Chris Watts

Chris Watts, BJC Health System chief strategy officer, oversees corporate strategy, growth and development activities, strategic investing, and business planning. BJC Health System is comprised of two distinct regions – the East Region, which serves the St. Louis area and southern Illinois, and operates as BJC HealthCare; and the West Region, which serves the Kansas City area, northwest Missouri and eastern Kansas, and operates as Saint Luke’s.

Chris joined BJC HealthCare in 2005. He previously held the position of president of Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital and Progress West Hospital for four years. He was BJC HealthCare vice president of capital and program planning and Barnes-Jewish Hospital director of ambulatory services. He began his career with CoxHealth in Springfield, Missouri, and also held positions with Centene Corporation in St. Louis.

Chris holds a master’s degree in health administration from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and a bachelor’s degree in health care administration from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. He is a 2013 graduate of the Leadership Program of FOCUS St. Louis, a recipient of the Washington University Robert E. Frank Scholarship for educational excellence in health administration, and a recipient of the Donald J. Horsch Award for early career promise in health care management.