Emergence Health Executive and Leadership Team

October, 2026

Leadership Overview

Emergence Health has 7 executives leading key functions including strategy, operations, human resources, medical oversight, legal compliance, administration, and outpatient addiction services.

Committed to regional behavioral health excellence, Emergence Health delivers comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and crisis intervention services to improve community wellness and developmental outcomes.

Leadership Roles at Emergence Health

  • Chief Executive Officer - Kristen Daugherty
  • Chief of Staff - Rene Hurtado
  • Executive Assistant To Chief Human Resources Officer - Stephanie Martinez
  • Chief Medical Officer - Shawna Scully
  • Chief Legal Officer - Ian Hanna
  • Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) - Iris Sandoval
  • Physician, Chief Medical Officer of Outpatient Medical and Addiction Service - Carroll Thornburg
  • Kristen Daugherty - Chief Executive Officer

    Kristen Daugherty, the Chief Executive Officer at Emergence Health, directs the overarching strategic vision for behavioral and developmental services across the El Paso region. Daugherty architects long-term growth initiatives while ensuring the organization maintains high standards for crisis intervention and psychiatric evaluation. By aligning departmental goals with the mission of providing accessible mental health support, the Chief Executive Officer fosters a culture of clinical excellence and operational efficiency. Kristen Daugherty manages critical relationships with regional stakeholders to expand the reach of psychoactive mediation monitoring and supportive counseling programs. This leadership role involves constant evaluation of service delivery models to meet the evolving needs of the community. Through rigorous oversight of organizational performance, the Chief Executive Officer secures the financial and operational stability required to sustain vital rehabilitative skills training programs for diverse patient populations.
    Kristen Daugherty

    Rene Hurtado - Chief of Staff

    Rene Hurtado, the Chief of Staff at Emergence Health, coordinates executive operations and facilitates communication across all clinical and administrative departments. Hurtado optimizes internal workflows to ensure the seamless execution of behavioral health initiatives and developmental service delivery. By managing the flow of information to the executive leadership team, the Chief of Staff enables rapid decision-making regarding crisis intervention protocols and psychiatric evaluation resources. Rene Hurtado monitors the implementation of strategic projects, ensuring alignment with the broader organizational objectives for the El Paso region. This role involves bridging gaps between various functional units to maintain operational cohesion during periods of high demand for supportive counseling. Through meticulous planning and resource allocation, the Chief of Staff drives the efficiency of daily operations, allowing the organization to focus on delivering high-quality care to patients requiring psychoactive mediation monitoring and rehabilitative skills training.

    Stephanie Martinez - Executive Assistant To Chief Human Resources Officer

    Stephanie Martinez, the Executive Assistant To Chief Human Resources Officer at Emergence Health, supports the management of human capital essential for delivering specialized behavioral and developmental services. Martinez organizes administrative processes that facilitate the recruitment and retention of qualified clinical staff capable of performing psychiatric evaluations and crisis interventions. By streamlining communication within the human resources department, the Executive Assistant To Chief Human Resources Officer ensures that staffing levels remain adequate for psychoactive mediation monitoring and rehabilitative skills training. Stephanie Martinez maintains critical documentation and scheduling systems that allow the leadership team to focus on strategic workforce development. This role involves coordinating internal training programs to enhance the skills of personnel providing supportive counseling. Through diligent administrative support, the Executive Assistant To Chief Human Resources Officer contributes to the overall operational readiness of the organization, ensuring that the workforce remains prepared to address the complex mental health needs of the El Paso community.

    Shawna Scully - Chief Medical Officer

    Shawna Scully, the Chief Medical Officer at Emergence Health, oversees the clinical quality and medical standards for all behavioral and developmental services. Scully directs the implementation of evidence-based psychiatric evaluation protocols and crisis intervention strategies to ensure patient safety and effective treatment outcomes. By supervising the medical staff, the Chief Medical Officer maintains rigorous compliance with psychoactive mediation monitoring requirements and supportive counseling standards. Shawna Scully collaborates with other executive leaders to integrate clinical best practices into the broader organizational framework, enhancing the efficacy of rehabilitative skills training. This leadership role involves monitoring regional health trends to adapt service delivery models for the El Paso population. Through continuous clinical auditing and professional development initiatives, the Chief Medical Officer drives the quality of care, ensuring that every patient receives appropriate, timely, and compassionate medical attention within the behavioral health continuum.
    Ian Hanna, the Chief Legal Officer at Emergence Health, manages all regulatory compliance and legal affairs related to the provision of behavioral and developmental services. Hanna architects robust governance frameworks to protect the organization while facilitating the delivery of psychiatric evaluations and crisis intervention programs. By interpreting complex healthcare laws, the Chief Legal Officer ensures that psychoactive mediation monitoring and supportive counseling practices adhere to state and federal mandates. Ian Hanna provides essential counsel to the executive team regarding risk management and contractual obligations, supporting the stability of rehabilitative skills training operations. This role involves navigating the legal landscape of the El Paso healthcare market to mitigate potential liabilities. Through proactive legal strategy and oversight, the Chief Legal Officer safeguards the integrity of the organization, allowing clinical teams to focus on patient care without the disruption of regulatory uncertainty or legal challenges.

    Iris Sandoval - Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)

    Iris Sandoval, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) at Emergence Health, directs the infrastructure and administrative systems that support the delivery of behavioral and developmental services. Sandoval optimizes facility management and operational logistics to ensure that crisis intervention centers and psychiatric evaluation clinics function at peak capacity. By overseeing the administrative backbone of the organization, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) facilitates the smooth execution of psychoactive mediation monitoring and supportive counseling programs. Iris Sandoval manages resource allocation and procurement processes to maintain the availability of tools necessary for rehabilitative skills training. This role involves coordinating with regional partners to ensure that administrative policies support the broader mission of community health improvement. Through the implementation of efficient business processes, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) enhances the overall operational capacity of the organization, ensuring that administrative hurdles never impede the delivery of essential mental health services to the El Paso region.

    Carroll Thornburg - Physician, Chief Medical Officer of Outpatient Medical and Addiction Service

    Carroll Thornburg, the Physician, Chief Medical Officer of Outpatient Medical and Addiction Service at Emergence Health, leads the clinical strategy for outpatient addiction treatment and specialized medical care. Thornburg architects comprehensive treatment plans that integrate psychoactive mediation monitoring with intensive supportive counseling for patients struggling with substance use disorders. By focusing on the outpatient sector, the Physician, Chief Medical Officer of Outpatient Medical and Addiction Service ensures that individuals receive continuous care beyond acute crisis intervention. Carroll Thornburg supervises the medical staff dedicated to addiction recovery, driving the success of rehabilitative skills training programs tailored to outpatient needs. This role involves analyzing clinical data to refine addiction treatment protocols and improve long-term patient outcomes in the El Paso region. Through expert medical leadership, the Physician, Chief Medical Officer of Outpatient Medical and Addiction Service strengthens the organization's capacity to address the complex intersection of mental health and addiction.

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Emergence Health Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads Emergence Health?
    Emergence Health is led by Kristen Daugherty (Chief Executive Officer), along with executives such as Rene Hurtado (Chief of Staff) and Stephanie Martinez (Executive Assistant To Chief Human Resources Officer).
    Who is part of Emergence Health’s executive team?
    The executive team of Emergence Health includes leaders such as Kristen Daugherty (Chief Executive Officer), Rene Hurtado (Chief of Staff), Stephanie Martinez (Executive Assistant To Chief Human Resources Officer) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does Emergence Health have?
    Emergence Health has 7 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in Emergence Health’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of Emergence Health includes roles such as Chief Executive Officer, Chief of Staff, Executive Assistant To Chief Human Resources Officer, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Legal Officer.