Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast has appointed Dr. Claudia Emami as its new Chief Medical Officer, bringing more than two decades of clinical and physician leadership experience to the Walton County hospital.
- Dr. Emami, a board-certified pediatric surgeon who holds an MD, MBA, MPH and fellowship designation from the American College of Surgeons, assumed the role March 30.
She arrives from Memorial University Medical Center, a 711-bed Level I trauma center in south Georgia, where she served as associate chief medical officer overseeing quality and patient safety, medical staff operations, regulatory readiness and physician engagement.
“Dr. Emami’s experience will be invaluable as we continue our commitment to the patients we serve,” said Trey Abshier, President and CEO of Sacred Heart Emerald Coast.
Her background spans both academic and community health systems, with deep expertise in quality improvement, patient safety and physician engagement — experience hospital leadership says positions her to strengthen care delivery and support the medical staff at the Miramar Beach facility.
- “Ascension’s Mission aligns perfectly with my values, particularly its commitment to providing compassionate, spiritual care to all persons,” Dr. Emami said. “I’m committed to building on Sacred Heart Emerald Coast’s strong foundation in quality and patient safety by partnering with the physicians and care teams here to deliver the best outcomes for our patients.”
Sacred Heart Emerald Coast consistently ranks among the top hospitals nationally and statewide for patient safety, experience and satisfaction. The hospital serves as a destination for speciality care including spine and joint replacement surgery, heart care and cancer care, and its Family Birth Place is recognized as one of the top maternity facilities in the country.
When she’s not at the hospital, Dr. Emami enjoys skiing, traveling and spending time with her family, including two young children.
