Bobcat to take the reins of big West Texas hospital system

Alumni Impact

Julie Cooper | December 19, 2018

Brad Holland (B. S. ’98) will begin a new job in January when he becomes president and CEO of the Hendrick Hospital System in Abilene. 

The Hendrick Hospital System serves 23 counties, boasts 500+ beds, and has some 3,400 employees with an annual  budget of $440 million.  

Holland, 44, says the fact that he is West Texas born —a native of San Angelo — had a lot to do with his getting this position. “For me to be making what I consider my last move, it’s not based on chance.” He’s looking forward to getting to know Hendrick’s culture and the people.

At Texas State, Holland majored in biology with a minor in chemistry. Dental school  was the original goal, but he says a 3.3 GPA was not enough to gain acceptance. A family member suggested healthcare  administration, so he went on to earn a graduate degree at Trinity University. 

Holland and his wife, Julianne, are the parents of two sons, Gardner, 12, and Griggs, 10. 

“One of my claims to fame was being on the men’s tennis team (at Texas State),” Holland says. He began his academic career at Texas A&M. “It was too big, it wasn’t for me,” he says.  “I just wanted a fresh start and I fell in love with Texas State.” He remembers his years at the university “magical.” 

Since 2012, Holland has been CEO at Cedar Park Regional Medical Center. In 2017 he was honored by the Texas Hospital Association board of trustees as a “Grassroots Champion.” At Cedar Park Holland was responsible for the successful development of multiple service lines, including pediatrics, interventional cardiology, neurology and stroke services. 

The Hendrick system appealed to Holland because of its stability and faith-based mission. He will be the fifth CEO in Hendrick’s 94-year history.    

It is certainly a big job.  The Hendrick system is about four times the size of Cedar Park Regional. 

“It doesn’t matter if you are in a metro or suburban area, we all struggle with healthcare and the demand for talent to deliver that healthcare,” he says.   As an administrator, Holland says,  you look for local solutions. In the Abilene area there are three nursing programs feeding into the hospital system. “As an example, in the Austin market, the last quote I heard was that there were 4,000 R.N. vacancies or openings,” he says.

Holland says he is excited to begin his new role, “and getting to know the people of Abilene, and to make a difference in people through my profession.”