Robert Weech-Maldonado, MBA, Ph.D. was appointed to the L.R. Jordan Endowed Chair in Health Administration in 2008 by the University of Alabama Board of Trustees. He is a Professor in the Department of Health Services Administration. Dr. Weech-Maldonado is a national authority in health disparities, cultural competency tools for healthcare organizations, racial and ethnic differences in patient experiences with care, and long-term care. Imparting this expertise to students, researchers and healthcare leaders may improve management’s ability to fully understand and better address challenges faced by racial/ethnic minorities and the elderly, possibly dramatically improving access and quality of care outcomes for these populations. After receiving his Ph.D. from Temple University in Philadelphia in 1998, Dr. Weech-Maldonado assumed appointments as Assistant Professor, the Pennsylvania State University and tenured Associate Professor, University of Florida prior to joining the UAB faculty in 2008.