Heart Hospital Of Austin Names New COO

AUSTIN, TX — Heart Hospital of Austin has named Megan Drake as its new chief operating officer, officials announced Thursday.

Drake assumed her role on Nov. 11. She joins Heart Hospital of Austin from Shelby Baptist Medical Center—a 252-bed hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. As its chief operating officer, she oversaw surgical services, wound care, dietary, environmental, biomedical, security, respiratory therapy, imaging, pharmacy, laboratory and more, according to a press advisory.

Drake also managed several significant capital projects, including a surgical suite expansion that encompassed a new hybrid operating room, as well as construction of an electrophysiology lab to expand cardiovascular services.

“Megan brings extensive experience in operations and business development to this role,” David Laird, chief executive officer of Heart Hospital of Austin, said in a prepared statement. “I am confident she’ll play a key role in helping us continue to provide the highest level of cardiovascular care.”

Prior to her time with Shelby Baptist Medical Center, Drake served as the western region chief business development officer for Prospect Medical Holdings in Los Angeles, which owns 20 acute care and behavioral hospitals in six states. She also served as the market chief strategy officer for Valley Baptist Health System in Harlingen and Brownsville, Texas. Earlier in her career, she served as the assistant chief executive officer and the acting chief operating officer at Cedar Park Regional Medical Center.

Drake earned a master’s degree in health administration from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston and a bachelor’s degree in biology from The College of Charleston.

About Heart Hospital of Austin

Heart Hospital of Austin, which is part of St. David’s HealthCare, is a 58-bed hospital and one of the highest performing cardiovascular facilities in the nation, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. It features a comprehensive 24-hour emergency department; an advanced Executive Wellness Program; five operating rooms (ORs), including two hybrid ORs; three catheterization labs; and electrophysiology services. It is home to one of the largest non-academic cardiovascular research programs in the world.