Our Leadership
HCA Affiliated Rio Grande Regional Hospital is led by a team of more than 1,100 employees and 500 physicians. This team is supported by a notable Board of Trustees, comprised of respected physicians and community business leaders.
The role of Rio Grande Regional Hospital’s Board of Trustees is to assist in developing the hospital’s strategic direction and focus, to help evaluate the hospital’s delivery of care, and to development new service lines and programs that ensure our patients are provided the most technologically advanced and cost-effective health care.
Meet Our Board
James (Jamie) Howard Runnels, Board Chairman
Mr. Runnels was born in Harlingen, Texas and later moved to McAllen, Texas where he has lived most of his adult life. Jamie studied business at Sam Houston State College in Huntsville, Texas. After college he worked in the automobile industry in San Antonio, Texas; however, one year later he joined the family business. He then moved to Jacksonville, Florida and became a third generation wholesale beer distributor.
While living in Jacksonville, he married his wife, also named Jamie. They started a family with the birth of their only child, Chandler.
After eight years of living Florida, Jamie and the family decided to move back to McAllen and assist with the operation of their family business, Valley Beverage, Inc. In 2004, his family elected to sell their operations to Glazer’s Wholesale Drug Company of Dallas. Today, Mr. Runnels is employed by Glazer’s as the Director of Operations for the Rio Grande Valley branch.
In his free time, Jamie enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter. He loves to travel, is an avid hunter and shooter and enjoys other activities such as golf, scuba, diving and flying.
Jamie is a member of the First Methodist Church of McAllen and a member of the McAllen Greeters for the McAllen Chamber of Commerce. He sits on the Board of Directors for the McAllen County Club and is the Past Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Museum of South Texas History.
Fredricka M. Borland, M.D.
Dr. Fredricka M. Borland is a Board Certified surgeon and has been on staff with Rio Grande Regional Hospital for over 15 years. Dr. Borland received her bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt. She went on to attend the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas where she completed her medical degree in 1972. Dr. Borland performed a Surgery Internship at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. She went on to complete two residency programs in Surgery, one at Vanderbilt in 1979 and the other at the Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine in Charleston, South Carolina in 1981.
Dr. Borland is a member of the American Board of Surgery; a member of the American Medical Association; a member of the Texas Medical Association; a member of the Hidalgo-Starr County Medical Society; and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Debra Brooks
Debra Brooks was born and raised in McAllen, Texas and attended McAllen public schools. She is a graduate of Baylor University with a degree in Public Administration and Political Science and has worked in the travel industry for over 30 years in McAllen. She currently owns and operates Shands Brooks Travel Service.
As a long time member of the First United Methodist Church, she has served in their Board of Trustees as well as their Administration Board. Mrs. Brooks also served on the Board of Palmer Drug Abuse both as a member and an officer and she currently serves as an Advisory Member.
As a member of Junior League of McAllen for over 20 years, Mrs. Brooks served on many committees during her tenure. She was a member of the Executive Committee and also served as President of the organization.
Mrs. Brooks is married to Eldon Brooks, and they have one daughter, Kimberly Brooks Barnett, and two step children.
Kathy Dassler - CNO
Kathy Dassler joined the Rio Grande Regional Hospital team in 2002 after serving as Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services/Chief Nursing Executive at Wuesthoff Health Systems in Rockledge, Florida.
With nearly 30 years of nursing and management practice, Kathy has been very successful during her career in recruiting and retaining staff members, initiating a nursing scholarship program in conjunction with the medical staff and health system’s foundation. Among her achievements, she has implemented numerous customer service initiatives within the department of nursing.
Kathy is a registered nurse and obtained both her Masters in Science in Heath Service Administration and Bachelors of Professional Studies from Barry University in Miami, Florida.
She and her husband Paul have been married 28 years and enjoy spending time with their three pets: Tres, BJ and Jessie. Kathy likes reading, swimming and gardening.
Irma Garza
Irma Garza has been an active member of the community over the years serving on numerous organization and boards. Mrs. Garza was very involved with Leadership McAllen and Junior League of McAllen where she served as president. In addition, she is still a member of the Rio Grande Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Irma and her husband Carlos have two daughters, Allison and Brittany.
Alter Holand
Alter Holand was a member of the United States Army Reserves from 1969-1975 and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. Alter has been an active member of the community over the years serving on numerous boards and philanthropic affiliations. Since 1974, Mr. Holand has been the President of Liverpool of McAllen, Inc.
Alter and his wife Mara Lessa have one daughter and one son.
Salvador Gonzalez, Jr.
Mr. Gonzalez was born in McAllen, Texas where he has lived the majority of his life. He graduated from McAllen High School and continued his education by graduating from Pan American University, now known as The University of Texas Pan-American with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management. While attending the university, he was president of the Inter-College Knights Fraternity and was also elected as a national officer.
In 1959, Mr. Gonzalez, was called to duty and served his country in the United States Army. Upon his return, he pursued his graduate studies and received his Master’s Degree in Education from Sam Houston State University. After working as a junior high coach in Mission, Texas for three years, he went on to work with Southwest Educational Laboratories in Austin, Texas.
Mr. Gonzalez decided to return to the Rio Grande Valley and became the President of Lamac Inc. in McAllen, Texas since 1973. He received his Master Mason 32° from York & Scottish Rites, and Shriner Al Amin Temple in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1989, where he also became a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Since his return to the Valley, Mr. Gonzalez has been a very active member of a number of professional and community organizations. In 1991, he was a board member of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce and was later appointed as President of the board. While serving with the McAllen Chamber of Commerce he was also serving as an active member of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation. Recently, Mr. Gonzalez has been hard at work with the Heart of the City trying to revitalize the three downtown districts of McAllen.
Married for 39 years to Sara, they are both proud of their two children; Sal Trey, who graduated from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas and Saraeli, who graduated from Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana.
Dr. Billie J. Marek
Dr. Billie J. Marek is Board Certified in Medical Oncology and Internal Medicine and has been on staff with Rio Grande Regional Hospital for over 20 years. Dr. Marek received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas and received his graduate degree from the University Of Houston- School Of Pharmacy in Houston, Texas. He went on to attend the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas where he received his Doctor of Medicine in 1983. Dr. Marek then completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky and his Fellowship in Medical Oncology at the University of Texas System Cancer Center, M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Marek has been in private practice since 1988 at the South Texas Cancer Center now named, Texas Oncology. He is a member of the American Medical Association; a Fellow of the American College of Physicians; a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology; a member of the Texas Society of Medical Oncology; a member of the Texas Medical Association; a member of the Texas Medical Foundation; a member of the Southern Medical Association; a member of the M.D. Anderson Associates; a member of the Hidalgo County Medical Society; and a founding member of the Southern Association for Oncology.
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