Emerging Industry Leaders: Annamaria Macaluso Davidson of Memorial Hermann Health System

Annamaria Macaluso Davidson, M.D., MBA

I grew up in Houston. After graduating cum laude from Memorial High School, I graduated magna cum laude and with honors from Texas A&M University in College Station.

After that, I received an M.D. from The University of Texas McGovern Medical School in Houston. I also earned an MBA at the University of Texas at Tyler. I am board certified in occupational and environmental medicine, as well as medical quality.

I currently serve as a board member of the Texas College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and as a member of the Program Evaluation and Residency Advisory Committee for Occupational and Environmental Medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.

My strong work ethic is inspired by my family’s legacy: hardworking men and women, skilled lifelong learners and educators, immigrants with great courage, a love of medicine and a firm commitment to their communities.

Related: Annamaria Macaluso Davidson Says She's Proudest of Herself for Achieving Her Role at of Memorial Hermann Health

Helping to keep our workforce safe and being able to care for patients during the pandemic have been a challenge and also a privilege. There is such benefit, dignity and power in work. Providing practical guidance to employers throughout the pandemic so their staff could work safely has also been rewarding. I led an effort to implement new best-in-class, rapid molecular (COVID-19) testing in a variety of settings across Memorial Hermann, providing an improved clinical and patient experience.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in healthcare?

I grew up around medicine. My father is a dentist, and my grandfather is an allergist and pediatrician. The extended family is full of surgeons, radiologists, pharmacists and hospital administrators. Medicine was always at the top of my list. I thought about education as well but eventually decided on medicine because I could practice and incorporate education into my work. I saw firsthand the honor of the profession and the blessing of learning a skill and helping and serving others through those gifts. I am proud of my legacy. It inspires me daily.

Which career accomplishment are you proudest of and why?

I’m thankful to have been able to work and train during my early years with Memorial Hermann. But I am proudest to have achieved my current position. We have a talented, compassionate and skilled workforce. And we have such a great purpose that drives our work: to improve our community’s health. In this role, I get to work with companies across our city to improve the health of their workforces and workplaces.

What is the most challenging part of your current position?

Telling the story of our work. There is so much good work being done, but synthesizing, standardizing, creating and disseminating information and data across a large organization can be challenging. It is also really inspiring to organize the details and create the visuals.

What is your organization doing to address healthcare equity?

Memorial Hermann has wonderful partnerships with our community to create improved access to care and resources in underserved communities, in the workplace and in our community at large. We are continuously improving, looking to deliver personalized and compassionate care to every community member. We value each other’s unique identity and contribution as we learn, design the customer and employee experience, and practice medicine.

If you could change one thing in U.S. healthcare, what would it be?

To ensure that the healthcare workforce feels valued and appreciated — restoring joy in work through community building, reducing waste, improving resilience and doing purpose-driven work.

How do you avoid burnout?

I consistently remind myself of the purpose in my work — to improve the health of our communities, to honor and support my family and to work with excellence unto the Lord. There are also practical tools that bring rest and refreshment: working out, organizing (think “The Home Edit”!), cooking, entertaining, giving thanks and spending time with my husband, four children and extended family.