St. Luke's Health Announces Houston Chief Medical Officer

HOUSTON, TX (February 23, 2026) – St. Luke’s Health, a member of CommonSpirit, today announced the appointment of Augusto “Gus” Sepulveda, MD, MPH, FACP, as the new chief medical officer (CMO) for Houston Market and Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center, effective March 2, 2026.

Dr. Sepulveda brings 28 years of health care experience with a strong background in physician leadership, academic medicine, and clinical operations. He joins St. Luke’s from HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood, where he has served as CMO since May 2025.

Prior to his role in Kingwood, Dr. Sepulveda held the position of CMO for HCA Healthcare’s West Florida Division. In this capacity, he was responsible for overseeing clinical quality, patient safety and performance improvement across a comprehensive network comprising 17 hospitals, 30+ emergency rooms, 13 surgery centers and numerous other facilities. His experience also includes leadership roles as associate CMO for HCA Healthcare Gulf Coast Division, and as CMO at both HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest and HCA Houston Healthcare Tomball.

“Dr. Sepulveda’s commitment to clinical excellence and patient care is in perfect alignment with CommonSpirit's mission,” said Simon Payne, MD, MBA, chief medical officer for CommonSpirit’s South Region.“We are confident that his leadership will be a significant asset to the communities we serve in our Houston Market.”

Dr. Sepulveda is board-certified in internal medicine and clinical informatics. He holds a Master of Public Health degree and a Medical Doctor degree from Ponce Health Sciences University, and completed his residency at Hospital Damas, where he served as chief resident.

About St. Luke’s Health - Houston
St. Luke’s Health, a member of CommonSpirit Health, is home to eight inpatient hospitals in Greater Houston, including Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, a joint venture research and teaching hospital for Baylor College of Medicine. The renowned expertise offered at St. Luke’s has given rise to breakthroughs in cardiovascular care, neurosciences, oncology, transplantation, and more. Home to the nationally-accredited and NCI-designated Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, St. Luke’s includes more than 1,400 licensed beds and 11,000 employees and clinically aligned providers in Greater Houston. Learn more at commonspirit.org/stlukes. 

About Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center
Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center is an 881-bed academic medical center that provides nationally-recognized care and renowned expertise in a broad range of specialties. A joint venture with Baylor College of Medicine, Baylor St. Luke’s has given rise to breakthroughs in cardiovascular care, neurosciences, oncology, transplantation, and more. The hospital is home to the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, a nationally-accredited and NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center. Baylor St. Luke’s also has three community emergency centers offering adult and pediatric care for the Greater Houston area. St. Luke’s Health is a member of CommonSpirit. Learn more at commonspirit.org/bslmc.