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D.T. Nguyen, JPS board chair, left, swears in newly appointed member David Mansdoerfer during a board meeting July 10, 2025, at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. (Mary Abby Goss | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\nThe JPS Health Network board of managers swore in two new members at its July meeting and bid farewell to its departing chair and vice chair.<\/p>\n
New members Demetria Bivens and David Mansdoerfer joined the 11-person board following their appointment by the Tarrant County Commissioners Court. The board governs the county hospital district and is responsible for tasks such as selecting the hospital\u2019s president and setting its budget.<\/p>\n
Bivens was appointed by Precinct 2 Commissioner Alisa Simmons.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bivens founded her business development consulting firm, dlb Consultants, in 2014. She described herself as \u201can advocate for minority- and women-owned businesses and small businesses\u201d as well as a learner.<\/p>\n
Bivens said she aims to support her fellow board members and the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a servant, and I\u2019m very excited to be appointed to this board,\u201d she said, addressing her new colleagues after she was sworn in.<\/p>\n
Bivens replaces Amanda Arizola, who was appointed by former Commissioner Devan Allen in 2019 and served as vice chair.\u00a0<\/p>\n
D.T. Nguyen, JPS board chair, left, swears in newly appointed member David Mansdoerfer during a board meeting July 10, 2025, at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. (Mary Abby Goss | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n
Mansdoerfer was appointed by Precinct 3 Commissioner Matt Krause.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mansdoerfer served as deputy assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during President Donald Trump\u2019s first administration.<\/p>\n
He is currently a senior adviser for the Independent Medical Alliance, a nonprofit formerly known as the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance. The organization promoted ivermectin<\/a> as effective against COVID-19. The American Medical Association and American Pharmacists Association have discouraged its use<\/a> to prevent or treat the virus and said the drug\u2019s effectiveness is not proven.<\/p>\n \u201cMy agenda is to improve health outcomes in Tarrant County, and I think a safety net hospital plays an integral role in looking at some of the most disparate communities of impact here in Tarrant County,\u201d Mansdoerfer said.<\/p>\n He replaces Roger Fisher, who was appointed by former Commissioner Gary Fickes in 2015.\u00a0<\/p>\n Fisher, who began serving as chair in 2024, emphasized that his departure was a reflection of the commissioners\u2019 right to choose their own political appointees and not of his performance on the board. He said he was proud of everything the board had accomplished during his decade-long term.<\/p>\n \u201cWhether I return to public service or contribute in some other way, I\u2019ll carry this experience with me with deep respect for the mission and even more respect for the people who show up to do the work every day,\u201d Fisher said to the board.<\/p>\n Board member D.T. Nguyen is now chair.\u00a0<\/p>\n Arizola also addressed the board, reflecting with emotion on her time as a member and her personal experience with the hospital. She said her mother spent much of her final two years of life at JPS and recalled the kindness the staff showed her sister, who was her mother\u2019s primary caretaker.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the heart of JPS,\u201d Arizola said.<\/p>\n McKinnon Rice is a reporting fellow for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at mckinnon.rice@fortworthreport.org.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n
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