Chris Stewart Besser

Christopher S. Besser, PhD, MHA, MBA, MS, FACHE, FACHDM, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Healthcare Management & Leadership at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. A board-certified healthcare executive and retired U.S. Army Medical Service Corps officer, he brings more than two decades of senior leadership experience across hospital operations, deployable health systems, academic medicine, and complex healthcare organizations. His prior executive assignments included Chief Operating Officer of the 627th Hospital Center, leadership of an Urban Augmentation Medical Task Force supporting the national COVID-19 response, command of the Evans Army Community Hospital Troop Command, and senior operational leadership at Fort George G. Meade Medical Activity. He previously served as Deputy Healthcare Administration Consultant to the Army Surgeon General. At TTUHSC, Dr. Besser integrates executive practice with graduate education, mentoring future healthcare leaders in strategy, policy, finance, economics, operations, organizational design, change management, and leadership ethics. His scholarly interests include access and utilization, integrated behavioral health, healthcare operations, health data management, and evidence-informed leadership. He received the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions Outstanding Alumni Award for Professional Achievement and Career Service and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the American College of Health Data Management.