LIVING LEGEND (HEALTH EDUCATION) Hon. Barbara Odom-Wesley

Dr. Barbara Odom-Wesley completed her early education and was raised in Orange, Texas by her parents, Elzie and Ruby Odom. She is the only daughter and oldest child, with one younger brother, Elzie Jr. Her foundation for service to others was established in this small Texas town with roots and values from the Freedman’s community of Shankleville.

After graduating from the segregated High School with honors, she earned the B.S. degree In Medical Record Administration at Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, TX. Odom earned an M.A. in multidisciplinary studies (Business Management, Political Science & Health Care) at IWC. She remained in San Antonio working for Bexar County Hospital District and returned to her Alma Mater to lead the Health Information Management department.

Barbara relocated to Arlington, TX in 1980 to accept the HIM department head position at Texas Woman’s University. She earned a PhD in Health & Family Science there and achieved tenured status as a full professor. Dr. Odom-Wesley retired from TWU after 25 years. Additionally, she taught at UTA as an adjunct professor in Health Care Administration and started her consulting business, MedPro Services. However, she was called back into a full-time academic appointment at DeVry University. She established, earned accreditation and directed the Health Information Technology Program for ten years and retired in 2015. As an educator, Dr. Odom-Wesley mentored, enlightened and fostered a path for countless students. One of her great joys today is to see the accomplishments of her graduates.

Throughout her 50-year career, she was active in professional organizations, serving in many volunteer positions culminating with president of the San Antonio, Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas statewide, and only the second African-American elected as president of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). She contributed to the Body of Knowledge for the profession with her groundbreaking research and dissertation on Consumer Informatics: Development of a model for Family Medical Records. She conducted workshops across the country and internationally for the International Federation of Health Information Management Organizations. She has authored over 100 articles on various HIM topics and two textbooks: Medical Record Handbook for Physicians’ Offices and Guidelines for Medical Record Documentation. She shared her extensive knowledge by serving on multiple advisory boards including United Way, Texas Health Resources, Arlington Memorial Hospital, Home Health Services of Dallas, and educational institutions as an accreditation surveyor. As she retired, she received the AHIMA Educator Award: Making Dreams Come True. She received the “Key to the City” of Orange, Texas when she spoke at her 40th High School Class Reunion.

Today, Dr. Odom-Wesley is an emeritus member and Fellow for AHIMA. Alongside her professional service, she has been active in service to the community, blessing others. She is a life member of the NAACP and serves on the executive board, as health committee co-chair. When she moved to Arlington and found no chapter of her beloved Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, she led the effort to establish a chapter and became the chartering president. Today, she is a 56-year Golden and Life member of AKA and the Arlington chapter has grown to over 400 strong. She has been recognized by the sorority as Woman of the Year and Business leader of the Year. The Arlington Graduate chapter established a scholarship in her honor, The Spirit of Achievement. She is a charter member of the MLK Celebration Committee in Arlington. She has always served in her church in a variety of capacities and favors the Married Couples’ Ministry.

With her passion for service, she extended her purpose, preparation and expertise to serve as an elected public official. She followed her father’s footsteps, Elzie Odom, Arlington’s first African American elected to the City Council and then as Mayor. Dr. Odom-Wesley is the first Black female elected to the Arlington City Council, and serves as the District 8 representative, At Large. First elected in 2019, she was re-elected in 2021 and recently elected to her third and final 3-year term concluding in 2026. She also serves as Deputy Mayor Pro Tempore. On Council she has focused on eliminating disparities and building unity in Arlington. She is chair of the Municipal Policy Committee, Secretary for the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation, representative to regional transportation coalitions and Vice-Chair for the National League of Cities’ Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She represents Arlington on the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition and the United Way Steering Committee. Her priorities going forward include: Promote Healthy Communities and enhance regional mobility.

This March, Dr. Odom-Wesley and her husband, Curtis, celebrated 40 years of marriage. They are parents of three adult children: Krystal James of New Orleans, Clifton & Veonicca Wesley of Madison, Alabama and Amber James of Atlanta. They have one grandchild, Elizabeth Wesley. Barbara’s motivation for this legendary life comes from I Corinthians 4:2, “To whom much is given, much is required.”

2022 Jesse Gaines Law

2020-2021

2019