On January 31, Robert Probe, MD, took the reigns as chief medical officer (CMO) and executive vice president of Baylor Scott & White Health, the largest not-for-profit health care system in Texas. Dr. Probe is stepping into the CMO role as successor to the retiring Bob Pryor, MD, who has served as CMO of Baylor Scott & White since the organization was formed in 2013 from the merger of Baylor Health Care System and Scott & White Healthcare.
A renowned orthopedic trauma surgeon, Dr. Probe has more than two decades of health care leadership experience, most recently serving as chairman of the Board of Directors and chief of staff for Scott & White Clinic, a 1,100-physician Baylor Scott & White group practice in Central Texas. As CMO of Baylor Scott & White, Dr. Probe will provide critical direction in a rapidly evolving health care environment for more than 8,000 physicians across more than 900 Baylor Scott & White access points throughout North and Central Texas.
"Health care systems have traditionally focused on treating sick patients after they've been diagnosed with illnesses like cancer, heart disease or diabetes," says Dr. Probe. "Increasingly, our system is now focusing on preventing disease and promoting wellness. We are using evidence-based screening and patients' health data to create personalized care plans. We will also continue to be at the forefront of the rapidly advancing field of genomics. All of these efforts are aimed at helping patients and communities stay healthy."
In addition to medical staff leadership, Dr. Probe will play a vital role in Baylor Scott & White's robust research and academic efforts, adding to the thousands of active clinical trials, advancing new drug development programs and enhancing educational efforts throughout the system.
"Dr. Probe is a highly accomplished surgeon, teacher and leader," says Joel Allison, CEO, Baylor Scott & White Health. "He will be instrumental in the continued growth of Baylor Scott & White, bringing advanced, integrated care to communities across Texas and building models of care for other providers around the country to emulate."
Originally from Detroit, Dr. Probe has been a part of the Texas medical community for more than 30 years. During that time, he has compiled a long list of awards and achievements. While chairing the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Scott & White, he grew the program from a 12-physician group into one with 38 providers at five locations. The seminal achievement of his program leadership came in October 2013 with the opening of the Roney Bone & Joint Institute, a 75,000 square-foot multidisciplinary musculoskeletal patient-centered medical home. He also has held numerous teaching roles with Texas A&M Health Science Center.
Nationally, Dr. Probe has served as president of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association, as well as a member of its Board of Directors, where he helped spearhead the reformation of fracture care education delivered across the country. As CMO, he looks forward to the opportunity to continue to innovate when it comes to providing better quality and service to patients and families.
"America has the most advanced medical capabilities in the world, but too often care isn't delivered efficiently or consistently," he says. "I look at this new role as a unique opportunity to create new systems that address these problems and make Texas – and America – a healthier place to live for all of us."
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Anna Duerr
anna.duerr@bswhealth.org
214-820-1814
About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White promotes the health and well-being of every individual, family and community it serves. It is committed to making quality care more accessible, convenient and affordable through its integrated delivery network, which includes the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and its leading digital health platform – MyBSWHealth. Through 51 hospitals and more than 1,200 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White today serves more than three million Texans. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com