The Irving-based Health Industry Council (HIC) of North Texas has absorbed BioDFW. The integration of the two nonprofit organizations, which was effective June 1, included a transfer of assets from BioDFW to HIC’s foundation.
Formed in 2003 to promote life science locally, BioDFW was an alliance of leaders in industry, education, government and nonprofit organizations that represented several healthcare disciplines, such as research, medical devices, information technology, and finance.
BioDFW’s board will serve on the HIC’s healthcare technology taskforce and help produce an annual half-day forum to showcase the life science industry in North Texas. Leslie Casey, HIC vice president of membership, said BioDFW had a monthly luncheon attendance of about 50 members. She said the luncheons would continue under the HIC umbrella.
HIC plans to promote the local life-science industry by hosting networking events, workshops, and seminars, and by creating a regional resource guide to life-science related activities. The organization, which has 170 corporate members, provides networking and education events that connect local healthcare sectors such as hospitals and health systems, health plans, workplace wellness, medical device makers, and pharmaceuticals.
Russ Williamson, HIC president and CEO, said the members of both organizations would benefit from the exposure to broader perspectives of approaching healthcare issues. He said the addition of BioDFW to HIC would buttress its role as a “conduit and facilitator for voices” in healthcare.
Doug Rasor, BioDFW’s chairman of the board of directors, said, “BioDFW and HIC both have had strong support from North Texas healthcare institutions. Bringing the two organizations together gives the region a single focused organization to find innovative ways to address the pressing healthcare problems facing our region … and the country.”
