Dr. David Vequist
Senior Advisor - Strategic Management, Medical Travel and Innovation
Dr. David G. Vequist IV, PhD the founder and Director of the Center for Medical Tourism Research (www.medicaltourismresearch.org) – the premier academic Medical Tourism research institute. Dr. David G. Vequist IV is also a Full Professor and tenured faculty of Management in the H-E-B School of Business & Administration at the University of the Incarnate Word (3rd largest university in state of Texas, USA). In his previous career, Dr. Vequist was an executive at the Methodist Healthcare System, a multi-billion dollar healthcare provider (also a joint venture with HCA- the largest hospital system in the U.S.). Before that, Dr. Vequist was a consultant for Ernst & Young, LLP working with Fortune 500 companies. He is also an entrepreneur that sold a training business to Bloomberg. Professor Vequist has been a featured keynote at many conferences, worked with companies/governments/NGOs (such as the UN), and been featured in the media (e.g., the New York Times, Reuters, CNBC). He received his PhD and Masters from the University of Tulsa and his B.S. from Northern Arizona University. Dr. Vequist is a well-known speaker, presenter, and futurist on subjects such as medical tourism, training, and human resources and the author of many articles, books and chapters.A sample list of seminars, university teaching, masterclass workshops and conference presentation, delivered by David Vequist. All the topics were either discussed in advance with the hosts or customized to fit specific needs of the participating organizations. Some were followed by consulting work.
Seminars, University Teaching, Masterclass Workshops and Conference Presentation
(2022). Secretaría de Economía, Encuentro Nacional de Clusters de Turismo de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
(2022). Research on How the Pandemic Changed Medical Tourism (pdf on download link), Medical Korea 2022, Seoul, Korea.
(2022). Foreign medical tourists coming to the US, Dallas, Texas.
(2022). Medical Tourism and Africa, E-Tourism Business Awards & Conference.
(2021). Medical Tourism Investments, MHTC insigHT 2021, Kuala Lumpur.
(2021). Medical Tourism and Diplomacy, Diplomat Health Conference, Washington, D.C., USA.
(2021). Strategies for the Development and Management of International Medical Tourism, Centro Fox, Guanjuato, Mexico.
(2021). Medical Tourism in a Post Pandemic World, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
(2021). Digital Revenue Management in Healthcare Post Pandemic, (Virtual) Malaysia.
(2021). International Medical Travel and HIV Treatment, Control and Prevention of HIv/AIDs, Abu Dhabi.
(2021). Trends for Healthcare Investors, Tr-County Chamber, San Antonio, Texas.
(2020). Evidence of the Economic Impacts of Medical Tourism to India, Invited presentation at Medical Health Tourism 2020, Mumbai, India.
(2019). Simulation of a Logical Model for the Reducing of Healthcare Costs. Southwest Academy of Management, San Antonio, Texas.
(2019). Free Market Healthcare & Economic Growth in Asia. Invited presentation at Liberty International World Conference, ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia.
(2019). El potencial de los estados, regiones e instalaciones de Turismo Médico: un algoritmo. Invited presentation at PANASALUD 2019, Panama City, Panama.
(2019). Medical Tourism: Patient Consumerism on the Rise. Invited presentation at Healthcare Think Tank LLC- Houston, Houston, Texas.
(2018). JCI accreditation – Signaling or Strategy? IMTJ Bi-Annual Academic Conference, Athens, Greece.
(2018). Medical Tourism: Patient Consumerism on the Rise. Invited presentation at Healthcare Think Tank LLC- North Texas, Dallas, Texas.
(2018). A Logical Model for the Reducing of Healthcare Costs. UIW Research Week, San Antonio, Texas.
(2018). Medical Tourism: Patient Consumerism on the Rise. Invited presentation at Healthcare Think Tank LLC – San Antonio, Texas.
(2018). Medical Tourism: Impact to Eastern Europe. Invited presentation at Liberty International World Conference, Krakow, Poland.
(2018). Legal Issues in Global Health. Invited presentation at International Law Section- State Bar of Texas, San Antonio, Texas.
(2017). The Ethics of Medical Tourism. Bioethics, Medical Ethics and Health Law. Presentation at UNESCO conference, Cyprus.
(2017). Medical Tourism: Free Markets. Invited presentation at Liberty International: Secrets to Preventing and Treating Disease in the Ever-Changing U.S. Health Care Landscape, Austin, Texas.
(2017). The Amazing Organic Growth of Patient Consumerism in Unexpected Places: Medical Tourism in Cuba. Invited presentation at Liberty International World Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
(2017). Growing Patient Consumerism (Keynote). THSU TCM Research Summit, Austin, Texas.
(2016). Medical Tourism Best Practice for Cuba. Invited presentation at Faculty Development in International Business (FDIB): Cuba, Havana, Cuba.
(2014). The Retirement & Healthcare Tourism Master Class, Manila, Philippines.
(2014). Health Tourism Trends. Health and Wellness Tourism, Stresa, Italy.
(2014). Medical Tourism Panel. Invited presentation at eMerge Americas, Miami, Florida.
(2013). Medical Tourism and Cross Border Medical Care. Seoul, Korea.
(2013). Medical Tourism in Galveston. Galveston, Texas.
(2013) European Medical Tourism Research Symposium, Heidelberg, Germany.
(2012). Retirement Tourism: The Grey Gold. Well-Being and Medical Travel Conference. Phoenix, Arizona.
(2012). Medical Tourism Potential in India. Invited presentation at Indian Medical Tourism Conference and Alliance, Hyderabad, India.
(2012). Medical Tourism and Healthcare Information Technologies (HIT): Enablers or Barriers? 2012 HIMSS Texas Regional Conference, Galveston, Texas.
(2012). How does retirement tourism fit into global healthcare? Meditour Expo, Las Vegas, Nevada.
(2011). U.S. Healthcare Reform: Impact for Latin America. Invited presentation at Service Summit Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala.
(2011, April). Inbound Medical Tourism. American College of Cardiology Administrators, Chicago, Illinois.
(2010). Results from a Study of American Medical Tourists, Global Healthcare & Medical Tourism Conference.
(2010). Latest Statistics in Medical Tourism, Global Spa Summit, Istanbul, Turkey
(2010, June). Death Tourism: An Explorative Study. Ethical Issues in Medical Tourism, Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
(2010). Turkey and Medical Tourism, Hetex, Antalya, Turkey
(2009). Medical Tourism Research. Global Healthcare & Medical Tourism Conference. Seoul, Korea.
(2009). Best Practices in Customer Service from Foreign Healthcare Providers, The Beryl Institute Conference.
(2009, April). Medical Tourism in India. South Asian Studies Association, Orlando, Florida.
(2007). Medical Tourism: Forecasting Future Trends. 6th International Smart-Sourcing Conference, Atlantic City, New Jersey.
(2007). Small, Entrepreneurial BioTech Firms and Commercial Bank Lending: A Study. USASBE 2008, San Antonio, Texas.
(2004). The Development of a Nomological Network to Describe New and Emerging Technologies in Healthcare. 13th International Conference on Management of Technology (IAMOT), Washington, D.C., Maryland.
Media Pieces
2022: Vequist, D. G., ‘People will travel’, USA Today
2022: Vequist, D. G., They project a medical tourist cluster in Piedras Negras, Capital Coahuila.
2022: Vequist, D. G., They will certify PN in medical tourism, Zocalo.
2022: Vequist, D. G., Norma Treviño meets with staff from the University of the Incarnate Word, GMN.
2022: Vequist, D. G., E-Tourism Business Awards, Sahara Weekly.
2021: Vequist, D. G., Research identifies four trends that will help medical tourism, International Medical Travel Journal (IMTJ).
2021: Vequist, D. G., In Messico per Messick le cure low cost, Italia Oggi.
2021: Vequist, D. G., They travel more to the US, but for vaccines, La Reforma (Mexico).
2021: Vequist, D. G., Thousands of Mexicans travel to the US to get vaccinated against covid-19, Dallas Morning News/Al Dia Dallas.
2021: Vequist, D. G., How COVID cost Houston $294 million in medical tourism dollars last year, Houston Chronicle.
2021: Vequist, D. G., Medical tourism is drawing patients, even in a pandemic., New York Times.
2021: Vequist, D. G., Starts V International Congress of Health and Wellness Tourism, DiaRioSalud.com
2021: Vequist, D. G., Fifth edition of the International Congress of Health and Wellness Tourism develops a successful agenda of panels and conferences, Travel Trade Caribbean
2020: Vequist, D. G., Hospitals lose billions in hit to medical tourism, Becker’s Hospital Review.
2020: Vequist, D. G., Medical tourism craters during coronavirus pandemic, hospitals lose billions, CNBC News.
2020: Vequist, D. G., ‘The Future Looks Bleak’: The Pandemic Ravages Medical Tourism., New York Times.
2020: Vequist, D. G., Advisor 2020, Finseca / Gama Foudaton
2019: Vequist, D. G., US citizens going to other countries for cheap health care., AFP.
2019: Vequist, D. G., Agenda Del La Conferencia Panasalud 2019, Do Health Well.
2019: Vequist, D. G. Thailand, Singapore and India are leading medical tourism in Asia. Thailand Business News.
2019: Vequist, D. G., Liberty International World Conference Mongolia 2019 – Report.
2018: Vequist, D. G., Health Consumerism & Free Markets, Liberty International (YouTube).
2018: Vequist, D. G., Medical Tourism in Poland, Radio Hussar.
2017: Vequist, D. G., Inbound Medical Travel to the US, Middle East Health.
2017: Vequist, D. G., Le Tourism Medical, Tour Hebdo.
2017: Vequist, D. G., Egypt looks to health care sector to heal tourism, Zawya.
2017: Vequist, D. G., Medical Globalization and Free Trade, Libertarian Party Bexar County (YouTube).
2017: Vequist, D. G., Healthcare Globalization, Liberty International (YouTube).
2017: Vequist, D. G., Focus on Medical & Health Tourism, TalkTravel Magazine.
2017: Vequist, D. G., Medical Tourism, Al Jazeera English.
2017: Vequist, D. G., Medical Tourism Is Big Business But Still an Emerging Market, Skift Magazine.
2016: Vequist, D. G., CORPORATE WELLNESS PROGRAMS IN TEXAS, Texas CEO Magazine.
2016: Vequist, D. G., What ‘Obamacare’ means for medical tourism abroad, Anchorage Daily News.
2016: Vequist, D. G., Winning Strategies for Retirement Abroad, Consumers Digest.
2015: Vequist, D. G., Dr. David Vequist: Research Data Highlights Impact of Technology and Global Healthcare, Medical Travel Show.
2015: Vequist, D. G., Retire Abroad? Not So Fast., Research Magazine.
2014: Vequist, D. G., Should You Have Surgery Abroad?, AARP Magazine.
2014: Vequist, D. G., Headed for a facelift?, BenefitsPro Magazine.
2014: Vequist, D. G., The Best Money Saving Strategy Most Texas CEOs Aren’t Using, Texas CEO Magazine.
2014: Vequist, D. G., Is medical tourism headed for a facelift?, BenefitsPro Magazine.
2014: Vequist, D. G., Foreign patients boost Houston’s medical economy, Houston Public Radio.
2013: Vequist, D. G., Seven ways that Boomers are rewriting the rules of retirement, Reuters
2013: Vequist, D. G., Dream of Retiring Overseas, Financial Planning.com.
2013: Vequist, D. G., Island could become medical tourism Mecca, Houston Chronicle.
2013: Vequist, D. G., Trends in Lasers: Burgeoning Uses Offer Growth Opportunities., Photonics Magazine.
2013: Vequist, D. G., Mexicans choosing S.A. for medicine, San Antonio Express News.
2012: Vequist, D. G., Medical Tourism’s Impact on Healthcare, Reuters.
2012: Vequist, D. G., Hyderbad to host conference on medical tourism, New Dehli TV
2012: Vequist, D. G., UIW Med Tourism Meet Set for February, San Antonio Express News.
2012: Vequist, D. G., What Obama’s Affordable Care Act Means for the World’s Hospitals, Global Post.
2012: Vequist, D. G., Test, rested and replaced, BenefitsPro Magazine.
2012: Vequist, D. G., U.S., Mexico Draw Up New Health Security Plan, Dallas Business Journal.
2012: Vequist, D. G., Overseas Retirement Boom Is ‘Gray Gold’ for Agents, Travel Market Report.
2012: Vequist, D. G., Dental Tourism: An Opportunity for Public Health, Compendium.
2021: Vequist, D. G., Hyderbad to host medical tourism conference, The HealthSite.com.
2012: Vequist, D. G., Conference on Medical Tourism, MedIndia.
2011: Vequist, D. G., Pop Culture, Wealthy Chinese Spur Medical Tourism in Asia, Reuters / New York Times.
2011: Vequist, D. G., Concerns Grow Over Medical Tourism in Asia, Voice of America (East Asia)
2011: Vequist, D. G., Affluence Spurs Asian Medical Tourism, Seoul Times.
2011: Vequist, D. G., Asia Cashing in on Medical Tourism, Tourism Cambodia.
2011: Vequist, D. G., Chinese Medical Tourism, China Daily, Newspaper (largest English-language Chinese newspaper).
2011: Vequist, D. G., New Froniers: Medical Tourism, ENT Today, Magazine (for U.S.-based ENT physicians).
2010: Vequist, D. G., More Americans going global for health care, Houston Chronicle
2010: Vequist, D. G., Medical Tourism, Access, Magazine (for U.S.-based Dental Hygienists).
2010: Vequist, D. G., Alamo City primed to become med-tourism hub, San Antonio Business Journal, Newspaper.
2010: Vequist, D. G., Medical Tourism and Puerto Vallarta, Simply Puerto Vallarta, Web-based TV station.
2010: Vequist, D. G., Medical Tourism, HealthyMagination, Website (GE’s healthcare trend website).
2009: Vequist, D. G., Worst Medical Tourism Disasters, Travel & Leisure Magazine (online).
2009: Vequist, D. G., Medical Tourism Research, Medical Tourism Wiki at www.MedicalTourism.com.
2009: Vequist, D. G., Medical Tourism Economic Report: Medical Tourism’s Impact on the Pharmaceutical Industry, Medical Tourism Magazine, Issue 13.
2009: Vequist, D. G., Medical Tourism Economic Report: Jordan, Medical Tourism Magazine, Issue 12.
2009: Vequist, D. G., & Valdez, E., Medical Tourism Economic Report: Inbound Medical Tourism in the United States, Medical Tourism Magazine, Issue 11.
2009: Vequist, D. G., Valdez, E., & Morrison, B., Medical Tourism Economic Report: Latin America versus Asia, Medical Tourism Magazine, Issue 10.
2009: Vequist, D. G., & Valdez, E., Medical Tourism Economic Report: El Salvador, Medical Tourism Magazine, Issue 9.
2009: Vequist, D. G., & Gursoy, B., Medical Tourism Economic Report: Turkey, Medical Tourism Magazine, Issue 8.
2009: Vequist, D. G., Health Care Takes a Vacation, BioPhotonics Magazine.
2009: Vequist, D. G., Atención Médica En México, Atractiva Para 45 Millones De Estadounidenses Sin Seguro, El Financiero.
2009: Vequist, D. G., UIW’s Center for Medical Tourism Research (CMTR), KENS5 (CBS) News.
2009: Vequist, D. G., UIW Creates Medical Tourism Think Tank, San Antonio Express News.
2008: Vequist, D. G., Medical Tourism in the Philippines, Wow Philippines.
2008: Vequist, D. G., & Valdez, E., Medical Tourism Economic Report: Medical Equipment Sales, Medical Tourism Magazine, Issue 7.
2008: Vequist, D. G., & Valdez, E., Medical Tourism Economic Report: South Korea, Medical Tourism Magazine, Issue 6.
2008: Vequist, D. G., & Valdez, E., Medical Tourism Economic Report: Philippines, Medical Tourism Magazine, Issue 5.
2008: Vequist, D. G., & Valdez, E., Medical Tourism Economic Report: Monterrey, Mexico, Medical Tourism Magazine, Issue 4.
2007: Vequist, D. G., Medical Tourism: Forecasting Future Trends, NewMedicalHorizons.com.
Experience
- Founder/Director, Center for Medical Tourism Research, Center for the Americas (2007 – Present)
- Full Tenured Professor of Management & Strategy, H-E-B School of Business, University of the Incarnate Word (2001 – Present)
- VP, Healthcare Standards Institute (2020 – Present), Dallas, Texas.
- Consultant, Colombia Pro-Export, National Strategy for Medical Tourism, Colombia.
- Trainer, Schlumberger (2014 – Present), Four continents so far…
- Trainer, San Antonio Area Foundation (SAAFnd) Non-Profit Social Media Analytics Class (January, 2014 – December, 2017), San Antonio, Texas.
- Trainer, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (November, 2014 – November, 2014), Manila, Philippines.
- Consultant, UN CEPAL, Economic Impact of US Medical Tourism on Latin America, Americas.
- Medical Tourism Primer (2 day course), Egyptian Private Hospital Association (August, 2010 – December, 2010), Cairo, Egypt.
- Consultant, Korea KHIDI, National Strategy for Medical Tourism, Korea.
- Senior Consultant, Endeavor Management, LLC (formerly called Holland & Davis, LLC) (June, 2003 – January, 2009), Houston, Texas.
- Interim VP of HR; Director of HR, Planning and Systems, Methodist Healthcare System (July, 1998 – August, 2002), San Antonio, Texas.
- Senior Consultant, People AdvantEDGE team, Ernst & Young LLC (July, 1996 – July, 1998), Dallas, Texas.
- Carl Albert Executive Fellowship (Internship), State of Oklahoma (January, 1995 – July, 1996), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
- HR Research Internship, AT&T Corporate Headquarters (then SBC Communications) (June, 1994 – December, 1994), San Antonio, Texas.
- Owner, Consulting Business, 21st Century Strategies (formerly- American Innovative Solutions) (May, 1993 – Present), San Antonio, Texas.
- Laboratory Director / Research Assistant, Nonconscious Processing Laboratory, University of Tulsa (August, 1991 – June, 1994), Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Areas of Expertise
- Healthcare Management
- Strategic Management
- Project Management
- Organizational Development
- Agility, Change Management & Innovation
- Entrepreneurship
- Human Resource
- Emerging Technologies
Industry Expertise
- Healthcare/Hospitals, Professional Organizations, Regulatory Compliance
- Prevention of errors and strategies for teamwork, including key professional involvement
- Specific training strategies for teamwork and ongoing improvement methodologies
- Clinical, ethical and organization readiness for Medical Tourism/Travel
Former Employers
- HCA
- E&Y
Education
- BA
- MA
- PhD
Professional Memberships and Certifications
- Multiple organizations,
- Board of Directors in multiple organizations