Joel T. Allison: Remarkable service for nearly 25 years

As Joel T. Allison transitions into retirement on his 69th birthday (February 1, 2017), it's natural to wonder: What are his favorite memories? What will he miss most about Baylor Scott & White Health?

But, when he's pushed for answers, he muses – and this is understandable. The system he has called home for more than 23 years has been through a lot. After thinking about it just a moment, he smiles and sums up what he'll miss most in two words: the people.

"I will never forget the memories I have had with the people here – seeing what they do in action," said Joel, who joined Baylor Health Care System in 1993. "That's one of my favorite topics to talk about – the great things our people do every day."

One memory that comes to mind is when he saw an environmental services employee praying with a patient's family. Joel was headed to visit the family of a prominent Dallas businessman receiving care at Baylor. Joel noticed that the patient's wife was upset. At the same time, the environmental services worker also saw that the woman seemed distraught.

"I think you probably have somebody, a husband, who is a patient here?" the employee asked. The woman replied, "Yes." Then the employee simply asked, "Could I pray with you?"

"The woman was touched that this person would make that effort," Joel said. "That's what I love about Baylor — people just do what's in their hearts. This heartfelt effort is applied whether they are caring for the most prominent citizens of Dallas or caring for a homeless person."

This type of compassionate care reflects what employees see in their leader. "Joel's legacy will always be centered on that faithful, sacred trust with the patient," said Rowland K. Robinson, president of the Baylor Health Care System Foundation. "He's patient-centric. It's in his head and in his heart."

Joel's passion extends from his interactions with patients to his dealings with the board. "Integrity and servant leadership are the two things I think of most when I think of Joel. There's no air about him; he does what he says in a very humble way," said Jim L. Turner, chairman, Baylor Scott & White Holdings Board of Trustees. "At the same time, he is the quintessential CEO. He respects the role of the board, and the board respects the role of the CEO, so it's just been a great working relationship."

Weathering Complicated Changes

On his watch, Baylor Scott & White Health has grown tremendously to become the largest nonprofit health system in the state, which includes some 6,000 affiliated physicians and 44,000 employees. He has navigated major changes to the health care landscape during this time, including health care reform, the shift toward population health management and an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

As Joel has steered through these changes, his colleagues say that he has also paved the way for Baylor's new CEO. Jim Hinton begins his new role in January 2017.

"Replacing Joel Allison will be akin to replacing Tom Landry," said Albert Black, member, Board of Trustees, Baylor Scott & White Holdings. "But after Landry was replaced, the Cowboys won two Super Bowls within five years – and that's not bad. Joel has put a succession plan in place for the organization to reach new heights and that is the mark of a real leader."