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 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.
