News

South Texas Health System McAllen is pleased to announce the appointment of Emma Maria Montes-Ewing as its Chief Executive Officer, effective January 2, 2024. In her role, Montes-Ewing will be responsible for leading the facility’s 1,100-plus staff members in the delivery of quality, compassionate care to patients in the Rio Grande Valley.

Montes-Ewing, who brings more than 20 years of healthcare leadership experience, becomes the first Latina CEO at South Texas Health System’s largest acute care facility. Throughout her career, she has helped build high-performing teams, develop service lines, increase revenue in competitive markets and build healthy organizational cultures. Additionally, Montes-Ewing has demonstrated strengths in attracting talent, driving overall performance and championing a high-quality patient experience.

“It is a privilege to have been selected to lead STHS McAllen, and I look forward to working closely with staff and physicians at the facility to continue to provide nationally recognized healthcare at the highest level to the residents of the City of McAllen and its surrounding communities,” said Montes-Ewing. “As an integrated network of care, South Texas Health System has a strong reputation in the community, and I’m honored and excited to usher in a new era of leadership at STHS McAllen to ensure that the hospital continues to serve patients, their families and the community with quality, compassionate care.”

STHS McAllen has proudly served the people of the Rio Grande Valley since 1919. The full-service acute care facility — home to a Level 1 Trauma Center, Comprehensive Stroke Center and Level III neonatal intensive care unit — opened its doors at its current location in 1985 after spending more than 50 years in downtown McAllen as McAllen Municipal Hospital, McAllen General Hospital and McAllen Methodist Hospital.

“With her wealth of experience in a market similar to the Rio Grande Valley, her stellar track record built over two decades of leadership in healthcare and her demonstrated commitment to quality, compassionate care, Emma will lead STHS McAllen into the future,” says Chuck Stark, Regional Vice President, South Texas Health System. “We look forward to working with Emma, who has the skill set necessary to build on STHS McAllen’s track record of clinical excellence and lead the facility forward.”

Career Before Joining STHS McAllen

Prior to joining STHS McAllen, Montes-Ewing served as CEO of Doctors Hospital of Laredo (DHL) in Laredo, Texas, STHS McAllen’s sister facility, since 2020. During her tenure, she was able to drive improved financial metrics, reduce turnover and grow service lines. Under Montes-Ewing’s leadership, DHL achieved top performance for two consecutive quarters in safety of care, patient experience, mortality, readmissions and timely and effective care. DHL achieved 4-star rating from CMS and an "A" grade in patient safety from The Leapfrog Group.

Prior to joining DHL, Montes-Ewing held positions of increasing responsibility in hospital administration at community and regional medical centers. Montes-Ewing has a track record of building strong relationships within the community, has served on multiple boards through the years and has earned numerous community awards for her work, including Universal Health Services’ 2022 Service Excellence Award, presented to the leader of a UHS facility that has excelled in the areas of quality, safety, staff engagement, staff turnover and patient experience.

Montes-Ewing began her career in healthcare as a licensed physical therapist assistant and moved up the ranks to serve as hospital CEO. She earned her master’s degree in healthcare administration from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, as well as a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She received her bachelor’s degree in biology, with a major in international business and communications, from Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, Texas.