Dennis Gonzales, Ph.D., born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is senior director of mission innovation and integration at The Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA). Based in CHA’s St. Louis office, Dr. Gonzales oversees the design and production of numerous CHA programs, meetings, and member convenings in addition to the development of formation andmission resources for use across the Catholic health ministry.

Most recently, he served as the regional vice president for mission integration at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System and The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio. Initially joining CHRISTUS Health in 2008 as a quality and performance improvement facilitator, he soon moved to director of the organizational development department, and then vice president for mission and spirituality at CHRISTUS St. Vincent Health System in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Dr. Gonzales is a graduate of the prestigious CHRISTUS Health Leadership & Ethics Academy, which recognizes and prepares promising leaders for the future of the Catholic health ministry.

Before joining CHRISTUS Health, he served as associate dean for academics at a small, private university where courses in health care administration, computer technology, business, and general education were offered. He has also served as a regional director and senior consultant for a multi-site medical case management company based in Southern California. A former De La Salle Christian Brother, he was a high school instructor of ethics, theology, church history, Christian and Hebrew Scriptures, government, and economics.

At CHA, he also authors bi-monthly columns for CHA’s journal, Health Progress, and is responsible for oversite of CHA’s Mission Leader Advisory Council and Well-being Task Force, as well as a variety of task forces, seminars, and forums sponsored by CHA. Dr. Gonzales serves on the boards of The National Association of Latino Healthcare Executives, The Coalition for Physician Well-being, The Incarnate Word Foundation, and The Migrant, Immigrant & Refugee Network of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word of San Antonio.

He holds a doctoral degree in organizational development from the University of New Mexico; a master’s degree, earned Magna Cum Laude, from San Diego State University’s Department of Educational Technology, with an emphasis in organizational development; and a bachelor’s degree in political science and education, earned Magna Cum Laude, from Loyola University in New Orleans, with a minor in Spanish. Dr. Gonzales is certified in Conflict Management and Workplace Mediation. He is also trained and serves as a mentor and executive coach.