BOARD MEMBERS
PETE MCCANNA
CEO, Baylor Scott & White Health
Baylor Scott & White is dedicated to delivering experiences that go beyond customers’ traditional expectations of health care—making it more accessible, easier to navigate and more personalized.
Through 51 hospitals and more than 1,200 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth, and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care, as well as an array of virtual and in-home services. The system’s integrated delivery network also includes the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance, and its leading digital health platform, MyBSWHealth.
Before becoming CEO, he served as Baylor Scott & White’s president, where he advanced clinical alignment, accelerated the development of its digital health strategy, and expanded academic affiliations to help address the critical need for clinicians in Texas. Previously, McCanna served as executive vice president and chief operating officer at Northwestern Medicine. During his tenure, operating revenue, quality, patient experience, and employee engagement exceeded targets. He was instrumental in Northwestern’s expansion as it maintained its AA+ bond rating. McCanna has nearly 35 years of experience in health care management and consulting.
Prior to joining Northwestern, he served as chief financial officer (CFO) at Presbyterian Healthcare Services in New Mexico and CFO at the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver. Earlier in his career, he worked for Denver Health and as a health care consultant for The Lewin Group.
He currently serves on the boards of University of Michigan Health, the Texas Hospital Association, and Catholic Extension. McCanna holds a master’s degree from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin and a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Michigan.
DAVID L. CALLENDER, MD
President and CEO, Memorial Hermann Health System
David L. Callender, MD, joined Memorial Hermann Health System in 2019 as President and CEO. 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.
CARL S. ARMATO
President and CEO, Novant Health
As president and CEO of Novant Health, Carl Armato leads our thriving integrated health care system of physician clinics, outpatient centers, and hospitals across two states, generating over $7.5 billion in revenue and employing a dedicated workforce of more than 37,000 team members. Recognized as one of the safest health care systems in the U.S. by The Leapfrog Group, Armato transformed Novant Health into one of the top integrated health care delivery networks in the country. While delivering an unprecedented response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Armato led the $5.3B acquisition of New Hanover Regional Medical Center, establishing a third major operational hub in N.C.
Embracing a people-centric approach, Armato has fostered an inclusive and supportive corporate culture that prioritizes the diverse needs of its employees. This commitment to inclusivity led to Novant Health being honored on Forbes’ esteemed 2021 America’s Best Employers for Diversity list.
In addition to serving on the board of directors of Vizient, the largest health care performance improvement company in the U.S., he holds board positions on the American Heart Association’s Southeast chapter, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Charlotte Chapter Advisory Council, and the Healthcare Institute. He has been recognized as the Most Admired CEO by both the Charlotte Business Journal and the Triad Business Journal. Author of “A Future with Hope: An Inspiring Guide to Overcoming Diabetes,” he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Diabetes Association, Charlotte Chapter. Armato holds a Master of Business Administration from Norwich University and a Bachelor of Science in business administration and accounting from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Erik Wexler
Incoming President and CEO, Providence
Erik Wexler is the incoming president and chief executive officer at Providence effective Jan. 1, 2025. Most recently at Providence, Erik served as the chief operating officer. Responsible for operational oversight and strategy, he has worked to ensure access to a portfolio of vital, high-quality and affordable services across the Providence footprint while also leading the organization’s care transformation strategies.
He also served as president of operations and strategy for the southern regions, and earlier as regional chief executive for Providence Southern California. Other leadership roles included chief executive for Tenet Healthcare’s Northeast Region, overseeing operations in three states. He also worked for Vanguard Health Systems, and prior to that was senior vice president of LifeBridge Health System. Erik sits on the boards of the California Hospital Association, CHAPAC, and the Racial Justice Roundtable in Orange County, Calif. He also serves on the American Hospital Association’s Regional Policy Board No. 9. Erik holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and an MBA from the University of Hartford in Connecticut.