Q&A with Board Member Debra Brennan Tagg

Like her mother, Debra Brennan Tagg loves to give on behalf of children. Initially a volunteer at Children’s Health in the early 2000s, Debra has since served on various Children’s Health boards and committees that have helped shape Children’s Health into the leading pediatric health system of North Texas.

A Certified Financial Planner and President of BFS Advisory Group, Debra was appointed in 2021 to the Children’s Health System of Texas Board of Directors to support the Children’s Health mission to make life better for children.

Tell us your story. How did you get involved with Children’s Health?

My parents have supported Children’s for many years and were among some of the first donors to the Plano campus. I have volunteered my whole life, and when I moved back to Dallas from Los Angeles in my twenties, I looked for a volunteer opportunity. Once I found out that I could visit the hospital weekly and hold the babies, that was it for me. 

What is your professional background?

I am a wealth manager and the President of BFS Advisory Group. My dad started Brennan Financial Services in 1983, and I joined my siblings there in 1998. I worked side by side with my family for 20 years, and then founded BFS Advisory Group in 2021.

How has your professional experience advanced your service to Children’s Health?

The medical and financial services industries have a great deal in common: very qualified professionals serving people in a highly regulated industry where many things are not predictable. Learning about the particular issues in health care that Children’s Health must consider has been a learning curve, but the way to make a smart decision in that environment is very similar.

How do you explain your role on the Children’s Health System of Texas board to friends and family?

Our role is to make strategic decisions on behalf of the children and families that require the services of Children’s Health, as well as the medical teams that serve them, whether that’s today or in the future.

When you were looking to get involved in an organization, why did you choose Children’s Health?  

My experience with Children’s Health as a volunteer was intense – filled with both heartache and joy to see what some of our youngest people deal with, and how they respond with such resilience. I was continuously overwhelmed with admiration for the medical teams – their expertise, their patience, their profound strength – and wanted to serve where I was able so they could continue serving the kids.

What is something you’re particularly proud of through your service to Children’s Health?   

When I accepted the role of Chair of the Investment Committee, I did not expect that we would need to look for a new CIO. That opportunity did present itself, and the committee devoted extraordinary time and expertise to choosing our current CIO, Ken Lee. We re-imagined the structure of the investment committee and team and have added significant capabilities under Ken’s leadership.

What is your superpower?

Empathy. Almost by default, I put myself in other people's shoes and try to see life through their eyes. It’s probably one of the reasons that I enjoy volunteering so much, especially at Children’s Health.

CHILDREN’S MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION

CHILDREN’S MEDICAL CENTER DALLAS OPERATING DIVISION

CHILDREN’S MEDICAL CENTER PLANO OPERATING DIVISION

CHILDREN’S HEALTH℠ SYSTEM OF TEXAS