Ms. Pérez-Graham leads the recruitment, retention, performance, development and financial management of more than 4,000 nurses across University Health’s two hospitals and more than 30 clinics and centers, making nursing the largest professional group in the public health system. She is guiding nursing strategy through a major growth trajectory, including the opening of additional clinics in underserved areas, expansion into a third hospital complex in 2026 and the planned launch of two new community hospitals in 2027. In a highly competitive labor environment, she has sustained exceptional workforce stability, with year-to-date turnover at 10% and vacancy at less than 2%, while nearly eliminating reliance on traveling nurses. She oversees enterprise training and workforce transition planning as current staff move into new facilities and new hires are recruited and prepared for high-acuity environments, including South Texas’ only level 1 civilian trauma center, a high-risk maternity center and NICU, and a transplant institute. Under her leadership, University Health has earned Magnet recognition, achieved first-time Emergency Nurses Association “Lantern Awards” for adult and pediatric emergency departments, secured American Nurses Credentialing Center practice transition program accreditation with distinction for its nurse residency, and supported multiple American Association of Colleges of Nursing “Beacon Award”–recognized units, alongside a fifth consecutive Leapfrog “A” safety grade and Premier’s “100 Top Hospitals” recognition.
