William Killinger named CMO at HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake and Mainland

Houston, TX – HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake and HCA Houston Healthcare Mainland are pleased to announce the appointment of William Killinger, M.D. as chief medical officer (CMO) for both hospitals and affiliated sites of care.

Killinger, who started the role in May, most recently served as the CMO at the Medical Center of Trinity, located in Trinity, Florida, which is part of the HCA Healthcare West Florida Division. Prior to that, Killinger served in numerous administrative and clinical leadership roles at WakeMed Health and Hospitals located in Raleigh, North Carolina where he also was in private practice for 27 years as a cardiothoracic surgeon. He was the highest volume U.S. surgeon contributor to the SYNTAX clinical trial, the landmark international study of coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) versus stents for multi-vessel coronary disease.

“Dr. Killinger brings a wealth of clinical expertise and leadership experience to HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake and I know our medical staff will appreciate his high-energy and commitment to high quality standards,” said Todd Caliva, CEO of HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake. “Our leadership team is excited to have Dr. Killinger on board and we look forward to utilizing his knowledge to help us continue to deliver effective and innovative patient-centered care,” said Jim Russell, CEO of HCA Houston Healthcare Mainland.

Raised in Orlando, Killinger is a fourth-generation physician. He received his undergraduate degree from Emory University and his medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He also holds an MBA from Brandeis University located in Boston, Massachusetts.  After completing his general surgery residency at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he trained in cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. He then served as a clinical associate staff member at the Cleveland Clinic for three years, before returning to North Carolina to practice.

In addition to his distinguished career as a cardiothoracic surgeon, Killinger has served as a guest editor for the prestigious Annals of Thoracic Surgery and The Heart Surgery Forum journals. Killinger is a diplomate of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners.