David L. Callender, MD, MBA, FACS
President & CEO
Memorial Hermann Health System
In his role, Dr. Callender is responsible for leading the System’s more than 34,000 employees and 6,400 affiliated physicians across 250 care delivery sites, including 17 hospitals and numerous specialty programs and services. Since his appointment, he has established a multi-year strategy for Memorial Hermann aimed at enabling the entire health system to create more value for patients and populations; this includes delivering the greatest outcomes at an optimal cost, creating exceptional experiences for patients and a fulfilling work environment for its workforce, and improving health equity in the communities Memorial Hermann serves.
Through a focus on high-value care, recruitment of highly experienced leadership, service line transformation, facility expansions, strategic investments and partnerships, and philanthropic initiatives, Dr. Callender is leading a robust effort - together with community stakeholders - to help address barriers to health care and overall wellbeing for all Houstonians.
Most recently, Dr. Callender was recognized by the Houston Business Journal as one of Houston’s “Most Admired CEOs” and, for the second consecutive year, was named by Modern Healthcare as one of “The 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare.”
Dr. Callender is a tenured Professor of Otolaryngology at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB Health). He serves on the Board of The United Way of Greater Houston and is a member of the University of Houston’s Board of Visitors.
Before joining Memorial Hermann, Dr. Callender served as President of UTMB Health for 12 years. Other previous roles include Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer for the UCLA Hospital System and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Dr. Callender received his medical degree and completed his residency at Baylor College of Medicine. He also completed an oncology fellowship with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and earned an MBA from the University of Houston.