations for University Health’s Institute for Public Health established in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am deeply grateful to Dr. Margaret Kelley and Anita Fernandez, who joined me on the ad hoc board of managers search committee,” Adams said. “They dedicated a great deal of time to this process, worked closely with our national search firm, and took to heart our responsibility to thoroughly review and conduct in-depth interviews with our excellent slate of candidates.”
Banos has more than 30 years of executive health care leadership experience. Prior to joining University Health in 2015, he served as president and CEO of Duke Lifepoint Upper Peninsula Health System and CEO of Superior Health Partners in Marquette, Michigan. From 2008-2012, he held the position of president and CEO of Good Shepherd Health System in Longview, Texas. Banos’ additional leadership experience includes serving as chief operating officer at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh and in progressive roles with Tenet Health Corporation at hospitals in Florida, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Texas.
He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Health Records Administration from the University of Pittsburgh and his Master’s in Health Service Administration from Armstrong Atlantic State University (now Georgia Southern) in Savannah, Georgia.
Banos is an active member of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, a former board member of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and a founding member of the South Texas Crisis Collaborative. He was recognized as a Healthcare Hero by the San Antonio Business Journal in 2019.
“I am extremely grateful to the board of managers for their confidence in me, and for the opportunity to serve our patients and our community in this new role,” Banos said. “University Health is a special organization and it will be my great honor to lead this dedicated, compassionate and highly skilled team. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to be mentored by George over the past nine years, and deeply committed to the unique mission and deeply-rooted values of University Health.”
