First Texas Affiliate of Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA) Launched in San Antonio to Promote Networking and Educational Opportunities; September Launch Event to Feature National and Local Healthcare Business Leaders.

SAN ANTONIO -- San Antonio-based members of the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA), a leading global professional organization, announced today that they have formed the first HBA Affiliate in Texas to provide networking, educational and career development opportunities to members of the Greater San Antonio area's rapidly growing $14 billion healthcare and bioscience industry.

The San Antonio HBA Affiliate will host its launch event at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 21, 2006 at the San Antonio Marriott Northwest. The event will feature Lynne D. Sly, President of Therapeutic Surfaces for Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (KCI), the San Antonio-based medical technology firm that is the new Affiliate's first corporate sponsor. Also featured will be Nancy Larsen, two-time past HBA president and President of PROmedica Communications, Inc., a New York-based medical education company; Laurie P. Cooke, RPh, HBA Chief Executive Officer; and Deb Wells, Founder and President of the HBA San Antonio Affiliate.

"There is a large and unmet need for networking opportunities in San Antonio, home to world-class research institutions, promising start-up companies, and established businesses that are expanding regionally, nationally and internationally," said Deb Wells, who also is President and CEO of StrokeGuard, a care management services company for stroke prevention. "Our Affiliate will serve as a valuable resource for the greater San Antonio business, medical and academic communities, and we look forward to welcoming professionals and corporate sponsors to our organization in the months ahead."

Established in 1979, the New Jersey-based HBA has close to 3,600 individual and nearly 100 corporate members, with chapters and affiliates across the United States and in Europe. The HBA's mission is to provide networking, educational, training and career guidance opportunities to men and women in the healthcare field. HBA members span all career stages and disciplines, including research and development, marketing and sales, medical and consumer education, legal, finance and administration.

The San Antonio Affiliate seeks to attract professionals in medical devices, services and pharmaceutical businesses; biotech firms; academic and medical institutions; as well as insurance, managed care and health systems. In addition, the HBA is open to healthcare industry service providers, including advertising, medical education and publishing agencies.

"KCI is very pleased to be involved in launching the new affiliate because it promises to have lasting impact in the greater San Antonio business community," noted Lynne Sly of KCI. "It will serve as an important forum for networking opportunities that can stimulate new ideas and concepts, expand leadership capabilities and enable personal and professional growth."

Anyone interested in attending the Sept. 21 launch event can register via the HBA Web site: http://www.hbanet.org/affiliate/sanantonio/default.asp. The cost is $25 for HBA members and $30 for non-members.

In addition to its President, Deb Wells, the San Antonio HBA Affiliate Steering Committee is made up of the following members: Treasurer: Deborah Fischer, Director, KCI USA Finance; Programs Committee: Lisa Beebe, Administrator, University of Texas Health Science Center, Department of Neurosurgery; Membership Committee: Karen Geri, Agent/Owner, Diversified Employee Benefit Services; Publicity and Marketing: Kirsten Gallagher, Principal, KHG Communications, Inc.; and Advisory Group: Marian Sokol, President, First Candle, and Ann Stevens, President, BioMed SA.