Memorial Hermann Health System is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. James “Jamie” McCarthy to Executive Vice President and Chief Physician Executive, where he will oversee Memorial Hermann’s entire physician organization and further establish a physician-centric, integrated network of care across Greater Houston. His appointment is effective March 19, 2018.
Dr. McCarthy is a well-respected leader and experienced clinician with a proven track record in physician leadership and collaboration. Throughout his career, he has improved patient outcomes and experiences, and implemented best practices for safe, high-quality and efficient care.
In a period of unprecedented evolution for the healthcare industry, a strong physician organization and leader is critically important toward maintaining a culture of safe, high-quality care built upon a foundation of innovation and collaboration. In this newly created role, the Chief Physician Executive will serve as a strategic clinical member of the executive team, further reinforcing Memorial Hermann’s commitment to becoming a clinically-driven organization.
Most recently, Dr. McCarthy served as Associate Professor and Chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, Memorial Hermann’s longstanding academic partner. As part of that academic affiliation, Dr. McCarthy also served as Chief of Emergency Medical Services at Memorial Hermann’s flagship facility, Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center (TMC).
“Time and again, Dr. McCarthy has demonstrated his commitment to empowering physicians and leaders to continuously improve the care we provide patients and their families. He has unified physicians across the organization toward a common goal of delivering the highest level of patient care,” said Memorial Hermann President and CEO Chuck Stokes. “His many years of experience and demonstrated ability to build relationships through trust and collaboration were key factors in our selection criteria. In addition, Dr. McCarthy’s clinical skills and commitment to build a strong physician organization, clearly make him the ideal leader for the position.”
As Memorial Hermann continues to enhance the patient care experience and embrace new models of healthcare delivery, Dr. McCarthy has been tapped with fostering a tighter alignment between the more than 6,000 affiliated physicians that currently practice at Memorial Hermann hospitals, clinics and outpatient facilities. Memorial Hermann’s physician organization includes a diverse set of clinically-integrated doctors, comprised of those employed by UTHealth, private physicians and physicians employed by Memorial Hermann Medical Group.
“Memorial Hermann has been able to deliver remarkable, industry-leading health care thanks to our valued relationships with the physicians who comprise our aligned physician organization,” Stokes said. “We look forward to continuing to enhance this relationship, while engaging the collective expertise of thousands of talented healthcare providers to take our patient care to the next level.”
Dr. McCarthy brings to the role more than 17 years of experience in healthcare, including serving as the physician leader responsible for overseeing emergency medical care at Memorial Hermann-TMC, which is home to the Red Duke Trauma Institute, the nation’s busiest Level I trauma center, as well as Memorial Hermann Life Flight®, the system’s signature air ambulance service.
“I’m honored to continue to serve as an advocate and champion for the physicians who have helped Memorial Hermann earn an unmatched reputation for patient safety and quality,” Dr. McCarthy said. “In this new role, I’m looking forward to supporting them as they navigate an increasingly complex healthcare environment. Together, we can create a model of excellence for physician-led healthcare and continue our unwavering commitment to advancing the health of our community through cutting-edge care from the forefront of medicine.”
Dr. McCarthy completed his medical degree at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, and completed his internship and residence in Emergency Medicine at the University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences. He joined the faculty of McGovern Medical School in 2001, and is board certified in Emergency Medicine and Emergency Medical Services.
He has been a strong physician voice for Memorial Hermann, where he serves as a member of the system’s Quality Board as well as MHMD, Memorial Hermann’s clinically integrated physician network. He also served as President of the Medical Staff at Memorial Hermann-TMC, the Chair of Memorial Hermann’s Quality Committee, and earned the prestigious Memorial Hermann Physician Leadership Award in 2016.
On a local and state level, he has been an advocate for emergency services, serving as a member of the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC), where he is a board member and co-chair of the SETRAC cardiac care committee. He is also serving a three-year appointment on the Governor’s EMS and Trauma Advisory Council’s cardiac care committee under the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Dr. McCarthy is a member of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, the American Heart Association, the Harris County Medical Society, the National Association of EMS Physicians, a member of the American Heart Association/Stroke Association’s Mission Lifeline Steering Committee, Chair of the American Heart Association/Stroke Association’s resuscitation subcommittee, a trauma site reviewer for the American College of Surgeons and a member of the ACEP’s High Threat Emergency Casualty Care Task Force.
In addition to his professional commitments, Dr. McCarthy serves as EMS Medical Director for the West University Place Fire Department.
He is married to Suzanne Sklar McCarthy and together they have two young daughters.