Central Health Appoints New Chief Compliance Officer

AUSTIN, Texas — Central Health has appointed Nakia L. Smith, MBA, CHC, as its new Chief Compliance Officer. Smith brings more than two decades of executive experience in regulatory oversight, compliance, program design, and risk management to the organization. The Central Health Board of Managers approved Smith’s appointment during its Dec. 3 meeting.

“I’m honored to join Central Health and contribute to work that reflects my commitment to supporting communities and expanding access to care,” Smith said. “I look forward to partnering across the organization to strengthen our compliance program and ensure we continue serving the community with excellence.”

A Proven Leader in Health Care Compliance

Smith has more than 20 years of experience leading enterprise-wide compliance, privacy, and regulatory programs across Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, commercial plans, and integrated delivery systems. She previously held senior compliance leadership roles with Parkland Community Health Plan and Kaiser Permanente.

Her expertise includes HIPAA privacy and security, fraud and abuse prevention, enterprise risk management, government program oversight, and contract governance. She has collaborated extensively with state and federal regulators, boards of directors, and executive teams to ensure compliance readiness and operational integrity.

As chief compliance officer, Smith will lead compliance governance, policies and procedures, training, and systemwide risk mitigation efforts. She will also serve as a strategic advisor as Central Health continues to modernize its operations and expand access to care for Travis County residents.

“I am thrilled to welcome Nakia to the Central Health team in this essential position as Chief Compliance Officer,” said Dr. Pat Lee, Central Health president and CEO. “Compliance is foundational to how Central Health operates, upholding the integrity, trust, and accountability that our patients and community expect from us. With her deep expertise and strong leadership, Nakia will help strengthen our systems, safeguard the people we serve, and advance our mission to achieve health equity for everyone.”