UT-Houston COO Michael D. McKinney Named
Sole Finalist for Texas A&M System Chancellor
HOUSTON – (Nov. 1, 2006) – Michael D. McKinney, M.D., senior executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO) of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston since Sept. 2003, today was named the sole finalist for chancellor of The Texas A&M University System by the Board of Regents. The board may consider McKinney’s appointment to the position, in which he will oversee the A&M System’s 17 member institutions and the System offices, after the 21 days required by state law for public notice.
Michael D. McKinney, M.D.
McKinney joined UT-Houston as interim chief operating officer in May 2003, on temporary assignment from his position as vice chancellor for health affairs at The University of Texas System in Austin. As vice chancellor, he concentrated on business management and financial issues related to the six health science institutions in the UT System.
“We are proud of this honor for Mike McKinney and we are certain that he will be an outstanding leader of the Texas A&M University System,” said UT-Houston President James T. Willerson, M.D. “The A&M System and the people of Texas will benefit from his leadership. Mike has been dedicated, innovative and the epitome of selfless service here at UT-Houston. On a personal level, Mike has been a valued advisor, confidant and friend. I will miss him very much.”
McKinney joined the UT System in 2002 after serving as chief of staff to Gov. Rick Perry from Aug. 2001 until Nov. 2002. Before joining the Governor’s Office, McKinney served for three years in a variety of executive positions with Centene Corp., a managed care company.
McKinney has served as Texas commissioner of health and human services (1995-98) and represented District 15 in the Texas House of Representatives from 1984-91. He was medical director of an insurance company and a health care plan and a member of the Physician Payment Review Commission in the Federal Office of Technology.
Early in his career, McKinney – a graduate of the University of Houston and the UT Medical Branch at Galveston – was the only family medicine practitioner in Centerville in East Texas.
Willerson today announced that Brent King, M.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the UT Medical School at Houston, will act as UT-Houston’s interim chief operating officer. “Dr. King will assume the critical tasks that Mike was shouldering,” Willerson said. “He immediately will start working with Dr. McKinney and Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Kevin Dillon to ensure a smooth transition in administration.”
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