AUSTIN, Texas — St. David’s South Austin Medical Center has named Michael A. Lopez, BSN, MBA, RN, CEN, as its new chief nursing officer. Lopez assumed his new role on March 22, 2021.
With more than 20 years of healthcare experience, Lopez has been part of St. David’s HealthCare since 2013. He has served for the past three years as chief nursing officer at Heart Hospital of Austin, where he has made many significant contributions, including the successful launch of a mechanical circulatory support (LVAD/ECMO) program in 2020 achieving DNV-GL Healthcare accreditation, which verifies a ventricular assist device program’s alignment with the organization’s quality management system. Additionally, he helped the hospital achieve the 2020 Guardian of Excellence Award for Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems scores above the 95th percentile for inpatient and emergency care.
Prior to assuming his role at Heart Hospital of Austin, Lopez served for three years as chief nursing officer at St. David’s Georgetown Hospital. He joined the organization when he entered the Executive Development Program as associate chief nursing officer at St. David’s South Austin Medical Center for two years.
“We are pleased to have Michael at St. David’s South Austin Medical Center, where he will play a key role in overseeing the exceptional level of care our patients have come to expect,” Charles Laird, chief executive officer of St. David’s South Austin Medical Center, said. “Given his extensive clinical experience and proven leadership skills, I am confident he will serve as a valuable member of our leadership team.”
Lopez earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from The University of Texas at Arlington and a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in healthcare from Texas Woman’s University.