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2026 State of Healthcare

Building a Healthier Future for the Permian Basin

Wednesday, September 9, 2026
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Location
Bush Convention Center
105 N. Main Street, Midland, TX 79701

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ABOUT THE EVENT

The State of Healthcare

Healthcare plays a vital role in supporting our workforce, strengthening our economy, and improving quality of life throughout the Permian Basin.

Join the Midland Chamber of Commerce for the inaugural State of Healthcare, where regional healthcare leaders will discuss the current landscape of healthcare, the challenges facing our growing community, and the opportunities shaping its future.

From workforce development and behavioral health to medical education, new facilities, and access to care, this luncheon provides valuable insight into one of our region's most important industries.

Regional Insights

Learn about the healthcare trends shaping the Permian Basin.

Industry Leaders

Hear directly from executives and healthcare professionals.

Community Impact

Discover how healthcare influences business, workforce, and economic growth.

Event Details

Date
Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Time
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Location
Bush Convention Center

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Steve Bowerman 2024

Stephen Bowerman

President & CEO

Midland Health

Stephen Bowerman serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Midland Health, a position he has held since April 2023. Having spent more than 25 years in healthcare leadership, he has played a pivotal role in advancing Midland Health's financial strength, operational excellence, and long-term strategic vision.

Stephen joined Midland Health in 2009 as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, serving in that role for more than a decade before being named President and Chief Operating Officer in 2021. In 2023, he was appointed President and CEO, where he now leads one of West Texas' largest healthcare systems, overseeing its mission and vision to lead healthcare for the region and help Midland become the healthiest community in Texas.

Before joining Midland Health, Stephen began his healthcare career at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa, working in information technology and finance. In 2006, he joined Odessa Regional Medical Center as Controller and was quickly promoted to Chief Financial Officer following the acquisition of Alliance Hospital.

A native of Kermit, Texas, Stephen earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from West Texas State University in 1999 and a Master of Business Administration from Texas Tech University in 2012.

Deeply committed to serving the community, Stephen has served on the boards of numerous nonprofit and civic organizations, including Senior Life Midland, Midland Shared Spaces, and Green Tree Country Club.

Stephen and his wife, Monica, have two sons, Dylan and Jack, both students at Texas Tech University.

PANELISTS

RM photo Oct 2023

Russel Meyers

Chief Executive Officer

The Beacon

 

View Biography

After 20 years as Chief Executive Officer of Midland Health, Russell Meyers left that office in 2023 to assume two new leadership roles:

  1. President, Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center
    A comprehensive mental health facility developed through a joint effort of the Midland and Ector County Hospital Districts. The facility officially opened in May 2026.
  2. Chief Executive Officer, Permian Basin Medical Center
    A collaborative initiative among multiple regional stakeholders focused on developing and executing long-range healthcare improvement strategies that benefit the Permian Basin region of West Texas and Southeast New Mexico.

Before coming to Midland, Russell held a variety of executive positions in both nonprofit and investor-owned healthcare organizations. He is a graduate of the Health Services Administration program at the University of Houston–Clear Lake and completed his undergraduate studies at Rice University. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Russell and his wife, Kimberly, have called Midland home for the past 24 years, where they raised their two children.

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Brian Schroeder, M.D., M.B.A.

Regional Dean

Permian Basin, Texas Tech University Health and Science Center

View Biography

Dr. Brian D. Schroeder has led teams across a wide range of healthcare settings throughout his professional career—from serving as an Emergency Medical Technician and coordinating critical care nurses in a large university medical center to working as a nurse administrator in a community hospital before pursuing a career in medicine.

A practicing Internal Medicine Hospitalist and Palliative Care physician since 1999, Dr. Schroeder has served as a senior physician executive for more than a decade. As of May 2026, he serves as Regional Dean and holds the Jan and Ted Roden Endowed Chair for the Regional Dean at the Texas Tech University School of Medicine, Odessa Campus, while also serving as a Professor of Medicine.

Dr. Schroeder is a Fellow of the American Association for Physician Leadership, a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, and a Senior Fellow in Hospital Medicine. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and a Certified Physician Executive. Throughout his career, he has held clinical faculty appointments at Texas Tech University School of Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Central Michigan University College of Medicine, and Wright State University School of Medicine.

He earned his Associate of Arts in Nursing from the University of South Dakota and later received both his Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Medicine degrees from the University of Texas Medical Branch. He completed his Internal Medicine residency through the Michigan State University–Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies and earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

Dr. Schroeder has received numerous medical resident and student teaching awards and was recognized as one of Becker’s "100 Hospital & Health System CMOs to Know" in 2017.

He recently retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve with the rank of Colonel, having served as both a Flight Surgeon and Internist. Dr. Schroeder and his wife, Nancy, have four adult children. Today, they share their home with several dogs, a donkey, and a handful of goats. Outside of medicine, he is a private pilot, enjoys woodworking, and is an avid singer and guitarist.

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Gran Shinwar

Chief Executive Officer

Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center

View Biography

Gran Shinwar serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center, where he leads efforts to expand access to high-quality behavioral healthcare throughout West Texas and Southeastern New Mexico. His leadership is focused on ensuring individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges have access to compassionate, effective, and timely care close to home.

With more than 15 years of executive healthcare leadership experience, Gran has held senior leadership roles across several of the nation's largest behavioral health and hospital systems. Most recently, he served as CEO of Erlanger Behavioral Hospital in Tennessee, where he led the facility through its joint venture partnership with Acadia Healthcare, advancing service expansion, strengthening provider partnerships, and improving quality and access to care.

Prior to that, Gran served as CEO of Anchor Hospital in Atlanta, part of Universal Health Services, where he led clinical and operational improvements while expanding programs for vulnerable and high-acuity patient populations. Earlier in his career, he was Vice President of Behavioral Health for LewisGale Regional Health System, part of HCA Healthcare, directing behavioral health strategy and multi-hospital operations while expanding inpatient and outpatient services across Southwest Virginia.

Known for building strong clinical teams and meaningful community partnerships, Gran is a passionate advocate for behavioral healthcare. He is committed to creating systems where individuals feel safe seeking help, families feel supported, and healthcare professionals are empowered to provide exceptional care.

Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Gran and his wife of 14 years now call Midland home, where they are raising their two children. His commitment to community continues to guide his mission of improving behavioral healthcare access for families across West Texas.

FACILITATOR

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Evan Thomas

President & CEO

Midland Chamber of Commerce

View Biography

Evan Thomas, IOM

President & Chief Executive Officer
Midland Chamber of Commerce

Evan Thomas, IOM, proudly serves as the President & Chief Executive Officer for the Midland Chamber of Commerce. Founded in 1924, the Midland Chamber is a business advocacy organization with more than a thousand members. Additionally, he oversees the Chamber’s operation of VisitMidland, the destination marketing organization responsible for the promotion of Midland tourism, and the city-owned Barbara and George H.W. Bush Convention Center and Information & Travel Center. Evan leads an energetic team dedicated to serving and promoting Midland’s business community.

In 2026, Evan graduated from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organization Management (IOM), a professional development certification attained by approximately three percent of Chamber professionals nationwide.

Previously, Evan was the Deputy Chief of Staff for U.S. Representative August Pfluger and District Director for now-former U.S. Representative Mike Conaway, where he led operations for the office within the twenty counties of the 11th Congressional District of Texas. Between those two positions, Evan served as Vice President of Government Relations and Community Development for Sewell Family of Companies.

Evan is active in organizations across the Permian Basin and Texas. He serves as a director of the Texas Lyceum, a nonprofit, nonpartisan, statewide issues-focused leadership organization. He also serves as board president for the Nonprofit Management Center, board member and past chairman of Midland-Odessa Transportation Alliance (MOTRAN), board member for the West Texas Food Bank, and as a member of other community-focused committees.

He resides in Midland with his wife, Erica, and their four-year-old daughter, Elana. A native of Lubbock, Evan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Texas Tech University.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Interested in sponsoring or buying a table? Contact Sarah at sarah@midland.biz.

Presenting Sponsor

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