University Health System ranked one of very best learning organizations worldwide
-Awards Recognize Organizational Commitment to Employee Learning-
(SAN ANTONIO, TX – October 13, 2009) University Health System is ranked 18 in the American
Society for Training & Development’s (ASTD) 2009 BEST Awards program, and is among just 39
organizations from Canada, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, and the United States to receive a BEST
Award this year.
The BEST Awards recognize organizations that demonstrate enterprise-wide success as a result of
employee learning and development. These award-winning companies have made a strong investment
in learning, created a safe and engaging learning environment, and used new and innovative
technologies to design and deliver learning.
University Health System was recognized for its efforts to develop and retain capable employees
through its newly created Institute for Leaders, a multi-tiered leadership development program to
develop its current supervisors into the health system’s leaders of tomorrow. Four programs operated
by the institute are the Performance Leadership Academy, Management Development Academy,
Directors’ Mentoring Program, and Leadership Academy for Physicians. Training initiatives provided by
each program develop individuals with valuable communications and leadership skills so that they can
confidently address the board, manage budgets and master project management assignments. “These
are some of the biggest challenges in healthcare,” explains University Health System president/CEO
George B. Hernández, Jr. “These and other learning programs have resulted in improved efficiency and
financial performance, as well as employee satisfaction.”
According to Tony Bingham, ASTD’s president and CEO, “The ASTD BEST Award winners set the
standard of excellence for exceptional learning practices, and demonstrate that a skilled workforce is
vital to achieving results. They use learning as a strategic tool and have the support of senior leaders
who champion a learning culture.”
Through an online application, the 2009 BEST Awards received entries from 93 organizations in 10
countries. These organizations submitted quantitative and qualitative information to ASTD about their
learning and development practices and programs. Their applications were assessed by members of
the BEST Awards advisory committee, a group of experts in the learning and development field.
This is the seventh year of the ASTD BEST Awards. More information about the 2009 ASTD BEST Award
winners may be found in the October 2009 issue of T+D magazine and online: www.astd.org/best.
About University Health System
University Health System, the public hospital district for Bexar County Texas, is the lead trauma center for south Texas. In 2008, University Health System was named one of the 100 Most Wired Hospitals and Health Systems by the American Hospital Association and Hospitals & Health Networks magazine and, in 2009, University Health System was included among HealthImaging Magazine’s Top 25 Most Connected Healthcare Facilities.
University Hospital, a 498-bed acute care hospital, is the primary teaching hospital for the UT Health Science
Center San Antonio and the only trauma center in south Texas equipped to provide lifesaving care to seriously
injured children, including severe burn injuries. University Health System also includes 16 community clinics
focused on primary, specialty, preventive health services.
About ASTD
ASTD (the American Society for Training & Development) is the world’s largest association dedicated to the
training and development field. ASTD’s members come from more than 100 countries and connect locally in 130
U.S. chapters and with 30 International Partners. For more information, visit www.astd.org.
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