William Hooks Jr., MD

Meet William Hooks Jr., MD

Leading the Future of Rural Healthcare through Clinical Excellence and AI Innovation

Dr. William W. Hooks is a native of Mount Pleasant, Texas, who serves as the Chief Medical Officer and Chief of Anesthesiology at CHRISTUS Health. Returning to his hometown in 2016 after a distinguished thirteen-year career in the United States Navy, Dr. Hooks has been instrumental in bridging the gap between advanced medical technology and local, patient-centered care. His leadership was particularly vital during the regional response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and his dual expertise in clinical medicine and business administration continues to drive strategic healthcare improvements throughout Northeast Texas.

Career at a Glance

• 13 Years of Military Service: Served as a decorated U.S. Navy Flight Surgeon and Anesthesiologist, including two deployments aboard the USS Ronald Reagan.
• Elite Leadership Experience: Over 25 years in healthcare leadership, spanning roles from student body president and Chief Resident to Chief of Staff in military and civilian hospitals, and currently serving as Chief Medical Officer.
• Administrative Excellence: Earned an Executive MBA from the Soules College of Business at the University of Texas at Tyler in 2022 to enhance rural hospital governance.
• Published AI Visionary: Co-author of "Modern Medicine, Powered by AI," a comprehensive guide to the ethical and clinical integration of artificial intelligence in healthcare.

Clinical Role and Leadership

As the Medical Director for Perioperative and Procedural Services, Dr. Hooks oversees the safety and efficiency of all surgical environments at CHRISTUS Health in Mount Pleasant. He established pain management as a service in Titus County, providing specialized interventional relief for complex conditions right in the community, eliminating the need for patients to travel to metropolitan centers for advanced treatment.

What You Can Expect from Care with Dr. Hooks

Dr. Hooks utilizes a holistic model of care that prioritizes your quality of life and long-term functionality. His philosophy is rooted in "local accessibility," ensuring that high-level specialist care is delivered with the personal touch of a physician who is deeply invested in the health of his own community. You can expect:

• Opioid-Sparing Strategies: Targeted interventional procedures designed to reduce or eliminate the need for systemic pain medications.
• Collaborative Care: Seamless coordination with your local primary care physicians and surgeons to ensure a unified treatment plan.
• A Holistic Framework: Integration of interventional therapies with physical and behavioral health support.
• Evidence-Based Innovation: Treatment plans informed by the latest medical literature and advanced diagnostic considerations.

Advanced Surgical Innovation / Diagnostic Care

Dr. Hooks is at the forefront of integrating technological advancements into the surgical and pain management landscape. As a board-certified anesthesiologist, he specializes in the delivery of safe, high-quality anesthesia care, high-precision interventional techniques for acute pain, including epidural steroid injections, trigger point injections, neuraxial block injections, and peripheral nerve block injections. His clinical oversight ensures that the procedural departments at CHRISTUS Health utilize modern data-driven approaches to optimize patient safety and surgical outcomes.

Research, Clinical Insight, and Thought Leadership

Dr. Hooks is a recognized thought leader in the intersection of technology and medicine. He co-authored the text Modern Medicine, Powered by AI: How AI is Revolutionizing the Medical Profession, which provides a roadmap for healthcare professionals to navigate machine learning and neural networks ethically. He frequently contributes his expertise as a panelist for the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) on topics such as crisis management and institutional resilience.

Commitment to Public Health and Health Equity

Deeply committed to community outreach, Dr. Hooks leads initiatives that address healthcare disparities in remote areas of East Texas. He has been a key figure in regional health fairs, where he collaborated with the Texas Medical Association to provide bilingual health education, lab screenings, and cardiovascular assessments to underserved populations. He actively advocates for rural health funding and the expansion of local vaccination programs to improve health equity across the region.