In the realm of healthcare, the role of the Chief Operations Officer (COO) extends far beyond the confines of a traditional job description. While tasked with driving and producing desired results associated with service excellence, quality clinical outcomes, and financial integrity, the essence of this pivotal role goes beyond mere responsibilities on paper. So just what does it really entail, and who is really cut out for a job like that?
Enter Matt Malinak.
Matt succeeds Janice Whitmire, who served the Baylor Scott & White Healthcare system for 35 years, with her final years at Baylor Scott & White – Fort Worth in the role of COO. As Janice sailed into a well-deserved retirement, Matt joined the Baylor Scott & White – Fort Worth administrative team to take the reins of this important role.
No stranger to Fort Worth, Matt is returning to the North Texas community where he began and grew his hospital operations career. He has held leadership positions at Kindred Hospital of Fort Worth, Kindred Hospital Tarrant County and Tenet Healthcare of Dallas. Most recently, Matt served as COO and Interim – Chief Executive Officer at Texoma Medical Center, a Universal Health Services facility in Denison, Texas.
Matt earned a master’s degree in health informatics from the University of Tennessee and master’s degrees in health services administration and business administration from Xavier University. He is also a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Please join me in welcoming Matt as the newest addition to the Baylor Scott & White – Fort Worth leadership team.
How have your past experiences prepared you to be the chief operating officer at the Baylor Scott & White – Fort Worth?
From the start of my education and career I have been immersed in healthcare management, specifically hospital operations. This has allowed me time to grow my understanding of the vast field of hospital operations and learn through experience. I was fortunate to complete an administrative residency and function in an assistant CEO capacity which provided me access and exposure to the full spectrum of healthcare from prenatal to long term acute care, skilled nursing, inpatient rehabilitation, varying outpatient services, and hospice. Much of this training occurred in Fort Worth where I grew my understanding of the tightly knit medical district, grew relationships with physicians and healthcare stakeholders, and developed partnerships with the medical community including Baylor Scott & White Forth Worth. I was also fortunate my previous organization allowed me opportunities to be challenged and grow. Most recently coming from an academic trauma center and prior to that working in the Rio Grande Valley in a number of their hospitals to include a heart hospital and children’s hospital. Joining the Fort Worth team was like reuniting with friends and family.
When does your typical day start and end?
The COO role is a 24/7 commitment supported by regular office hours. With 75% of the operations occurring outside of business hours it is important to stay connected and plugged in with the team. Night and weekend rounds are a common practice to visit with patients/families and staff/physicians. Some of the best feedback and ideas comes from rounding with patients and staff during these off hours.
What are you most proud of since you have been at Baylor Scott & White – Fort Worth?
I am most proud of being part of this high performing and functioning team. Within my first 90 days this team has achieved amazing accomplishments from the completion of the Joint Commission triennial survey to being voted Best Places to Have a Baby in DFW. I am excited to be a part of the future of Baylor Scott & White Fort Worth and help shape the evolving medical community of Fort Worth and surrounding communities.
What do you do for fun when you are not working?
I enjoy spending time with my wife (Christina) at the horse ranch. Christina is a professional hunter/jumper rider and trainer. She competes and trains across the country with client horses. Christina also imports young horses from Europe and trains them to compete. It is exciting to watch Christina take a timid young horse and transform them into a confident hunter. I often am the support staff, tacking up the horses, feeding and mucking.
