On a decree from the Governor of Texas' office, a new member has been appointed and four have been reappointed to the Advisory Council on Emergency Medical Services (GETAC), an announcement that signals a continued effort to bolster the state's emergency medical infrastructure. Donald "Donny" Booth, now CEO of Permian Regional Medical Center, joins the council, a position he is set to hold until January 1, 2028. In terms of experience, Booth's credentials include extensive engagement with professional healthcare circles, having memberships across several organizations like the American College of Healthcare Executives and Texas Nurses Association, to name a few. According to the Office of the Texas Governor, Booth is backed by an educational portfolio that includes a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The University of Texas at El Paso and a dual master’s in Science of Nursing and Business Administration from UT Arlington and UT Tyler respectively.
The Office of the Texas Governor also confirmed the reappointment of Sharon Malone, M.D., Taylor Ratcliff, M.D., Shawn Salter, and Alan Tyroch, M.D., each set to continue serving till January 1, 2030. Malone currently handles duties as EMS medical director at Questcare and Envision Services and like Booth, comes equipped with a noteworthy academic and professional background that includes a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Doctor of Medicine. Her expertise is recognized through her diplomacy with the American Academy of Emergency Medicine and her involvement in the National Association of EMS Physicians.
Similarly credentialed, Taylor Ratcliff, M.D. juggles multiple roles in the emergency medicine and EMS spaces, being part of Baylor Scott and White Healthcare and acting as the medical director for Williamson County EMS. His dedication to the field is further emphasized through service as a captain at Morgan’s Point Resort Fire Department and his historical chairing of emergency healthcare systems within the state. Ratcliff's educational journey has him holding a Bachelor of Science in EMS Management and a Doctor of Medicine, both from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.
Completing the roster of reappointments, Shawn Salter brings to the table a nurturing expertise as chief administrative officer for CHRISTUS EMS & CHRISTUS Flight For Life. Salter's résumé flaunts not only an Associate of Nursing from San Jacinto College but also a Licensed Paramedic status. His feet are firmly planted in the field with past committee work in regional advisory councils and air medical services associations. Lastly, Alan Tyroch, M.D., is no stranger to the council, having been a gubernatorial appointee since 2012. As the current chairman of GETAC and chair of surgery at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, Tyroch's influence and insight are undoubtedly pivotal. In conjunction to holding a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and a Doctor of Medicine, his advanced training compasses a general surgery residency and a Trauma and Surgical Critical Care Fellowship.
