Norvell V. Coots, MD

Norvell Coots

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
Company: Holy Cross Health
Location: Laytonsville, Maryland, United States

Norvell V. Coots, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer at Holy Cross Health, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Military for dedication, achievements, and leadership in military services.

Drawing upon a Bachelor of Science in liberal studies from Excelsior College, a Master of Science in strategic studies from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and a Doctor of Medicine from the College of Medicine at the University of Oklahoma, Dr. Coots is a distinguished medical professional with specialties in both military medicine and medical management. Since 2016, he has served as president and chief executive officer of Holy Cross Health, in which he leads a multidisciplinary integrated Catholic health system that is comprised of two hospitals, four community clinics, two group practices, and community-based dialysis and radiation oncology centers. Impressively, Holy Cross Hospital is the second-largest hospital in the State of Maryland, as well as the #1 center for live births in the state. Dr. Coots emphasizes that the Holy Cross Health Network has a mission to provide premier health care and patient management to underserved and undocumented residents of Montgomery County, Maryland.

Prior to establishing Holy Cross Health, Dr. Coots began his medical training at William Beaumont Army Medical Center as an intern, and then as a resident in dermatology at Brooke Army Medical Center. Subsequently, he was an advisor at Uniformed Services University while concurrently excelling as commander and chief executive officer of the Walter Reed Health Care System. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Coots was a special assistant to the Army Surgeon General, as well as surgeon general and IJC medical advisor for the ISAF Joint Command and U.S. military forces in Afghanistan. Impressively, he also flourished in myriad roles at The Pentagon and continues his work in academia as an assistant professor of dermatology at the Uniformed Services University since 2008. He has also contributed his expertise widely to various medical publications and is a frequent presenter in the field.

Commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps of the U.S. Army in 1980, Dr. Coots was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in 1983, captain in 1985, and commissioned captain of the Medical Corps in 1989. Serving in that capacity until 2012, he retired as a brigadier general in 2016. In light of his military service, Dr. Coots received a Distinguished Service Medal in 2016, the Defense Superior Service Medal in 2013, and the Legion of Honor, which he obtained from the Republic of France in 2015. Likewise, he has received several Certificates of Appreciation, Meritorious Service Medals, and Army Commendation Medals beginning in the 1980s. Since 2000, Dr. Coots has served as the President of Project Moldova, a 501c3 charity that provides vocational training for orphans of the Republic of Moldova.

In addition, Dr. Coots earned a Distinguished Healthcare Leadership Award from the National Association of Health Service Executives in 2018 and the U.S.-India SME Council Exceptional Healthcare Executive of the Year Award in 2020 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to medicine. He maintains membership with such prestigious organizations as the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Dermatology, the Association of Military Surgeons in the United States, the Society of Medical Consultants to the Armed Forces, and the American Association for Physician Leadership.

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