TIRR CEO E. Ashley Smith Accepts New Position With The University of Texas.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 6, 2002

The TIRR Systems board of trustees has announced that E. Ashley Smith is stepping down from the position of CEO and president of TIRR Systems and has accepted a position as vice chancellor of governmental affairs and policies with The University of Texas Systems in Austin. His new position takes effect in January 2003.

While Smith will no longer be responsible for the day-to-day operations of TIRR Systems and its member organizations, he will assume the position of vice chairman for the TIRR Systems board and will retain membership on the boards of The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research, TIRR Rehabilitation Centers and TIRR Foundation. Smith has been a TIRR board member since 1996. In February 1997, Smith joined TIRR as executive vice president and chief administrative officer. In 1999, Smith was elected to president and chief executive officer for TIRR.

"Ashley Smith has been associated with TIRR for 6 years and during his tenure he has helped lead the organization in achieving significant milestones," said Howard Wolf, chairman of the board for TIRR Systems. "While we regret that he will no longer be involved in the day-to-day operations for TIRR, we are grateful that he agreed to continue to provide leadership and wisdom through his board involvement. As he embarks on this new leadership, we wish him the very best success."

Under Smith's leadership, The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research has strengthened its reputation as a premier rehabilitation hospital in the United States and increased its ranking to No. 2 (up from No. 8) in an annual survey of physicians by U.S. News & World Report. During that same time period, TIRR Rehabilitation Centers has expanded to eleven locations in the Texas Gulf Coast region and has increased the annual number of patient visits from 19,000 to 108,000 over the past five years.

Smith has had extensive experience in legislative affairs through his work as an attorney with the law firm of Hutcheson and Grundy and served as a state representative with the Texas Legislature from 1980 to 1994. From 2001 to the present, Smith has served as senior advisor to Governor Rick Perry. In 2001, Smith was appointed by Governor Perry as chairman of the Governor's Council on Science and Biotechnology Development.

Smith is a member of the board of the Texas Hospital Association and served on the executive committee; he is also a member of the board of the American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association (AMRPA) and is a diplomat with the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).

Decisions about replacing Smith at TIRR Systems are being reviewed by management and the board, and an announcement is expected to be forthcoming by the middle of December.

ABOUT TIRR

Recognized as one of the leading rehabilitation hospitals in the country, according to the 2002 U.S. News & World Report's annual survey of best hospitals, TIRR serves as a model system for rehabilitation, patient care and medical education, and a center of research. TIRR is located in the world-renowned Texas Medical Center, and its reputation comes from more than 40 years of experience in rehabilitation and research, a high caliber of physicians and clinicians, comprehensive programs and services, and first-rate facilities.