Skip to main content
|
Go home
Go home

Renown Health CEO Named 'CEO of the Year' by Ragan Communications for Fostering a Healthier Work Environment and Putting People First

Dr. Brian Erling smiles for the camera.

Dr. Brian Erling is a CEO who leads by example, creating a positive work environment where professionals can thrive and grow in their careers, ultimately leading to improved healthcare for our community.

Dr. Brian Erling, President and CEO of Renown Health, has been named CEO of the Year by the Ragan Communications Workplace Wellness Awards. As CEO of the Year, he is recognized for promoting physical health, mental resilience, and a culture of work-life balance.

Ragan Communications writes, “Under Dr. Erling’s leadership, Renown Health launched a range of programs supporting mental, emotional and physical wellness, including expanded behavioral health access and personalized wellbeing services. His vision has made employee health a system-wide priority embedded into the organization’s operational strategy.”

Ragan is the industry leader in providing professional development, training and intelligence to communicators, marketers, HR professionals and business leaders worldwide, and holds its annual Workplace Wellness Awards program, presenting the award to a CEO who leads by example, and makes employee well-being a top priority in their organization.

Dr. Brian Erling, CEO and President of Renown Health, is a seasoned healthcare executive with over twenty-five years of experience in diverse healthcare settings. During his career, he has led teams at not-for-profit hospitals, integrated health systems, physician practices and publicly traded healthcare companies.

Dr. Erling joined the Renown team in November of 2022. He leads with a people-first mindset, prioritizing employees in the organization’s decision-making process. Dr. Erling believes that when employees have the involvement and tools to excel in their roles, the result is an engaged workforce and exceptional care for the community. Having previously spent over 20 years serving the people of Colorado, he believes that long-term leadership is essential for an organization to grow and thrive. His background as a physician enables him to connect with healthcare workers who devote their nights, weekends and holidays to their work.

Dr. Erling emphasizes the importance of teamwork and believes it’s the key to a successful healthcare system. Being part of a high-performing, mission-driven team is his primary motivation. He considers Renown’s more than 8,000 employees to be the organization’s greatest resource. While Renown’s modern technologies, like advanced robotic surgical systems and imaging equipment, are valuable, Dr. Erling believes the main reason patients choose their services is because of the trusted care in their hometown.

Dr. Erling’s goals for Renown are to create a positive work environment where employees can thrive and grow in their careers, ultimately leading to improved healthcare for our community. Since the beginning of his leadership, he has implemented numerous initiatives to enhance the organization, always prioritizing people first.

Putting employee wellness at the forefront of strategic planning, and making People First the first value of Renown Health, the following initiatives have been introduced in the past 12 months:

Introducing Renown's New Mission, Vision and Values

Mission, vision and values provide insight into an organization's purpose and future. In 2025, Renown Health launched a 10-year strategic plan. Updating the organization's mission, vision and values statements created the foundation of Renown's new strategy that reflects Renown's aspirations for the community, and the commitment of compassionate employees.

Mission
Established in 1864 as Nevada’s first hospital, we proudly serve our community as the only not-for-profit academic health system, committed to saving lives, nurturing minds, and caring for all people.

Vision
Create a healthier future through exceptional care and discovery

Values
People First, Compassion, Integrity, Collaboration, Excellence

Expanding Education and Career Growth Programs at Renown Health

Cardiac Ultrasound Technologist Apprenticeship program: This six to eight-month program offers students tuition-free education while also providing them with a paid training opportunity. Employees are encouraged to participate in the program and grow their career in healthcare.

Respiratory Therapist training program, in partnership with Great Basin College: The program is an accelerated 18-month program resulting in participants receiving an Associate of Applied Science in Cardio-Respiratory Care Science degree. This program allows career growth and opportunity for both employees and our community.

Additional Employee Benefits and Appreciation Events

Engaging Employee Communications

  • All-hands monthly forums hosted by Dr. Erling and Renown’s President’s Council to provide employees with organizational updates, including strategic planning and a question-and-answer session.
  • Anonymous pulse surveys to indicate how employees are feeling about the organization and provide feedback for improvement. Dr. Erling and Renown’s Leadership Team evaluate results for strategic planning.

Renown Health has also been nominated as a finalist for Employee Experience.

Many rewarding healthcare careers are available at Renown Health, for more information or to apply, visit renown.org/careers.

As the region’s only Level 2 Trauma Center for adults and children, Renown serves over 1 million people and 100,000 square miles. In the U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital Rankings, Renown Regional Medical Center is named #1 Hospital for the State of Nevada for 2024, 2023 and 2022.


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 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. For more information, visit renown.org.

Related News

Renown Health logo

Renown Health Expands Leadership Role of Chris Nicholas to Include System COO

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.
Read More Renown Health Expands Leadership Role of Chris Nicholas to Include System COO
Renown Health logo

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.”
Read More Renown Health Recognized as Best Hospital for Maternity Care
Renown Health logo

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.
Read More Becker’s Names Renown Health to 2025 List of Top Orthopedic Programs
View All Press Releases
ER Wait Times

How are wait times calculated?

Our estimated ER wait times reflect the average time from check-in to being seen by a medical professional during triage, where patients are prioritized based on the severity of their condition.