Don McBeath
Senior Consultant
512.531.3900
Don McBeath has a broad knowledge of both local government and health care that he brings to SPI’s consulting team. He has served in county government and is thus familiar with local government issues that include criminal justice, corrections, courts, facilities management, emergency preparedness, transportation system development and human resources. Following his political career, he spent nearly 10 years in the health care/higher education field.
Don’s local government career began in 1981, when he served as chief of staff and chief information officer in the Lubbock County District Attorney’s Office. In 1990, he ran for and was elected Lubbock County Judge, a position he held from 1991 to 1998. Not only was he responsible for administrative and budgetary oversight of the county, but also for the county’s hospital – University Medical Center, the teaching hospital to Texas Tech University.
That proved to be a natural transition to a career in health care and higher education as Don spent the next eight years as Director of Telemedicine and Rural Health at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. He then was named Director of Special Projects there, a position he held until his retirement in 2007, and was involved in such issues as health care workforce development and telemedicine. He also works closely with Texas rural and community hospitals regarding how they can best reach their goals.
Don holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Texas Tech University.
