Lauren Suarez, chief executive officer, is a healthcare executive with 10 years of experience in leading teams to achieve operational excellence and superior patient outcomes. She previously held hospital CEO roles for several national post-acute care companies. Lauren earned her MPH in healthcare management from Emory University as well as a bachelor’s degree in health science from the University of Florida. Lauren’s commitment is to continue to have Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Austin be the best place for patients to be cared for and employees to work.

Laura Gray, M.D., board certified physiatrist and medical director of Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Austin, formerly HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Austin since 2015, has been serving the rehabilitation community for more than 30 years. Dr. Gray received her undergraduate training at the University of Texas at Austin, medical school in Galveston Texas at the University and completed her residency training at Stanford University Medical Center.

* The hospital provides access to independent physicians.

Rabih Chahine is the director of pharmacy at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Austin. He is the medication therapy expert responsible for the overall clinical, operational, staffing and inventory functions of the pharmacy department and its professional growth within the hospital.  Rabih received his Bachelor of Science in health sciences from the American University of Beirut. He attended the pharmacy school at the Lebanese American University where he received his Bachelor of Science in pharmacy, followed by a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2002. Rabih is a licensed pharmacist registered in multiple states and his experience spans across hospital, community and corporate pharmacy operation settings. For most of his career he has held pharmacy leadership roles and has extensive experience as a clinical, compounding, immunizing and administrative pharmacist. He is passionate about patient care, as well as the rise of technology in healthcare and its application to pharmacy.

Paige Dawson, chief nursing officer, joined the Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Austin team after serving in leadership positions at both a large teaching hospital and a long-term acute care hospital. She has more than nine years of nursing experience in acute care, including extensive management of intensive care units. Paige holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Grandview University as well as a Bachelor of Arts in health and sports science from the University of Iowa. She is responsible for the management of all nursing personnel and the delivery of high quality care to all our patients and their families.

Sharelle Evans, patient assessment standards coordinator (PASC) of Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Austin, has worked in healthcare for more than nine years with experience in acute care hospitals, clinics and rehabilitation hospitals. She is a respiratory therapist by training, delivering direct patient care for six years, and has been a PASC for the last three years. Additionally, Sharelle holds a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration from Grand Canyon University. Her top priority is displaying outstanding patient care.

Anne Guerra brings more than 25 years of healthcare experience and expertise to Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Austin, formerly HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Austin. Anne is a Desert Storm Veteran with more than 16 years clinical and management experience. She received her bachelor’s degree in biology and master’s in health administration from University of Texas in San Antonio.

Brenda has more than 20 years’ experience as a social worker case manager. She worked in behavioral health, therapeutic foster care and special needs adoptions for the first several years of her career. The last 10 years she has worked as a case manager in the acute hospital setting; the last four and a half as a case manager for the Encompass Health Rehabilitation hospital in Overland Park, Kan.. Brenda holds a bachelor’s degree in social work form The University of Central Missouri and is a certified case manager and licensed social worker.

Liz Markland, director of therapy operations, has worked at Encompass Health Austin, formerly HealthSouth Austin since 2009 as a speech therapist and team lead. She completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Texas at Austin and is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist (CCC-SLP). She holds additional certifications in Vital Stim and Lee Silverman’s Voice Treatment.

Kathy has more than 20 years of accounting and management experience. She has spent the past 12 years in healthcare, having worked in hospice, home health and inpatient rehabilitation settings. She joined Encompass Health, formerly HealthSouth in 2015 at the Central Business Office in Brooksville, Fla. and transferred to the South Austin rehabilitation hospital in May 2016. Kathy holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Saint Leo University in Fla.

Michael brings more than 10 years of human resource experience to Encompass Health Austin. He values employees and is dedicated to providing them support and meeting their needs. Michael graduated in 2008 from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, with a bachelor's degree in communication studies.

Thomas Standley, director of plant operations, joined Encompass Health Austin after serving more than 15 years as director of plant operations in hospitals in New Mexico, Wyoming, New York and Texas. Thomas is a 24 year veteran of the U.S. Navy and retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer. He earned a bachelor’s degrees from Trinity University College. Thomas manages the facility operations including the areas of environment of care, plant operations/maintenance, dietary, purchasing and environmental services.