Renown Health, Nevada’s largest, not-for-profit integrated academic healthcare network, is delighted to announce that following a national search, Jason Knight, MD, MBA, FACHE has been appointed Chief Medical Officer for Renown Regional Medical Center, effective January 5. Dr. Knight joins Renown from Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital in Texas, where he served as Chief Medical Officer and led significant advancements in quality, safety and physician engagement. Under his leadership, Woodlands earned designation as a CMS 5-star Hospital, a Leapfrog A, and a Magnet Hospital for Nursing Excellence.
Becoming a Highly Reliable Organization
In his new role, Dr. Knight will collaborate with Dr. Bill Plauth, Chief Medical Officer for Renown Health, and Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine; Dr. Samuel Lee, Department Chair of Internal Medicine, Renown Health and the University of Nevada, Reno; and Dr. Nariman Rahimzadeh, Vice President of Medical Affairs, Renown South Meadows Medical Center to support Medical and Advanced Practice Provider Staff. Together with Renown clinical and operational leaders, he will help advance excellence in patient care, quality outcomes and clinical innovation- key components of Renown’s journey to becoming a High Reliability Organization (HRO).
“We are truly excited and honored to welcome Dr. Knight to Renown,” said Chris Nicholas, MHA, FACHE, CEO of Renown Regional Medical Center. “His experience leading clinical and operational teams, driving quality improvement, and fostering a culture of safety across an integrated academic health system will be critical as we begin our journey to becoming a High Reliability Organization. Dr. Knight leads with strong multidisciplinary collaboration, partnerships with nursing and data-informed decision making. He is a trusted and visionary physician leader whose commitment to excellence will continue to elevate care for the patients and families we serve.”
Welcoming Dr. Knight, Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Knight brings 20 years of experience as a physician executive to Renown. Over the last seven years At Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital, he oversaw medical staff operations, quality and patient safety programs, clinical integration initiatives and the expansion of key service lines during a period of substantial organizational growth. His leadership resulted in measurable improvements in outcomes, teamwork, and patient experience.
“We are honored to welcome Dr. Knight as Chief Medical Officer for Renown Regional Medical Center,” said Bill Plauth, MD, MMM, CPE, Chief Medical Officer for Renown Health and Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. “He is an engaging physician leader with a strong moral compass, a remarkable work ethic and a commitment to excellence in all aspects of his life and work that makes him exceptionally well suited for this role. We are honored he has chosen to serve Renown and those we serve.”
Prior to serving as Chief Medical Officer, he served as the Medical Director at Houston Methodist, and before that, was Regional Medical Director at Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston, TX. In this capacity, he was responsible for leading 270 emergency medicine providers and managing multiple emergency departments in the metro Houston area. Dr. Knight also served as the Emergency Medical Director at the Arizona Heart Hospital in Phoenix, AZ, where he ensured high-quality emergency care and optimized physician and medical staff management.
“As a long-time, part-time resident of Lake Tahoe, I have admired Renown Health and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such an outstanding team of clinicians and caregivers,” said Dr. Knight. “I look forward to helping build systems, processes and partnerships that support clinicians and the next generation of medical professionals. I look forward to contributing to an environment where clinicians feel valued, supported and equipped to deliver exceptional care to every patient and family.”
Dr. Knight's Education and Expertise
Dr. Knight is board-certified and completed his residency in Emergency Medicine, served as Academic Residency Medical and Education Director, and Associate Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of Arizona School of Medicine at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Management Information Systems from the University of Arizona - Eller College of Management. He earned his Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from the University of California, San Francisco - School of Medicine, and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE). Dr. Knight is a graduate of the Physician Executive Leaders Program at the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business and the Arizona State University W.B. Carey School of Business.
Dr. Knight’s major research interests include ACL tears, injury rates, Jones fractures, and strength and endurance in male and female elite athletes. Dr. Knight has published extensively, written chapters for Braunwald’s Textbook of Intensive Care Medicine on Conduction Abnormalities, Arrhythmias, and pacemakers, and presents at national conferences. Dr. Knight is married to a family practice physician, has five children, and enjoys running, skiing and snowboarding in Lake Tahoe.
About Renown Health
Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated academic health care network serving 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. To join the Renown Health team, visit renown.org/careers.
Renown Health Distributes More Than $1 Million to Community Health Agencies
As Reno’s only locally owned, not-for-profit, integrated academic health care network, Renown Health reinvests every dollar earned back into the community — in expertise, technology, treatments, training and research — to improve health and prevent illness.
Today, Renown Health’s senior leadership team, along with the chair and members of the Board of Directors, representing more than 8,000 physicians and employees, gathered to celebrate and support 65 local not-for-profit partners working to address the area’s most critical health care needs and build a healthier Nevada.
“For more than 160 years, Renown Health has worked to improve the health of our community,” said Brian Erling, MD, MBA, president and CEO of Renown Health. “As an essential community asset, and in affiliation with the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, we appreciate the trust placed in us and take this responsibility very seriously. Our commitment has grown and evolved through careful consideration of our community’s most pressing health needs. By partnering with other mission-driven nonprofit organizations, we are working to address these issues, which include expanding access to care, enhancing affordability and ensuring that every person can live their healthiest and best life.”
He added, “Improving the health and wellness of an entire population is not easy. It is a huge task. We know that change is constant, and to take on the challenges ahead, we must work together now, with those in the field, to ensure a bright and healthy future for our kids, grandkids and future generations.”
Sandeep Randhawa Named by Becker's Healthcare as One of Nation's Chief People Officers to Know
Renown Health is proud to announce that Sandeep Randhawa, MSA, has been named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s national list of “Chief People Officer to Know for 2026.” This recognition highlights 140 chief human resources officers and chief people officers who are instrumental in shaping the workforce strategies that power hospitals and health systems.
Dr. Bill Plauth of Renown Health Recognized by Becker’s as a “Chief Medical Officer” to Know For 2026
Renown Health is proud to announce that Bill Plauth, MD, MMM, CPE, has been named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s national list of “Chief Medical Officers to Know for 2026.” This recognition highlights 252 physician leaders across the country who are driving clinical excellence, advancing quality and safety and shaping the future of healthcare delivery.
