Thomas Royer, M.D., president and CEO of CHRISTUS Health in Dallas, Texas, was the keynote speaker at the seventh annual William E. Petersen symposium in September. Dr. Royer, board certified in surgery, has experience leading the operations of major health systems, including Henry Ford Medical Group, Johns Hopkins Medical Services Corporation and Wyman Park Medical Associates. He also has developed physician partnerships, and community health programs and services during his career. He recently was named one of the top 50 most powerful physician executives in Modern Healthcare magazine.
The William E. Petersen lectureship is named for one of the founders of the Physician Leadership College at St. Thomas' Center for Health and Medical Affairs. The mission of the Physician Leadership College, "to develop a community of physician leaders capable of directing current and future health care organizations," is testimony to Petersen's hope for the future of health care.