Memorial Hermann Health System's CEO, David Callender, will retire at the end of the year, the health system announced Monday.
Callender, M.D., has served as CEO since 2019, and has spearheaded "a period of significant change and transformation" at Memorial Hermann, including leading the charge on the system's multi-year effort to drive greater value for patients, improve access to care and deliver a better patient experience.
This effort also extended to the health system's workforce, and making improvements to drive a more fulfilling career for its teams, Memorial Hermann said in the announcement.
Chief Financial Officer Alec King will succeed Callender as CEO on Jan. 1, the health system said.
"It has been one of the great privileges of my career to serve Memorial Hermann and the Greater Houston community," Callender said in the release. “I am incredibly proud of what our employees and physicians have accomplished for our patients and the communities we serve."
"Together, they have built a larger, stronger and more capable health system, better positioned than ever to create healthier communities across Greater Houston," he continued. "I have tremendous confidence in Alec and the Memorial Hermann team as they carry this important work forward."
King joined Memorial Hermann in 2020, per the announcement, and has also played a key role in the health system's strategic shift over the past several years. As CFO, he currently oversees multiple core priority areas, including payer relationships, revenue cycle, supply chain and cybersecurity.
The health system said the leadership transition is "the culmination of a deliberate, multi-year succession planning process focused on developing strong internal leadership talent and preparing Memorial Hermann for its future."
"Under Dr. Callender’s leadership, we have built tremendous momentum, and I believe our greatest opportunities lie ahead," King said in the announcement.
"As health care continues to evolve and Greater Houston grows, our nonprofit mission calls us to take a long-term view of the communities we serve," he added. "I look forward to working alongside our employees and physicians to build on our strength, meet Greater Houston’s changing needs and improve the health of the people and communities we serve."