- Hiking
- Camping
- Travel
- Scuba Diving
- Married with 6 children and enjoy attending their soccer games
Andrew L. Chesson III
Hickory,NC
Summary
Experienced Chief Medical Officer with a strong background in medical administration and clinical oversight. Proven track record of driving impactful healthcare initiatives and fostering a culture of excellence. Committed to collaborative team environments and adaptable to evolving healthcare needs. Expertise in strategic decision-making and patient care optimization.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Chief Medical Officer/VP
Catawba Valley Health System
Hickory, NC
10.2015 - 07.2025
- Physician leader of medical group in dyad with president
- Executive leader of the hospitalist program
- Developed and employed system growth strategy
- Executive leader of population health strategy
- Executive leader of peer review committee
- Executive leader of credentialing committee
- Maintained physician relations with employed and private physicians
- Supported quality initiatives with ACMO
- Interviewed and hired physicians and involved in practice acquisitions
Medical Director
Catawba Valley Medical Group
Hickory, NC
08.2006 - 10.2015
- Worked as a dyad with the CVMG president to run medical group
- Developed and implemented CVMG strategy
Physician
Catawba Valley Family Medicine
Maiden, NC
09.2005 - Current
- Family Medicine physician familiar with both FQHC and standard practice style
- Consistently with highest quality scores and among the most productive in the medical group
Physician
Lincolnton Medical Group
Lincolnton, NC
08.2003 - 08.2005
- Private practice Family Medicine physician
Chief Resident
UMC Family Medicine Residency
Lafayette, LA
07.2002 - 07.2003
- Organized, educated and mentored 24 residents
Education
Family Practice Residency -
Louisiana State University Family Practice Residency
Lafayette, LA06.2003
M.D. -
Louisiana State University School of Medicine
New Orleans, Louisiana05.2000
B.A. - Biology
University of Texas
Austin, Texas05.1996
Skills
- Organizational strategy development
- Clinical expertise
- Clinical quality improvement
- Physician relations
- Medical group leadership
- Population health
- Patient safety advocacy
- Patient care
Accomplishments
- Involved in creating and implementing strategic plan for the health system for last 3 strategic plans.
- Grew Catawba Valley Medical Group from a 12 physician Primary Care group to a multispecialty group with 140 providers. Specialties include Family Medicine, Med/Peds, Cardiology, Vascular Surgery, General Surgery, Pulmonology/Critical Care, Neurology, Gastroenterology, and Podiatry. Opened multiple on-site employer-based clinics as well.
- Established and led a successful program focused on population health. Currently part of 29 ACOs with net margin of over $ 3 million the last five years, with no years of losses. Consistently had high patient satisfaction per Press Ganey and quality scores consistently above 4 stars.
- Involved in strategy and implementation of strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Led the redesign of our peer review process to focus on improvement and be less punitive. It was expanded to include more specialties who cooperate to make systems-based improvements.
- Assisted with transitioning 6 clinics to becoming FQHC look-alikes.
- Developed and moved physician compensation from salary to a productivity-based compensation program with quality initiatives.
- Implemented electronic health record system in 2008 to improve accuracy, efficiency, and coordination of patient care across departments.
Affiliations
- Catawba Valley Medical Group board member 2015-2024
- Chairman CHESS MSSP ACO board 2015
- Member CHESS MSSP ACO Board 2015-2017
- Member CHESS Next Gen ACO Board 2018 – 2021
- Chairman CHESS MSSP Performance Improvement Committee 2014-2015
- Member CHESS MSSP Performance Improvement Committee 2014-2017
- Member CHESS Next Gen Performance Improvement Committee 2018-2021
- Ex officio member Catawba Valley Health System Peer Review Committee 10/2015-present
- Ex officio member of Catawba Valley Health System Credentials committee 10/2015-present
- Member Catawba Valley Health System Quality Committee 2018-present
Certification
- Board Certified American Board of Family Medicine - 2003 - present
- North Carolina Medical License - 2003 - present
- Louisiana Medical License - 2003 - 2010
Interests
Timeline
Chief Medical Officer/VP
Catawba Valley Health System
10.2015 - 07.2025
Medical Director
Catawba Valley Medical Group
08.2006 - 10.2015
Physician
Catawba Valley Family Medicine
09.2005 - Current
Physician
Lincolnton Medical Group
08.2003 - 08.2005
Chief Resident
UMC Family Medicine Residency
07.2002 - 07.2003
B.A. - Biology
University of Texas
Family Practice Residency -
Louisiana State University Family Practice Residency
M.D. -
Louisiana State University School of Medicine