SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Nov. 9, 2026) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM) has earned international recognition for workplace excellence, receiving the Employee Engagement and Empowerment Category Award and a 6-Star Best Practice Award at the 12th International Best Practice Competition (IBPC 2026), for its award-winning “Creating a Thriving Workforce" initiative. MHM was recognized for its innovative, employee-centered approach to building a thriving workforce and strengthening organizational performance.  

Presented by Best Practice Improvement Resource (BPIR), the International Best Practice Competition is a global benchmarking and knowledge-sharing program that evaluates organizational practices against internationally recognized standards of excellence. This year's competition included 165 qualifying entries from 12 countries, with only 24 entries advancing to finalist status, and an even smaller group achieving prestigious 6-Star and 7-Star distinctions. The award places MHM among a distinguished group of organizations recognized worldwide for excellence in workforce engagement and organizational performance. 

The recognition validates a decade-long commitment by MHM to organizational excellence and continuous improvement. Guided by the Baldrige Excellence Framework, MHM has systematically invested in strengthening its workplace culture, developing its workforce and creating systems that enable team members to thrive while advancing the organization's vision of improving the health and wellness of underserved communities throughout South Texas. The award affirms MHM's belief that creating a thriving workforce strengthens its ability to fulfill its mission, advance health equity and deliver meaningful impact across the region. 

"Organizations that aspire to create lasting community impact must first create an environment where their people can thrive," said Jaime Wesolowski, President and CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. "This international recognition is a proud milestone for MHM and validates our commitment to excellence, continuous improvement, and investing in our team members. By fostering a culture where people feel valued, supported, and empowered, we strengthen our ability to improve the health and wellness of underserved communities throughout South Texas. We are honored to be recognized alongside leading organizations from around the world." 

The award-winning Creating a Thriving Workforce initiative grew out of MHM's broader excellence journey and reflects the organization's belief that fulfilling its mission begins with empowering and equipping team members to operate at the highest levels of skill, engagement, and impact. It was designed to create shared ownership of employee engagement through a holistic approach centered on belonging, purpose, and continuous improvement. 

Unlike traditional employee engagement programs that rely primarily on annual surveys, MHM's Thriving Workforce model incorporates a comprehensive Internal Voice of the Customer process that includes employee engagement surveys, monthly officer listening sessions, annual town halls, and regional listening tours. Workforce feedback is reviewed by a cross-functional Thriving Workforce Task Force representing employees across disciplines and organizational levels, ensuring diverse perspectives help shape organizational decisions.  

Using Lean Six Sigma principles, the task force analyzes employee feedback, identifies emerging workforce needs, and develops recommendations for leadership consideration. This structured approach has led to the implementation of numerous workforce-focused initiatives, including expanded parental and bereavement leave, volunteer time off (VTO), paid time off (PTO) donation programs, leadership development opportunities, educational partnerships, student loan repayment assistance, financial wellness programs, and a team member emergency relief program.  

"At Methodist Healthcare Ministries, workforce engagement is not a standalone initiative. It is a strategic capability that strengthens everything we do," said Oanh Maroney-Omitade, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). "By intentionally listening to our team members and investing in their success, we create a culture where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others." 

The international recognition further builds on MHM's growing reputation for excellence. In recent years, the organization earned the 2023 Achievement Award and the 2024 Texas Governor's Award for Performance Excellence from the Quality Texas Foundation. MHM was also recognized as a finalist for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, one of the nation's highest honors for organizational performance excellence.  

MHM's Thriving Workforce model is one example of how the organization applies proven excellence frameworks to strengthen its operations and increase its impact across the 74 counties it serves. By investing in employee well-being, engagement, and professional growth, MHM enhances its ability to advocate for, invest in, and provide access to healthier, more resilient communities.  

For more information about Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., visit https://www.mhm.org.  

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 About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM)  

Methodist Healthcare Ministries broadens the definition of healthcare by providing low-cost clinical care for the uninsured and by supporting community-led efforts that improve living conditions that cause people to be sick in the first place. Using its earnings as co-owners of Methodist Healthcare, the organization strives to ensure that people who are economically disadvantaged and uninsured can live their healthiest lives. This is accomplished by advocating for, investing in and providing access to quality clinical care and addressing factors that affect health—including economic mobility, supportive relationships, food security, broadband access, and safe neighborhoods. Ultimately, the organization fulfills its mission of ‘Serving Humanity to Honor God’ by advancing health equity so that more resilient individuals and families living in its 74-county South and Central Texas service area can thrive.  

(San Antonio, TX, October 30, 2026) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM) today celebrated the official groundbreaking of Ministry Park, a transformative new development in the heart of the South Texas Medical Center that will expand access to affordable lodging for patients and families traveling to San Antonio for specialized medical care. 

Located on approximately 16 acres bounded by Wurzbach Road, Floyd Curl Drive, and Medical Drive, Ministry Park represents a long-term investment in community health and well-being. Envisioned by MHM's Board of Directors, the development reflects the organization's mission of Serving Humanity to Honor God and its commitment to reducing barriers that prevent individuals and families from accessing the care they need. 

"For years, our board and community partners have shared a vision of transforming this property into a place dedicated to healing, hospitality, and hope," said Jaime Wesolowski, President and CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. "Today, that vision begins to take shape. Ministry Park represents an investment not only in buildings and infrastructure, but in the people and families who come to San Antonio seeking care, healing, and a place to belong." 

To bring this vision to life, MHM established MHM RealCo, a faith-based, mission-driven real estate company dedicated to creating places where all can thrive. Led by President & CEO Christian E. Oviatt, MHM RealCo is responsible for the planning, development, and stewardship of the property, ensuring each phase remains grounded in MHM's values and long-term commitment to community impact. 

"Ministry Park was never intended to be just a development project. It was envisioned as a strategic investment in people, access to care, and the future of our community," said Lavonne Garrison, chair of the MHM RealCo Board of Directors. "By helping patients and families stay closer to the care they need, we are creating a place where health, healing, and hope can thrive together." 

The groundbreaking marks the first phase of development, which includes a more than 250-room, dual-branded Home2 Suites and Hilton Garden Inn. Each year, thousands of patients travel to San Antonio seeking specialized healthcare services, often requiring extended stays that can create significant financial hardship for families already navigating serious health challenges. 

Central to the project is MHM's commitment to ensuring that economically disadvantaged patients and families can access safe, convenient accommodations while receiving care. A dedicated number of rooms will be made available at significantly reduced rates, including no-cost stays for qualifying families facing financial hardship. 

The hotel will complement and expand upon the efforts of organizations such as Ronald McDonald House Charities, the Fischer House, and the American Cancer Society Methodist Healthcare Ministries Hope Lodge, helping ensure more visitors to the South Texas Medical Center have access to high-quality accommodations close to their care providers. By reducing lodging as a barrier to treatment, the development aims to improve health outcomes and increase access to lifesaving care. 

"This is more than a real estate project. It's a long-term investment in community health," said Christian E. Oviatt, president and CEO of MHM RealCo. "We are intentionally creating a place where patients, families, healthcare professionals, and the broader community can find connection, support, and opportunities to thrive." 

Another key component of the first phase is a public park and enhanced streetscape designed by TBG Partners. The development will feature approximately 15,000 square feet of accessible green space, including a central lawn, shaded arrival plaza, nature exploration areas, rain garden, water feature, and boardwalk. 

Improvements along Wurzbach Road will include shade trees, pedestrian lighting, benches, and specialty paving designed to create a more walkable, welcoming and pedestrian-oriented environment within the Medical Center. 

"The most successful medical centers today are more than collections of hospitals and clinics. They are communities designed to support patients, families, healthcare professionals and innovation," said Richard Perez, president of the San Antonio Medical Foundation. "Ministry Park strengthens the South Texas Medical Center's ability to serve our region while ensuring future growth is guided by purpose, partnership and community impact." 

Strategically located within the South Texas Medical Center and zoned for mixed use, Ministry Park is positioned to meet both healthcare and commercial needs. Future phases of development will be informed by continued community engagement and best practices from leading medical center developments across the country. 

As the project evolves, MHM and MHM RealCo will continue working alongside community stakeholders to ensure Ministry Park remains focused on its guiding vision: creating a place where all can thrive. 

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.  

Methodist Healthcare Ministries broadens the definition of health care by providing low-cost clinical care for the uninsured and by supporting community-led efforts that improve living conditions that cause people to be sick in the first place. We use our earnings as co-owners of Methodist Healthcare to ensure that people who are economically disadvantaged and uninsured can live their healthiest lives. We do this by advocating for, investing in, and providing access to quality clinical care and addressing factors that affect health—including economic mobility, supportive relationships, food security, broadband access, and safe neighborhoods. Ultimately, we fulfill our mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God” by advancing health equity so that more individuals and families living in the 74 counties we serve can thrive.  

About Methodist Healthcare Ministries affiliate MHM Realco  

MHM Realco is a faith-based, mission-driven real estate company harnessing our resources to create places in which all can thrive. 

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM) announced key additions to its executive leadership team, including the promotion of Oanh Maroney-Omitade to the newly created role of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), the naming of Sandra Martinez as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, the appointment of Dr. Tiffany Grant as Vice President of Organizational Excellence, and the appointment of Stewart C. Weaver as Vice President of Information Technology & Services. 

All four leaders assumed their roles during the third quarter of 2026, bringing extensive experience in leadership, strategy, operations, technology, organizational development and stakeholder engagement to support MHM's mission of Serving Humanity to Honor God. 

"Strong leadership is essential to advancing our mission and ensuring we continue delivering meaningful impact across South Texas," said Jaime Wesolowski, President and CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. "Oanh, Sandra, Tiffany, and Stewart each bring exceptional expertise, vision, and a deep commitment to service. Together, they will help strengthen our organization and position us for continued success as we work to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve." 

Oanh Maroney-Omitade Promoted to Chief Administrative Officer 

 As Chief Administrative Officer, Maroney-Omitade will oversee Strategic Planning, Organizational Excellence, Communications, and Human Resources, helping drive alignment across key administrative functions while advancing MHM's long-term strategic priorities and organizational culture. 

The creation of the CAO role reflects MHM's continued commitment to strengthening the systems, people, and processes that enable the organization to deliver on its mission and maximize impact across South Texas. 

Maroney-Omitade is a key architect of MHM's organizational excellence journey. Throughout her 25+ year tenure, she has led efforts to strengthen organizational effectiveness, leadership development, employee engagement, and continuous improvement. Under her leadership, MHM established its Organizational Excellence function, implemented its first organizational culture map and leadership system, expanded leadership development programs, and advanced inclusion and workforce engagement strategies that continue to shape the organization's culture and performance. 

She has also played a pivotal role in guiding MHM's pursuit of performance excellence through the Baldrige Excellence Framework. Working closely with leaders and team members across the organization, Maroney-Omitade helped embed a culture of continuous improvement and accountability that has strengthened operations, enhanced decision-making, and improved outcomes for the individuals, families, and communities MHM serves. Her leadership has helped position MHM as a recognized leader in organizational excellence and reinforced its commitment to becoming a role-model organization at both the state and national levels. 

Maroney-Omitade earned a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and master’s degrees from the University of Texas at San Antonio and Texas A&M School of Law. She is a Baldrige Executive Fellow. 

Sandra Martinez Named Vice President of Strategic Partnerships 

As Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Sandra Martinez leads efforts to identify, cultivate, and steward strategic relationships that advance MHM's mission and long-term vision for health equity, thriving people, and thriving places. 

Martinez previously served as Vice President of Strategy & Partnerships, where she oversaw MHM's Strategy and Impact department, including strategic planning and development, research, and partnerships. In that role, she provided executive leadership for the organization's strategic planning efforts and helped advance initiatives focused on addressing the systemic and root causes of health inequities across South Texas. 

With more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning health and human services, public policy, and the nonprofit sector, Martinez has played a key role in strengthening MHM's capacity as a partner, convener, and catalyst for change. She has led efforts to establish strategic partnerships that support cross-sector collaboration and systems-level impact while helping position MHM as a trusted thought leader in the communities it serves. 

In her new role, Martinez will oversee the organization's strategic, systems-level partnerships that strengthen collaboration among philanthropic organizations, healthcare institutions, public and private sector partners, faith-based organizations, and civic leaders. She will also provide leadership for key initiatives, regional convenings, and strategic memberships that support MHM's strategic plan and advance collective action around shared community priorities. 

Martinez earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a master's degree in political science from the University of Texas at San Antonio

Dr. Tiffany Grant Joins as Vice President of Organizational Excellence 

Dr. Grant brings more than 20 years of experience advancing organizational effectiveness, leadership development, and strategic growth across education and nonprofit sectors. 

In her role as Vice President of Organizational Excellence, she leads efforts focused on strengthening organizational culture and performance, cultivating leadership capacity, and ensuring sustainable impact across the organization. 

Known for building high-performing teams and driving transformational change, Grant has served in senior leadership positions in the education and nonprofit sectors at both the local and national levels. She has served as Chief of Staff for San Antonio Independent School District, and Chief of Staff and Interim Chief Operations Officer for Communities in Schools National Office. Her expertise spans organizational development, change management, strategy execution, and cross-functional leadership. 

Grant holds a Doctor of Education from Lamar University, a Master of Business Administration from Wayland Baptist University, and a bachelor’s in communications from Texas A&M University. She is a certified career and life coach. 

Stewart C. Weaver Named Vice President of Information Technology & Services 

As Vice President of Information Technology & Services, Weaver oversees MHM's technology strategy, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and technical services. 

A seasoned executive with more than 25 years of experience, Weaver has led enterprise transformation, cloud modernization, and technology initiatives across healthcare, government, and global business sectors. 

Prior to joining MHM, Weaver served as Managing Partner at AOI Business Consulting, where he led digital transformation and artificial intelligence enablement strategies for healthcare and nonprofit organizations. He also held senior technology leadership positions with the Georgia Department of Public Health and InterContinental Hotels Group. 

Weaver holds an Executive MBA from Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from DeVry University. He is a certified Project Management Professional and holds multiple credentials in change management, Agile methodology, cloud technologies, and AI leadership. 

Wesolowski added that these leadership appointments reflect MHM's continued investment in talent, innovation, and organizational excellence. 

"Fulfilling our mission for the people and places we serve begins with empowering and equipping our team members to operate at the highest levels of skill and impact," Wesolowski said. "The addition of Tiffany and Stewart, alongside Oanh's promotion to CAO and Sandra’s appointment to a new role, reflects our commitment to investing in exceptional leadership that strengthens our organization from within. Together, these leaders bring the expertise, innovation and collaborative spirit needed to help Methodist Healthcare Ministries advance health equity and create lasting impact throughout South Texas." 

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. 

Methodist Healthcare Ministries broadens the definition of healthcare by providing low-cost clinical care for the uninsured and by supporting community-led efforts that improve living conditions that cause people to be sick in the first place. We use our earnings as co-owners of Methodist Healthcare to ensure that people who are economically disadvantaged and uninsured can live their healthiest lives. We do this by advocating for, investing in and providing access to quality clinical care and addressing factors that affect health—including economic mobility, supportive relationships, food security, broadband access, and safe neighborhoods. Ultimately, we fulfill our mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God” by advancing health equity so that more resilient individuals and families living in the 74 counties we serve can thrive.