Her Story
About Ann
Annie Nabers Craig is the Director of Operations at the Texas Health Services Authority, where she has built a long-standing career through progressive leadership roles. She began with the organization as an executive assistant and advanced through positions including policy analyst and director of communications before stepping into her current executive role. Her professional journey reflects a steady path of growth rooted in operational discipline, institutional knowledge, and a sustained commitment to strengthening health information exchange across Texas.
In her role, Annie supports a unique quasi-governmental organization established by the State of Texas and governed by a board of gubernatorially appointed, unpaid members. The organization operates with transparency under the Texas Public Information Act while remaining outside the formal structure of a state agency. Her work focuses on advancing secure, consent-driven health data exchange between hospitals and healthcare systems, improving interoperability, and supporting initiatives that enhance patient care coordination across the state. Known for her precision and editorial rigor, she frequently reviews, refines, and strengthens complex policy documents, RFPs, and RFOs—skills shaped in part by her academic background in philosophy, which developed her strengths in writing, analysis, and critical thinking.
Annie is also engaged in statewide interoperability efforts through collaborative initiatives addressing critical healthcare challenges, including standardized newborn naming conventions to improve patient matching, modernization of death registry processes to prevent unintended posthumous communications, and ongoing work in maternal health data systems. Outside of her professional responsibilities, she enjoys designing hand-knotted jewelry using personally dyed silk and AAA-rated semi-precious and precious stones. Her personal interests also include family, outdoor activities, and adventure, which provide balance and inspiration alongside her professional work in healthcare innovation and public service.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ann
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to hard work, dedication, and a consistent eagerness to learn and grow. I have always been willing to take on new challenges, explore new approaches, and step outside of my comfort zone to improve both personally and professionally. Being open-minded, adaptable, and honest in my interactions with others has also been essential in building trust and fostering strong working relationships.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received is to not be afraid to put myself out there, try new things, and actively pursue my goals and dreams without hesitation. I’ve learned that growth comes from taking risks, embracing new opportunities, and stepping outside of my comfort zone. Living with intention and without regret has guided my decisions and helped shape both my personal and professional journey.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to surround yourself with a strong support system made up of positive, encouraging people who genuinely want to see you succeed. Focus on continuous learning, because the more you know, the more you grow, both personally and professionally. Be willing to take every opportunity that comes your way and fully commit to it say yes, lean in, and use each experience as a chance to build confidence, expand your skills, and advance your career.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest opportunity in my field right now is continuing to expand engagement with both new and existing healthcare organizations to better support their evolving health IT and interoperability needs. As the industry rapidly advances, there is significant potential to improve how health information is exchanged, accessed, and used to support patient care. By strengthening collaboration across stakeholders and helping organizations adopt and optimize health IT solutions, we can drive more connected, efficient, and patient-centered care systems.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think we are such unsung heroes all the time. I believe that being subject to public information act is good because it keeps everybody honest, and I feel like most organizations should be like that. I'm all for women supporting women and recognizing that we are unsung heroes. The work we do, like making sure people don't get calls from pharmacies after someone has died, those things are like knives to the heart, and preventing that matters. I care about making a real difference in people's lives through things like newborn naming conventions and death registry and maternal health.
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