Northwest announces promotion of Joel North as chief executive officer

Houston, Texas — HCA Healthcare Gulf Coast Division has announced the promotion of Joel North to chief executive officer of HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest effective September 30, 2024. North replaces Scott Davis, who transferred to HCA HealthONE Swedish in HCA Healthcare’s Continental Division in June.

North has served as the chief operating officer for HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood since August 2020. In that role, he oversaw executive strategy and business development as well as clinical operations for Surgical Services and ancillary departments. 

During his tenure at Kingwood, North managed over $200 million in capital expenditure projects to improve efficiencies, support colleague engagement, drive service line growth and support the patient experience. He helped establish the first Level II Trauma Center in northeast Houston and developed the programmatic infrastructure for the hospital’s Comprehensive Stroke Program. Additionally, he grew the hospital’s robotics program and spearheaded the accreditation of the bariatric program by the American College of Surgeons Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program. 

North first joined HCA Houston Healthcare in 2018 as an assistant administrator and administrative resident of Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center. He was named assistant administrator at HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood in May 2019. 

A native Houstonian, North earned his bachelor of arts in medical humanities and a master’s of business administration with a specialization in healthcare from Baylor University. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

North serves his community as a board member of the Greater East Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, Humble Area Assistance Ministries and The Village Centers. In 2023, he was named a Top 4 Under 40 by Partnership Lake Houston for his leadership, community engagement and commitment to excellence.