University Health currently operates two hospitals, including University Hospital, a 716-bed hospital that serves as South Texas’ only civilian Level I trauma center and first and only Level I pediatric trauma and burn center, and the 300-bed University Health Women’s & Children’s Hospital, designated as both a Level IV Maternity Center and Level IV NICU (the highest levels). Other designations include a Comprehensive Stroke Center, Level IV Epilepsy Center, and nationally recognized Organ Transplant Institute.
University Health also operates a non-profit HMO, Community First Health Plans, Inc., and a non-profit multi-specialty physician practice, University Medicine Associates.
University Health is recognized as a three-time Magnet health care organization by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and a Digital Health Most Wired Level 10 leader for acute and ambulatory care from the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME).
Hernández has served as a member of the “Code Red” Task Force on Access to Health Care in Texas. He has also chaired both the Teaching Hospitals of Texas (2005–08) and the Texas Hospital Association (2013).
The American Hospital Association and CHIME awarded Hernández and University Health’s Chief Information Officer the Transformational Leadership Award in 2008. In 2009, the Texas Council of Community MHMR Centers honored Hernández as the recipient of the Frank M. Adams Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service. Modern Healthcare Magazine named him as a Top 25 Minority Executives in Healthcare for 2010. In 2016, Hernández received the Reynaldo G. Garza Lifetime Achievement Award by the State Bar of Texas, Hispanic Issues Section, for his commitment to addressing concerns affecting the Hispanic community and advancing diversity and access to justice in the practice of law. In 2020, Hernández was honored with the prestigious Earl M. Collier Award by the Texas Hospital Association. In 2021, he was the recipient of the Living the Chaminade Legacy Award from St. Mary’s University. In 2023, Texas & M-San Antonio honored him with its Dream Maker recognition.
Hernández is a native Texan. He earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s University and a law degree from George Washington University School of Law in Washington, D.C.
