June 30, 2021
(Austin) – Central Health announced Dr. Alan Schalscha as the new chief medical officer (CMO), effective June 28.
Schalscha will provide clinical leadership and direct oversight of Central Health’s clinical practice of medicine, which includes identifying and mitigating healthcare risks; using a data-driven approach to identify healthcare gaps and prioritize initiatives; and collaborating with Central Health’s community partners and providers to help better serve Travis County residents.
“Throughout his entire career, Dr. Schalscha has demonstrated his commitment to serving others. He is an incredibly valuable addition to Central Health as we work to eliminate health disparities and develop Travis County into a model health community,” Central Health President & CEO Mike Geeslin said.
Prior to serving as CMO of Central Health, Schalscha was CMO of Central Health-affiliated CommUnityCare Health Centers and was an clinical associate professor at Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin, integrating health care into clinical education.
For close to two decades, Schalscha has also served as a volunteer board member and leader of DOCARE International, a medical outreach organization dedicated to providing health care to under-served communities around the world. As mission medical director of DOCARE, he annually leads a team of 70-100 providers and students to Guatemala, and was instrumental in the establishment of two permanent continuity clinics in San Andres, Colombia and Tecpan, Guatemala. Schalscha was also named humanitarian of the year by the Travis County Medical Society in 2019 for his work with DOCARE.
“I have always viewed health care as a human right, so I look forward to the opportunity to work directly with executives and Enterprise leaders to promote a culture of equitable, quality care with a focus on clinical outcomes, efficiency and improving the health of Central Health’s covered population,” Schalscha said.
Schalscha graduated from The University of Texas with two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s degree prior to entering medical school. He received his medical degree from Midwestern University and completed his residency in family medicine.
