Ernest Health has announced that Nicholas Nilest has been named Market CEO for New Braunfels Regional Rehabilitation Hospital and Laredo Rehabilitation Hospital.

The medical rehabilitation hospitals provide specialized rehabilitative care to individuals recovering from disabilities caused by injuries, illnesses, or chronic medical conditions. In his role, Nilest will support the hospital executive teams in advancing patient care and strengthening community partnerships.

Nilest brings a wealth of experience and dedication to his new role. After earning both a bachelor’s degree in health sciences and a doctorate in physical therapy from Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky., Nilest began his career as a traveling physical therapist. Working in cities across the country, he gained extensive experience in various care settings, which he says ultimately ignited his passion for inpatient rehabilitation.

Nilest joined Ernest Health in 2010 as the Director of Therapy Operations at Laredo Specialty Hospital. In 2014, he advanced to CEO of Corpus Christi Rehabilitation Hospital, and in 2019, he assumed the role of CEO for New Braunfels Regional Rehabilitation Hospital.

Reflecting on his career path and new role within Ernest Health, Nilest says, “I was always taught to leave things better than I found them. This could not be truer of healthcare and what we seek to accomplish every single day.”

Beyond his professional role, Nilest and his wife often can be found cheering on his five children at sporting events.

“Healthcare, like sports, keeps a unified team connected, teaches us teamwork, and reminds us to have fun in the process,” Nilest says. “Happiness is about the people we build it with. I bring the same commitment and integrity to work as I do to my personal life, making sure to be present for the moments that matter.”