Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief of Staff
Maria Cowles is executive vice president, chief strategy officer and chief of staff at Harris Health System. She has more than 20 years of progressive healthcare leadership experience in hospitals and healthcare systems including eight years at Memorial Hermann Healthcare System in Houston. She joined Harris Health in 2013 and has held leadership positions in Ambulatory Care Services, Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital and for the past three years in her current position focusing on the strategic planning and organizational relationships that will help Harris Health succeed in the future.
In her current role, Cowles oversees functions related to philanthropy, enterprise project management, contract administration, contractor diversity, corporate communications, community engagement and support for the the system’s board of trustees. Additionally, she facilitates strategic planning, as well as strategic initiatives and system integration.
Cowles holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from St. Mary's University in San Antonio and a Master of Healthcare Administration from Trinity University in San Antonio. She is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.