Erika Fisher
Erika Fisher, DNP, MSN, RN is a dynamic healthcare executive known for driving operational excellence and advancing patient-centered care through strategic leadership. As Director of Ambulatory Services at Texas Children’s Hospital, she leads complex, multidisciplinary teams across maternal-fetal medicine, fetal care, and women’s health services. With a strong foundation in both clinical practice and business operations, Dr. Fisher brings a systems-thinking approach to healthcare delivery—aligning people, processes, and technology to improve outcomes, enhance patient experiences, and support sustainable growth.
Dr. Fisher’s career spans leadership roles across prominent healthcare organizations, including executive positions in clinical operations and ambulatory services. Her expertise encompasses strategic planning, healthcare administration, informatics, and performance improvement, supported by advanced training in biostatistics, finance, and health policy. A decorated military veteran, she served in the United States Air Force and Air National Guard, earning multiple honors including Airman of the Year and numerous military medals. Her leadership is widely recognized for its focus on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
A first-generation American and the first in her family to earn a doctoral degree, Dr. Fisher’s journey reflects resilience, discipline, and a deep commitment to service. She is an active contributor to key organizational committees and a passionate advocate for leadership development, mentorship, and inclusive excellence in healthcare. Through her work, she continues to shape high-performing teams and innovative care models, leaving a lasting impact on the patients, families, and communities she serves.
• UTHealth Houston
• University of St. Francis
• Airman of the Year
• Airman of the Quarter
• First-Term Airman of the Year for Georgia Region
• Awards from Generals
• Military Medals
• Good Samaritan Award for Nursing
• 2024 Excellence in Nursing Award
• Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society
• Life Houston
What do you attribute your success to?
I really attribute my success to the mentors I've had, both in the military and in my civilian career. I've been blessed to have both found mentors and had some find me - people who believe in me and have really invested in me, guiding me along the way. That has made a world of difference for me in my career. The level of commitment, integrity, and work ethic that was instilled in us from the very beginning in the military, from basic training, has been essential as I've moved forward. In the military, we're taught that if anyone on the team fails, we all fail, and as I've progressed in my career, I've learned more and more the importance of that - the team is central to everything that you do. Those experiences of having the military at a young age definitely molded me into who I am. I also had to create my own roadmap as a first-generation American, learning from the ground up with the internal grit from my mother and ancestors to keep moving forward.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
One of the pieces of advice that I received a long time ago, and it was actually in the military, is to always work towards and fully own not only the role that you have in front of you, but also the one ahead of you. I've really challenged myself to that, and the experiences I had before really helped me in that regard, in terms of my work ethic and so forth. It's always to not only look at what you have in front of you, but look at what's ahead and work towards that.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
People are most important to me - it's my ability to potentially inspire anybody in any regard. If I can inspire anyone, that's what drives me, because the people are the reason that I do what I do. That's my passion - supporting others in their careers in whatever way that I can. I love to cook, which became my way of connecting with others. In the military I got to travel quite a bit and met so many different individuals from different backgrounds, so I learned to cook from different cultures. It's my way of connecting, and I think it's somewhat cultural as well for me. I also believe you have to do things not only for yourself, but for those that came before you. In the military, we're taught that if anyone on the team fails, we all fail, and I've learned to look outside of just myself from a more selfless perspective, not a selfish one - you start to look at how you can help others.