David E. Persse, MD FACEP FAEMS

Dr. Persse's career in medicine started with ten years of experience as a field paramedic and paramedic instructor in upstate New York and New Jersey. After receiving his pre-med training at Columbia University in New York, he then attended Georgetown University School of Medicine. Dr. Persse then completed residency training in emergency medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, California. After residency, Dr. Persse completed a resuscitation research fellowship at the Ohio State University. Dr. Persse was then awarded a grant from the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine and completed fellowship training in emergency medical services and resuscitation at the Baylor College of Medicine and the City of Houston Emergency Medical Services program. In 1996, Dr. Persse became Director of Emergency Medical Services for the City of Houston. In May of 2004, he was appointed by the City Council as Houston's Public Health Authority. He is also a Tactical Physician with the Houston Police S.W.A.T. team. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Dr. Persse was named the Chief Medical Officer for the City of Houston. Dr. Persse is responsible for the medical aspects of clinical care quality management, disease control, and public health preparedness.

Dr. Persse is a Professor of Medicine and Surgery at the Baylor College of Medicine and Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Texas Medical School – Houston.