Leadership

Chief Executive Officer

Robert Sabina was appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HCA Houston Healthcare Medical Center in January 2025.

An accomplished healthcare executive, Sabina has 15 years of healthcare leadership experience in the greater Houston market. He first joined HCA Healthcare in 2017 as assistant vice president of strategic planning for Gulf Coast Division.

Sabina most recently served as chief operating officer (COO) of HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe and HCA Houston Healthcare Tomball. During his time at HCA Houston Conroe, he led the programmatic build of the hospital’s Comprehensive Stroke Program and the operational improvement of surgical services that resulted in a marked increase in elective cases and robotic-assisted procedures.

Sabina earned his bachelor's degree from Purdue University and a dual master's in healthcare and business administration from the University of Minnesota.

Chief operating officer

Sam Pena, MBA, BSN, was appointed as chief operating officer (COO) at HCA Houston Healthcare Medical Center in July 2024.

Pena joined HCA Healthcare in 2012, holding various nursing positions at Corpus Christi Medical Center and was part of the inaugural HCA Healthcare Gulf Coast Division Emerging Leaders Academy. He later served as director of patient care services, vice president of cardiovascular services, and most recently, as vice president of operations.

Committed to his community, Pena served as an executive leader in the American Heart Association Corpus Chapter. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), the HCA Healthcare Gulf Coast Division Young Professionals Colleague Network and the Latino Colleague Network.

Pena attended Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi earning his bachelor's degree in nursing and master of business administration degree in healthcare administration. He is a 2024 graduate of HCA’s Executive Development Program.

Chief financial officer

Ella Stenstrom, MBA, has served as the chief financial officer (CFO) at HCA Houston Healthcare Medical Center since December 2025. She brings over 25 years of healthcare management experience to the role.

Most recently, Stenstrom served as CFO at AdventHealth Hendersonville in North Carolina, where she led initiatives that enhanced the hospital's financial performance and operational efficiency. She is recognized for her expertise in strategic business transactions, financial planning, and operations within complex healthcare environments.

She earned both her bachelor's degree and master's degree in business administration from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minn.

Chief nursing officer

Heather Ash, MSN, RN, NE-BC, has served as chief nursing officer (CNO) at HCA Houston Healthcare Medical Center since January 2026. She brings more than 19 years of nursing experience to the role.

She previously served as associate CNO at HCA Methodist Children's Hospital in San Antonio where she led initiatives that enhanced daily operations and upheld the hospital's mission. She is recognized for her focus on patient experience initiatives, nurse leader rounding, executive sponsorship of interdisciplinary councils and safety initiatives, mentoring nurse leaders and fostering career growth.

Ash earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from St. Petersburg College in Florida and a master's degree in nursing leadership and management from Western Governors University. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and the American Nurses Association.