Renown Health announced that effective Jan. 1, 2026, Chris Nicholas, MHA, FACHE, current CEO of Renown Regional Medical Center, will be expanding his responsibilities to also become the Chief Operating Officer for Renown Health. In this dual capacity, Mr. Nicholas will manage critical aspects of Renown Health strategic plan implementation, including overseeing the health system’s Transformation Management Office and Master Facility Plan, and leading the Accelerating Care Transformation (ACT) team to coordinate system-wide performance improvement efforts and ensure long-term sustainability.
A Decade of Impact Across Renown Health
“Chris has consistently demonstrated a passion for aligning performance with strategic goals, fostering effective communication, promoting collaboration, building strong physician partnerships, and achieving impactful results,” said Brian Erling, MD, MBA, President & CEO, Renown Health. “His leadership of Renown Regional Medical Center has driven innovative new programs to engage employees and physicians that have enhanced patient care and operational efficiency through clear goal setting, open communications, accountability and team building. Expanding his responsibilities to system COO allows us to bring that same disciplined operational focus and People-First approach across our entire health network.”
Over the past decade, Mr. Nicholas has made substantial contributions to Renown Health in his current role as well as previous roles, including Vice President & Administrator of Renown South Meadows Medical Center and the Institute for Neurosciences, as well as Senior Administrator of Rehabilitation Services and Renown Rehabilitation Hospital, where he led post-acute services and partnerships.
Education and Professional Leadership
Mr. Nicholas holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration management from the University of Texas at Arlington and a BA in Business Administration from Texas Tech University. Additionally, he is a:
Nevada Hospital Association, Vice Chair & Board Member
American Hospital Association: State Delegate NV, Regional Policy Board
American College of Healthcare Executives Nevada Chapter, Past President
REMSA Health, Board Member
High Fives Foundation Board Member
Renown Regional Medical Center is an 826-bed urban safety net hospital serving one million residents across 100,000 square miles in Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. Founded as Washoe Health System in 1862 during a smallpox outbreak, this clinic became the state’s first hospital when Nevada became a state in 1864. Today, the not-for-profit hospital serves as northern Nevada’s only Level II Trauma Center, for both adults and children, between Sacramento and Salt Lake City.
Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated academic health care network serving northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California. With a workforce of more than 8,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination, and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health.
About Renown Health
Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit academic health care network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 8,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination, and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health.
Renown Health Recognized as Best Hospital for Maternity Care
U.S. News & World Report, the global authority on hospital rankings and consumer advice, has named Renown Health as both a 2026 High-Performing hospital for Maternity Care and a Maternity Care Access Hospital. These dual designations underscore Renown Health’s leadership in advancing exceptional and equitable maternal health services.
Ratings are intended to help expectant parents, in consultation with their prenatal care providers, make informed decisions about where to receive safe and effective maternity care. In 2026, 495 top hospitals for Maternity care have been recognized as High Performing across the U.S. Renown Regional Medical Center is the only hospital earning this designation in the northern Nevada region. Four hospitals in Las Vegas also earned honors.
The 2026 hospital ratings for Maternity and Perinatal Care review hospitals providing high-quality labor & delivery services for uncomplicated pregnancies. U.S. News evaluates how well hospitals perform in childbirth using C-section rates, newborn severe complication rates, routine vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (VBAC) rates, episiotomy rates, best practices to support breast milk feeding, whether a hospital meets federal criteria for "birthing-friendly" practices, and whether a hospital tracked and reported disparities in outcomes. In terms of quality, these hospitals also demonstrated performance above the lowest normalized values for severe unexpected newborn complications, C-sections or episiotomy rates. Read more about the methodology here.
“Providing the highest level of maternity and infant care is essential to the health and strength of our region,” stated Brian Erling, MD, MBA, President and CEO of Renown Health. “High-quality maternity care leads to safer pregnancies, fewer complications, and better long-term outcomes for both mother and child. Early, expert care reduces risks such as preterm birth, low birth weight babies and complications. Local access ensures timely intervention when seconds matter. Communities with strong maternal care programs see benefits in education, economic stability and public health. We are proud that all parents, regardless of their background or resources, can receive safe, compassionate, evidence-based care, close to home. We at Renown are very proud of this recognition, and to be able to support families during one of life’s most precious moments.”
“Receiving the Best Hospital for Maternity Care designation is an incredible honor for our entire team and reflects our commitment to delivering outstanding care for every mother and baby,” said James M. Alexander, MD, chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) and Renown Health, As northern Nevada’s academic teaching hospital in partnership with the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, we are proud to train the next generation of obstetrics leaders while advancing the highest standards of care for our community.”
Renown Health Now Provides Confidential Mental Health Services for Healthcare Professionals and First Responders
"Code Phoenix” establishes a protected pathway for short-term mental health stabilization for healthcare professionals, law enforcement officers, EMS personnel, and firefighters, delivered in a supportive environment built for the unique realities of their work.
Becker’s Names Renown Health to 2025 List of Top Orthopedic Programs
Reno, Nev. (Nov. 20, 2025) – Renown Health is proud to announce that its Orthopedic Program and Rehabilitation Hospital have been named among the top 100 in the United States by Becker’s Hospital Review. This recognition reflects Renown’s dedication to delivering exceptional orthopedic care and innovative rehabilitation services for patients in northern Nevada and the 100,000 square rural region it serves. This prestigious recognition highlights Renown’s commitment to excellence in patient care and innovative treatment options.
