Bill G. Lance, Jr., Secretary of Commerce for the Chickasaw Nation, has been named to the board of directors overseeing OU Health, the state’s comprehensive academic healthcare system.
Lance manages the Chickasaw Nation’s commercial business enterprise, which has approximately 7,000 employees and is comprised of more than 60 gaming, hospitality, retail, media, manufacturing and tourism-related businesses. Previously, he served as administrator of the Chickasaw Nation Health System, overseeing healthcare operations, including construction of the 370,000-square-foot Chickasaw Nation Medical Center in Ada.
“Having Bill on the board as an OU Health Community Director will be invaluable as we grow and develop innovations to address the healthcare needs of Oklahomans,” said Jason Sanders, M.D., MBA, Senior Vice President and Provost of the OU Health Sciences Center and Acting Board Chair of OU Medicine, Inc. “He brings a wealth of experience in healthcare operations and a deep understanding of the needs of Oklahomans.”
Lance is a fifth-generation Oklahoman and a member of the Chickasaw Nation. He earned a bachelor of science degree from East Central University in Ada, and a master of public health degree from the Hudson College of Public Health at the OU Health Sciences Center. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and is a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma Class XXV.
In addition to his role as Secretary of Commerce, he serves on the board of directors for several businesses owned by the Chickasaw Nation, including Global Gaming Solutions, LLC; Sovereign Native Holdco, LLC, and related subsidiaries; and Chickasaw Nation Industries, Inc.
Global Gaming Solutions operates Remington Park in Oklahoma City and Lone Star Park in Dallas/Fort Worth, and provides consulting and management services in tribal and commercial gaming industries. Sovereign Native Holdco is a holding company that includes investments in residential and commercial real estate, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and energy and mineral holdings. Chickasaw Nation Industries is a holding company that includes subsidiaries focused on government contracting, industrial filtration, network services, research and development, and testing and evaluation.
Lance also serves as a Chickasaw Nation delegate on the Executive Committee of the American Gaming Association, the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes, and an alternate delegate to the National Indian Gaming Association and the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association. He is a member of the Board of Trustees for both the OU Foundation and the Chickasaw Foundation, and he serves on the BancFirst Board of Directors.
“Bill is passionate about improving the quality of life of all Oklahomans through accessible healthcare services,” said G. Rainey Williams, Jr., chair of the University Hospitals Authority and Trust (UHAT). “We are grateful to have him on board as we leverage our missions of patient care, research and education to create a healthier Oklahoma.”
UHAT Secretary Anthony F. “Chip” Keating, III, who nominated Lance to the board of directors, said Lance’s experience across healthcare and many other areas makes him ideal to help guide the future of OU Health. “Bill’s leadership for the Chickasaw Nation is superb, and he has extensive knowledge of health systems,” Keating said. “He will play a significant role in the future of OU Health.”
Lance and his wife, Sherri, live in Sulphur. They have a daughter and two sons.
