St. David's South Austin Medical Center names new chief executive officer

AUSTIN, Texas—St. David’s South Austin Medical Center has selected Charles Laird as its new chief executive officer (CEO), replacing Todd Steward, who was recently named CEO of St. David’s Medical Center.

Laird, who assumed his new role on May 1, began his healthcare administration career as an administrative resident for St. David’s HealthCare. He also served as an associate administrator at St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center early in his career before assuming a number of other leadership roles at hospitals in Texas and Kansas.

“With his hospital operations experience and demonstrated success in hospital leadership, combined with his knowledge of our market and our healthcare system, Charles is the ideal person to build on the successful history of St. David’s South Austin Medical Center,” David Huffstutler, president and CEO of St. David’s HealthCare, said. “I am confident he will effectively pursue the strategic vision of the hospital.”

Before joining St. David’s South Austin Medical Center, Laird served as CEO of Menorah Medical Center―a full-service, acute care hospital in Overland Park, Kansas—for four years. In this role, he developed and expanded key service lines, recruited regionally recognized physicians to advance program development, improved physician satisfaction, decreased nurse turnover, increased quality metrics and improved patient experience. Additionally, Laird secured funding for a -million capital expansion project.

Earlier in his career, Laird served as chief operating officer at Clear Lake Regional Medical Center in Houston and chief operating officer at West Houston Medical Center.

Laird received a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, and he earned his master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Trinity University in San Antonio.