Help Shape the Future of Rural Health

Rural hospitals are the lifeline of communities across East Texas, providing care that keeps families safe and local economies stable. The Texas Rural Hospital Officers Academy was created to equip the leaders who navigate these challenges every day with the skills to keep that lifeline strong. If you're ready to take part in the inaugural cohort, pre-register now to stay connected.

What Participation Offers

Participating in this early-stage conversation gives West Texas healthcare leaders a direct hand in shaping a statewide program built for rural realities, along with practical tools you can put to work right away.

By contributing your perspective, you'll gain:

Hospital Room
  • Early influence on a statewide executive education program before it launches in 2027
  • Connection to a peer network of Texas health system executives
  • Regional representation in RHOA's statewide curriculum development
  • Priority access to RHOA training opportunities beginning in 2027

Through the program's training, you'll build skills in:

A researcher stands mid-gesture at the front of a packed lecture hall, one hand raised as if underscoring a point, her attention fixed somewhere off to the right. She's wearing a white coat with a lanyard, hair pulled back in loose curls, glasses catching the light from the recessed ceiling fixtures above. Rows of attendees fade into a soft blur behind her, the warm wood-toned tiers of the auditorium giving it the feel of a medical or academic conference. The shallow depth of field keeps all the focus on her mid-sentence expression and gesture, like a candid moment caught right as she's making a key point to the room.
  • Healthcare finance, revenue optimization, and financial sustainability strategies
  • Operational efficiency and regulatory compliance in resource-constrained settings
  • Strategic leadership and peer networking for rural hospital sustainability

Statewide Investment in Rural Health

House Bill 18, 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, authorized the creation of the Rural Hospital Officers Academy. RHOA isa state-funded executive leadership academy focused on strengthening rural hospital leadership capacity, supporting financial stability, preventing closures, and improving access to health care across Texas.

This statewide initiative is a collaboration between the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and four public university systems:

  • Texas State University System
  • The University of Texas System
  • Texas A&M University System
  • Texas Tech University System

Texas State University was selected to lead the development of the Rural Hospital Officers Academy (RHOA) in West Texas.

What HB 18?

The Texas Rural Hospital Officers Academy (HB 18, 2025) provides 100+ hours of annual training in financial stability, leadership, and operations for rural hospital leaders — through higher education and HHSC partnerships.