Chris Watts

Chris Watts, BJC chief strategy officer, oversees corporate strategy, growth and development activities, strategic investing and business planning for BJC HealthCare.

Watts joined BJC HealthCare in 2005. He previously held the position of president of BJC hospitals in St. Charles County — Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital and Progress West Hospital — for four years. He also held the leadership roles of BJC 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.

Watts 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 healthcare management.

A native of Springfield, Missouri, Watts and his wife Chelsey live in the City of St. Louis.