For Immediate Release:
March 31, 2026
New Chief Medical Officer to lead Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast
MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. – Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast welcomes Claudia Emami, MD, MBA, MPH, FACS, as new chief medical officer, effective March 30.
Dr. Emami brings more than 20 years of clinical and physician leadership from both academic and community health systems to Emerald Coast, with deep expertise in quality improvement, patient safety and physician engagement. Her background positions her to strengthen the hospital's care delivery and support its medical staff.
Most recently, she served as associate chief medical officer at Memorial University Medical Center, a 711-bed Level I trauma center in south Georgia. There, she oversaw 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.
A board-certified pediatric surgeon, Dr. Emami holds master’s degrees in business administration and public health.
"Ascension’s Mission aligns perfectly with my values, particularly its commitment to providing compassionate, spiritual care to all persons," said Dr. Emami, chief medical officer at Sacred Heart Emerald Coast. “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.”
Her extensive background in clinical quality, physician engagement and operational leadership will support the continued advancement of compassionate care at Sacred Heart Emerald Coast.
Outside of the office, Dr. Emami enjoys skiing, traveling and spending time with her family, including two young children.
Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast consistently ranks among the top hospitals in the country and state for patient safety, experience and satisfaction. It is a destination for specialty care including spine and joint replacement surgery, heart care, and cancer care. The hospital's Family Birth Place is recognized as one of the top maternity facilities in the country.
About Ascension Sacred Heart
Ascension Sacred Heart, based in Pensacola, Florida, operates five hospitals and more than 100 other sites of care and employs more than 6,440 associates. In fiscal year 2024, Ascension Sacred Heart provided more than $193 million in community benefit and other care for vulnerable persons. Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization dedicated to transformation through innovation across the continuum of care. As one of the leading non-profit and Catholic health systems in the U.S., Ascension is committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable.
MEDIA CONTACT: Heather Kretzer, External Communications Manager 850-832-0406
heather.kretzer@ascension.org
