Gary Kerr was recently selected as the new chief executive officer (CEO) at Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital.
Beginning this month, Kerr will be responsible for the 594-bed hospital with a Level III Trauma Center, the Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute-Southwest, a Cancer Center, a dedicated Breast Care Center, a Joint Replacement Program, a Neuroscience Center, women's services, an Asian Care Unit, a Senior Emergency Center, a Senior Treatment and Recovery Unit for Behavioral Care, and an Imaging Center.
“With his strong leadership skills and personal drive, Gary’s expertise in patient care has resulted in performance improvement at each hospital he has overseen in his career,” said Dan Wolterman, president and CEO of Memorial Hermann Health System. “His unique knowledge and insight ensures that residents in southwest Houston will have continued access to the best patient care and quality in the area.”
Kerr served as chief operating officer (COO) at Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital from 2002 through 2008, and was promoted to CEO of Memorial Hermann Northwest in 2009. Under his leadership, Memorial Hermann Northwest maintained its “Employer of Choice” status.
Prior to joining Memorial Hermann Northwest as COO in 2002, Kerr's career spanned more than 18 years in the Christus Health System, where he held the CEO position at Schumpert Bossier Hospital in Bossier City, La. He performed as senior development executive for the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word in Houston after a tenure as CEO and COO of St. John Hospital in Nassau Bay, Tx. He also was an administrative fellow at the Sister of Charity of the Incarnate Word Houston, and received his bachelor's degree and Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Texas-Austin.
“The move to our Southwest Hospital will provide me with an exciting opportunity to lead an outstanding group of employees, volunteers, and medical staff who have done a great job providing a range of services to a diverse community in Southwest Houston,” said Kerr. “I grew up in that community and the hospital has provided care for my family over the years. I look forward to growing and enhancing the care in the surrounding community with the best clinical staff and latest health care technology available.”
Open since 1977, Memorial Hermann Southwest employs state-of-the-art technology and a team of highly trained, affiliated physicians to offer award-winning care to Southwest Houston, including Bellaire, Meyerland, Sharpstown, the Galleria area, and Missouri City.