Former Harris Health System Leader Barnes Named Ceo, President For Episcopal Health Foundation, Replacing Former Ceo Elena Marks

Dr. Ann Barnes joined the Episcopal Health Foundation’s Board of Directors as its president and CEO in October 2022.

Barnes was formerly chief health officer and senior vice president for Harris Health System Houston. She brings almost 20 years of experience in practicing medical care and leading community clinic and safety-net health care systems to drive successful upstream innovations. Those upstream innovations address social, economic, and environmental drivers of health for communities most in need.

“I can’t think of a leader with a better mix of strategic experience and a proven commitment to service all communities to guide the foundation’s next chapter,” Bishop C. Andrew Doyle said. “Good health can’t be achieved through medicine alone, and Ann’s experience as a physician and on the frontlines serving communities that are over-burdened and under-resourced will be invaluable to our ongoing mission.”

Ann Barnes, MD

Barnes takes over as EHF’s CEO upon the retirement of Elena Marks, founding CEO who retired in September 2022.

The native Houston Fifth Ward resident attended Yale University and Harvard Medical School. As a certified internist, she completed residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and earned a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Texas School of Public Health.

“I’m so humbled and excited to join Episcopal Health Foundation and continue its critical mission to improve health, not just health care across Texas,” Barnes said.

Barnes was responsible for developing the Harris Health system’s health equity strategy. She led the system’s efforts to improve population health, prevent disease, and address chronic conditions. Results were achieved chiefly by integrating community resources that impact underlying, nonmedical conditions like food security, safe places to exercise, poverty, and more

She volunteers by helping to further and promote many Houston-area and statewide organizations that support philanthropy, public policy, children and youth groups.