David B. Vliet, MBA, CEO

Biography – David B. Vliet, MBA

David B. Vliet serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for CommUnityCare and was recently appointed to the National Association of Community Health Centers Board of Directors as a regional representative for community health centers in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. He has led CommUnityCare through a significant transition as it changed status from being a department of the City of Austin to becoming a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation Mr. Vliet oversaw the creation of a new infrastructure to support the new organization. He has also helped to grow CommUnityCare to over 62 providers and has opened or added six new clinic locations during his tenure as CEO. The practice has received over $2.8 million in federal stimulus grant funding in 2009 to expand services and access to care. Under his leadership, the practice is also adopting a new clinical practice improvement model to increase access to care, and to improve efficiencies and quality of care. Recently, Mr. Vliet was elected to the Texas Association of Community Health Centers Board of Directors and worked closely with the association to support the passage of Texas House Bill 2154. The legislation helps address the critical shortage of primary care providers by offering loan repayment options to those who practice in medically underserved areas across the state of Texas.

For three years prior to taking the helm in 2005, Mr. Vliet served as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the Community Health Centers (organizational name under the City of Austin). In that role, Mr. Vliet oversaw all aspects of the system's operations and was instrumental in working with his team to move the clinics toward automation with the acquisition and implementation of NextGen, an integrated electronic health record and practice management system. He led the effort to integrate other service areas and established new positions that further enhanced the healthcare delivery system.

Mr. Vliet holds a bachelor's degree in health services administration, a master's degree in business administration, and 15 plus years of practice management experience in both primary care and specialty care settings. Prior to coming to Texas, Mr. Vliet served as the Senior Manager for Clinic Operations at the Nemours Children’s Clinic in Orlando, Florida. A nationally recognized, multi-specialty pediatric group practice and hospital, Vliet oversaw operations at this 75-plus physician medical practice. He also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Central Florida.

In addition to his love of healthcare, Mr. Vliet is an accomplished piano player and performer. A jazz and blues enthusiast, Mr. Vliet regularly performs in various groups at local venues.