New CEO named for El Paso Children’s Hospital

More than a year after it filed for bankruptcy, a new leader for El Paso Children’s Hospital is named. The announcement was made at a University Medical Center budget hearing.

Mark Amox will join El Paso Children’s Hospital Oct. 17.

Amox is coming to the Borderland from Florida and brings more than 15 years of experience to the job. He is joining the hospital from University of Florida Health where he served as administrator and chief operating officer.

“I’m honored and thrilled to be selected as the next CEO of El Paso Children’s hospital. The doctors, nurses, staff and board have created a great foundation on which to build; I’m looking forward to working with this incredible group of people to deliver on the promise of high-quality pediatric care in El Paso,” Amox said in a news release. “My wife Carrie and I are excited about settling and raising our family in El Paso. We have been very impressed with all aspects of the city, especially the warmth and hospitality.”

University Medical Center is also under new leadership. El Pasoan Jacob Cintron took over the job of chief executive officer back in July.

“I would like to congratulate Mark on his appointment as CEO of El Paso Children’s Hospital. I look forward to working with Mark to help create a model of excellent world class health care for our community,” said Cintron.

UMC spokesperson Ryan Mielke is also excited about the changes.

“This is really just a great atmosphere right now because you have great opportunities not only to expose El Paso to the wonderful things that both hospitals are doing, but both CEOs bring new eyes, fresh ideas, fresh talents to the table. And that’s all good,” Mielke said.

That is a big change from a bitter fight between the two hospitals that ended when a bankruptcy judge approved a reorganization plan that called for Children’s to become a subsidiary of the county hospital. The judge ordered UMC to forgive $58 million in rent and pay Children’s creditors, and for Children’s to pay back $48 million owed to UMC once it can afford to do so.

El Paso County Judge Veronica Escobar is optimistic about the future of the hospitals.

“Many thanks to the EPCH Board for their work and diligence in finding a CEO who is a perfect fit for our children’s hospital. We are all looking forward to the beginning of Mark Amox’s tenure at EPCH, as he will bring the stability and leadership we’ve needed. And I am certain that Mark and his lovely wife Carrie will be embraced by El Pasoans; they are going to be wonderful additions to our beloved community,” Escobar said.

“This has been a very long and complicated year. Not only for our relationship with children’s, but also for the hospital itself. But we wanted to make sure, and Children’s wanted to make sure of they made the right pick. and it looks like they made the right choice,” Mielke said.

Before his tenure with UF Health, Amox spent more than 15 years working in academic medical centers and children’s hospitals.

He served as Chief Department Administrator for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Department of Pediatrics located at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Additionally, he held operations and finance positions with Houston Methodist, Children’s Memorial Hermann and the University of Texas Health Science Center Houston.