AMY Papst MD
Fort Worth
Summary
Transformational physician executive with extensive experience leading quality, safety, medical staff governance, clinical operations, and value-based care across complex, multi-hospital systems. Master’s-degree in Healthcare Transformation with deep expertise in informatics, EHR optimization, and high-reliability organizational design. Proven ability to elevate system performance, build strong physician engagement, and lead dyad partnerships that unify strategy, operations, and clinical excellence. Demonstrated success driving measurable improvements in outcomes, patient experience, LOS, CMI, and regulatory performance. Board-certified anesthesiologist with a track record of leading organizations through significant quality and cultural transformation.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Quality & Medical Officer
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth
Fort Worth
03.2022 - Current
- Level I Trauma Center | 851 licensed beds (expanding to 923 in 2026) ~45,000 admissions | ~160,000 ED visits | ~19,000 surgeries | ~6,800 traumas annually | Kidney transplant program | Robust GME programs
- Lead enterprise-wide quality, safety, patient experience, regulatory readiness, case management, and medical staff performance for one of North Texas’s highest-volume hospitals.
- Drove a multi-year quality transformation elevating the hospital from CMS 2-Stars to 4-Stars, with performance on track for 5-Stars in the next CMS release.
- Achieved top quartile and top decile performance in CLABSI, CAUTI, C. difficile, MRSA bacteremia, and SSI.
- Provided executive leadership for Case Management, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, improving discharge planning, and reducing avoidable delays.
- Eliminated opportunity days and improved throughput, resulting in a 1.2-day reduction in average LOS across the enterprise.
- Improved documentation integrity and clinical accuracy, increasing CMI from 1.8 to 2.1.
- Led a full revision of Medical Staff Bylaws, modernizing governance and clarifying accountability.
- Executed a complete reorganization of medical staff structure, creating a streamlined, service-line-aligned governance model that enhances physician leadership and accelerates decision-making.
- Strengthened physician engagement through transparent communication, shared governance, and dyad leadership.
- Advanced clinical informatics, decision support, and EHR optimization to reduce variation and support high-reliability performance.
Chief Medical Officer
Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin
Austin
10.2016 - 03.2022
- Achieved Leapfrog A, Magnet designation, and ECMO Gold while reducing CAUTI, CLABSI, and SSI by 50% year-over-year.
- Developed and launched over 20 new ACGME residency and fellowship programs.
- Oversaw Surgical Services, managing over 15,000 annual cases and redesigning Critical Care and ICU models.
- Directed major Cerner optimization initiatives to enhance clinical decision support and operational efficiency.
- Led quality, safety, and patient experience initiatives, achieving highest satisfaction scores in network.
- Served as dyad leader for Cardiovascular, Neurosciences, Oncology, and Women’s Services departments.
- Directed clinical operations at a 524-bed tertiary referral center to improve patient care delivery.
- Managed cross-functional teams to promote collaboration and implement operational enhancements.
- Served as Interim Chief Information Medical Officer during system wide reorganization establishing a structure for prioritization of EHR enhancements to align with quality and patient safety goals.
Chief Medical & Quality Officer
Northern Arizona Healthcare
Cottonwood
03.2013 - 10.2016
- Directed system-wide quality and safety initiatives across three campuses, achieving multiple national recognitions.
- Oversaw medical staff office functions including bylaws, credentialing, and peer review processes.
- Oversaw Graduate Medical Education operations and accreditation.
- Achievement of CMS 5-star
Vice Chief of Staff
Verde Valley Medical Center
01.2013 - 01.2014
- Led medical staff governance including credentialing, OPPE/FPPE, and bylaws oversight.
Medical Director, Perioperative Services
Verde Valley Medical Center
Cottonwood
11.2009 - 02.2013
- Directed surgical services operations, capital planning, staffing, and strategic growth initiatives.
- Implemented Cerner Anesthesia and Pyxis A medication management systems to enhance efficiency.
- Developed quality improvement initiatives that strengthened patient safety protocols.
Education
Master of Science - Healthcare Transformation
University of Texas At Austin
Austin, TX06-2020
Anesthesiology Residency -
University of Arizona
06-2007
Transitional Internship -
Tucson Hospitals Medical Education Program
06-2004
Doctorate in Medicine -
University of Arizona College of Medicine
06-2003
BS - Zoology (Pre-Professional)
Northern Arizona University
05-1998
Skills
- Quality & Patient Safety Leadership
- High Reliability & Performance Improvement
- Physician Engagement & Alignment
- Value-Based Care & Population Health
- Dyad Leadership & System Integration
- Clinical Operations Optimization
- Case Management & Throughput Leadership
- Informatics & Clinical Decision Support
- Regulatory Readiness
- Graduate Medical Education Leadership
Affiliations
- American Society of Anesthesiologists
- Additional memberships available upon request
Awards
- Leapfrog A (multiple years)
- Magnet Designation (executive dyad leader)
- ECMO Gold Center (2019)
- Healthgrades Five-Star Patient Safety Award (multiple years)
Certifications And Licensure
- Fellow, American Board of Anesthesiology, 43853
- Board-Certified Anesthesiologist
- Active medical licensure, Texas
Timeline
Chief Quality & Medical Officer
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth
03.2022 - Current
Chief Medical Officer
Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin
10.2016 - 03.2022
Chief Medical & Quality Officer
Northern Arizona Healthcare
03.2013 - 10.2016
Vice Chief of Staff
Verde Valley Medical Center
01.2013 - 01.2014
Medical Director, Perioperative Services
Verde Valley Medical Center
11.2009 - 02.2013
Master of Science - Healthcare Transformation
University of Texas At Austin
Anesthesiology Residency -
University of Arizona
Transitional Internship -
Tucson Hospitals Medical Education Program
Doctorate in Medicine -
University of Arizona College of Medicine
BS - Zoology (Pre-Professional)
Northern Arizona University