Building the smart hospital of the future with technology bets

Author's Biography

Debra F. Sukin , PhD, serves as the Executive Vice President of Houston Methodist and CEO of Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital. With more than 25 years in healthcare, she has developed and opened four hospitals, including Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital, and is planning the upcoming Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital, slated for 2025. Under her leadership, North Region hospitals have earned the top ten Vizient rankings and Leap Frog A ratings for quality and safety. Before Houston Methodist, Dr Sukin held executive positions at CHI St. Luke’s Health System and its hospitals. An active community advocate, she has served on several boards, including Interfaith of The Woodlands, The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership, Woodforest National Bank and the Angelman Syndrome Foundation’s Medical Advisory Board. Dr Sukin has received numerous accolades, including being named one of Modern Healthcare’s ‘Up & Comers’, earning the Regent’s Early Careerist Healthcare Executive Award, and recognition as a top Woman Hospital and Health System Leader. In 2021, she was inducted into the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame. She has a PhD in health policy and health management from The University of Texas Health Science Center and a master’s in healthcare administration from Washington University and is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Trent Fulin , with over 12 years of healthcare leadership experience, is the Senior Vice President and CEO of Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital. He played a pivotal role in developing and opening Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital, in 2017, serving as Vice President and COO. Fulin successfully oversaw the hospital’s $250m campus expansion, introducing a patient-centric tower with innovative technology and a futuristic design. His visionary approach in implementing evidence-based, outcome-driven programmes led the hospital to earn numerous accolades and certifications, including Comprehensive Stroke Certification and DNV Orthopedic Center of Excellence designation. Before his tenure at Houston Methodist, Fulin held several leadership positions at HCA, Inc., contributing significantly to facilities like Clear Lake Regional Medical Center and Pearland Medical Center. He holds a bachelor of science in health policy and administration from Pennsylvania State University and an MBA from Texas Tech University and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Actively engaged in community services, Fulin has served on various boards and committees, including The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society — Montgomery County. He is a 2019 graduate of Leadership Montgomery County. Fulin resides in Houston, Texas, with his family.

Murat Uralkan serves as the Director of Innovation at the Houston Methodist Center for Innovation (CFI), having joined at its inception in 2018. He oversees the Center for Innovation’s portfolio and manages strategic partnerships, contributing significantly to CFI’s national recognition in digital innovation. Additionally, he supervises the operations of the Tech Hub, Houston Methodist’s living laboratory for digital innovation, and, most recently, Tech Hub @ ION, which serves as the Center’s community collaboration and outreach hub. In his role Murat steers a diverse project portfolio, implements strategic initiatives and establishes foundational programmes at CFI. He collaborates closely with executive leadership, playing a pivotal role in the centre’s development. His international experience encompasses consulting projects in strategy, business development and operational commissioning in Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Turkey with Houston Methodist Global. Murat holds a master of health administration from Cornell University’s Sloan Program and a bachelor of arts in economics from Bogazici University, Turkey. Recently, he earned the distinction of being named one of the 40 Under 40 by Healthcare Innovation Magazine, underscoring his significant contributions to healthcare innovation.