Concepcion Garza Jr.
Temple,TX
Summary
Healthcare professional with thorough understanding of patient advocacy and healthcare systems. Known for achieving impactful results by ensuring patients receive resources and support they need. Highly collaborative, adaptable to changing environments, and consistently dependable. Expertise in patient education and healthcare navigation, with strong focus on empathy and integrity.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Healthcare Advocate
Texas Veteran Commission
03.2024 - Current
- Advocated for veterans' healthcare access through comprehensive case management and resource navigation by collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to develop tailored care plans addressing individual veteran needs.
- Conducted outreach events to generate resources for Texas veterans in the community increasing positive health outcomes
- Developed a comprehensive Best Practices PowerPoint briefing for the Veterans Affairs Domiciliary and delivered it to Southeast District staff to support consistent, high-quality service delivery
- Utilizes Salesforce daily to document veteran data and communications with accuracy and confidentiality, ensuring full compliance with HIPAA standards.
- Briefed veterans at the Temple Veterans Affairs (VA) Domiciliary, Waco VA Recovery in Supportive Environment (RISE), and the Seriously Mental Ill Life Empowerment (SMILE) Programs providing clear guidance on available Texas Veteran Commission services, program expectations, and support resources to enhance patient understanding, engagement, and continuity of care.
- Served as a Council Member for the Central Texas Mental Health Council, collaborating with regional stakeholders to improve access to mental health services, shape policy recommendations, and advocate for community-centered, evidence-based behavioral health initiatives
First Sergeant (Personnel Supervisor/Trainer)
US Army
07.2016 - 05.2019
- Directly supervised 6 staff members overseeing 109 personnel, providing 24/7 aeromedical evacuation coverage for all Department of Defense personnel in Hawaii.
- Ensured timely and accurate submission of company administrative actions and patient records, maintaining compliance with organizational standards and data integrity.
- Fostered strong relationships with the Family Readiness Group and unit leaders to ensure soldiers and families had access to critical resources during deployments and unforeseen circumstances.
- Collaborated with six company program managers to align operations with the Director’s intent, identify barriers to success, and allocate resources to optimize program outcomes.
- Prepared and delivered quarterly company training and administrative briefings to the Director, Executive Officer, and senior staff.
- Supervised the logistics team responsible for managing the company’s administrative and operational budget.
- Managed company training data using the Digital Training Management System (DTMS), generating reports to analyze performance trends and provide actionable guidance.
- Produced quarterly performance reports for six direct-report staff members, supporting professional development and accountability.
- Selected as a Not In My Squad (NIMS) facilitator for the U.S. Army initiative, promoting squad cohesion, junior leader empowerment, and proactive prevention of sexual assault and harassment.
- Served as an Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB) Board Member, maintaining the badge’s prestige and ensuring candidates demonstrated expert-level proficiency as healthcare specialists.
Senior Healthcare NCO (Medical Administration)
US Army
06.2015 - 06.2016
- Performed management and supervisory duties supporting more than 400 military and civilian staff across primary care, physical therapy, and pharmacy services, serving a population of over 63,000 enrolled soldiers, family members, and retirees.
- Implemented Healthcare Specialist training courses in collaboration with a provider to strengthen primary care assessment skills for medical screeners and nurses.
- Served as project manager for the first-ever Separation Health and Physical Exam (SHPE) initiative, coordinating space, furniture, technology, and medical equipment requirements for nine providers and support staff to deliver 10,000 exams annually.
- Tracked, analyzed, and reported multiple data sets for the Chief Nurse, identifying trends across five Army Medical Homes to support operational decision-making.
- Completed the Basic Healthcare Administration Course, gaining foundational knowledge in healthcare finance, patient privacy, medical records management, medical terminology, and automated health information systems to enhance administrative proficiency.
Healthcare Sergeant (Medical Administration)
US Army
06.2014 - 06.2015
- Served as a Healthcare Specialist at Soldier Family Medical Center, delivering care and support to 17,000 beneficiaries across 4 primary care clinics and 10 ancillary support clinics.
- Participated on an Internal Joint Commission Inspection Team, assessing 18 clinics within William Beaumont Army Medical Center, identifying deficiencies, and driving corrective actions to improve compliance and patient care quality.
- Supervised and coordinated the inaugural Ebola Medical Response Teams, conducting medical screenings for over 693 military personnel returning from West Africa.
- Directed the seasonal Child and Youth Services/Sports Physical program, completing over 200 physicals while maintaining seamless patient access and clinic operations.
- Implemented telemedicine solutions at a remote medical clinic, ensuring uninterrupted healthcare access for 4,700 Soldiers with minor illnesses and non-battle injuries.
- Partnered with the Chief Clinical Nurse to enforce compliance with Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) standards, monitoring key performance metrics to optimize health plan outcomes for diverse patient populations.
Medical Operation Manager
US Army
11.2012 - 06.2014
- Gathered, researched, and analyzed medical and dental readiness data for the Western Region Medical Commander, supporting an area of responsibility encompassing 19,812 soldiers across 20 states.
- Established, tracked, and managed over 927 training requirements, operational orders, and tasks across 11 Regional Medical Treatment Facilities within the Western Region Medical Command, ensuring readiness and compliance for 19,812 soldiers across 20 states.
- Served as a Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) Specialist, coordinating and implementing comprehensive primary prevention programs addressing individual, interpersonal, organizational, and community factors contributing to sexual harassment and assault.
- Certified Master Resilience Trainer, instructing soldiers and personnel in resilience skills—including goal setting, energy management, and problem-solving—through Army Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness (CSF2) and Air Force Comprehensive Airmen Fitness (CAF) programs.
First Sergeant (Personnel Supervisor/Trainer)
US Army
10.2010 - 11.2012
- Directly supervised 6 staff members overseeing 95 personnel providing 24/7 aeromedical evacuation coverage across four remote locations in RC-North, Afghanistan, supporting the treatment and transport of 291 urgent-care patients.
- Ensured timely and accurate submission of all company administrative actions and patient documentation, maintaining data integrity and full compliance with HIPAA standards.
- Built strong relationships with the Family Readiness Group and unit leadership to ensure soldiers and families were informed of available resources and support programs during deployments and unexpected hardships.
- Developed and delivered a comprehensive medical evacuation capability brief to the Medical Director for Western Afghanistan, enhancing operational awareness and coordination.
- Assisted in creating SOPs and training requirements for the first-ever joint Norwegian, Swedish, German, and U.S. forward and tactical aeromedical evacuation operations.
- Participated in four developmental conferences designed to train and mentor the next generation of Army medical leaders.
- Managed company training data within the Digital Training Management System (DTMS), generating reports to analyze performance trends and recommend improvements.
- Supervised the logistics team responsible for managing the company’s administrative and operational budget.
- Collaborated with six company program managers to align activities with the Director’s intent, identify obstacles, and allocate resources to ensure program success.
- Prepared and delivered quarterly company training and administrative briefings to the Director, Executive Officer, and senior staff.
Observer Controller/Trainer (Mentor)
US Army
03.2009 - 10.2010
- Provided technical guidance and mentorship to 14 medical organizations, preparing more than 2,000 soldiers for deployment to austere and resource-limited medical environments.
- Coached and mentored 70 medical personnel on best practices during three medical readiness exercises, enhancing clinical preparedness and operational capability.
- Oversaw the emergency medical plan for 964 soldiers during 60 days of large-scale training operations, ensuring comprehensive risk mitigation and rapid-response readiness.
- Developed, resourced, and executed 165 medical training scenarios to assess and validate deployment readiness requirements for 14 medical organizations ahead of a major medical mission.
- Conducted seven site visits to aeromedical evacuation companies, building rapport with command teams and identifying organizational gaps through structured program evaluations.
NCOIC Flight Physiology Branch
US Army
06.2005 - 02.2009
- Supervised and instructed within the Flight Physiology Branch at the U.S. Army School of Aviation Medicine, developing, writing, and delivering aeromedical training for more than 3,500 soldiers and civilians annually across 38 Army Training and Doctrine Command and 12 Army Medical Command programs of instruction.
- Contributed to the development and implementation of the Army’s first Reduced Oxygen Breathing Device, significantly enhancing aviator and aircrew safety by reducing training risks associated with hypoxia instruction.
- Instructed over 1,500 medical students in Flight Medic, Flight Surgeon, and Critical Care program curricula, ensuring high-quality aeromedical and operational training.
- Served as the Army’s only Enlisted Chief Flight Supervisor for the training hypobaric chamber; certified as an Air Force Aerospace Physiology Technician.
- Acted as a subject matter expert for two major programs of instruction, providing authoritative guidance on aeromedical training standards.
- Recognized as Fort Rucker Instructor of the Quarter (2007) for excellence in military aviation instruction.
- Completed Total Army Training Instructor and Small Group Instructor certification, demonstrating advanced expertise in adult military education and instructional methodology.
Education
Master of Science - Public Health Education and Promotion
Texas State University
San Marcos, TX12-2023
Bachelor of Science - Healthcare Management
Excelsior College
Albany, NY01.2021
Skills
- Health literacy
- Healthcare navigation
- Healthcare education
- Healthcare advocacy
- Ethics and confidentiality
- Customer service
- Creativity and innovation
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving abilities
- Calm and effective under pressure
Texas Veterans Commission Rookie Rockstar Award
The Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) Rockstar Rookie Award recognizes a rising professional who demonstrates outstanding service and commitment to veterans, shows notable growth and excellence in their role, and exhibits strong potential for advancing responsibilities within the agency. This award is designated for employees with less than 18 months of TVC service.
Timeline
Healthcare Advocate
Texas Veteran Commission
03.2024 - Current
First Sergeant (Personnel Supervisor/Trainer)
US Army
07.2016 - 05.2019
Senior Healthcare NCO (Medical Administration)
US Army
06.2015 - 06.2016
Healthcare Sergeant (Medical Administration)
US Army
06.2014 - 06.2015
Medical Operation Manager
US Army
11.2012 - 06.2014
First Sergeant (Personnel Supervisor/Trainer)
US Army
10.2010 - 11.2012
Observer Controller/Trainer (Mentor)
US Army
03.2009 - 10.2010
NCOIC Flight Physiology Branch
US Army
06.2005 - 02.2009
Bachelor of Science - Healthcare Management
Excelsior College
Master of Science - Public Health Education and Promotion
Texas State University