Presbyterian COO Brad Cook credits UNM roots and football for career

Brad Cook serves as senior vice president and chief operating officer for Presbyterian Medical Group, a division of Presbyterian Health Services. The Albuquerque native has spent more than 22 years with the nonprofit healthcare system. His path to the top began with a full ride scholarship at the University of New Mexico to manage equipment for the Lobo football team.

Cook said he gravitated toward leadership early in life. He enjoyed organizing work and supervising people. That experience in the football program provided an initial lesson in managing teams and logistics. It shaped the professional trajectory he has followed for the last two decades.

His entry into healthcare was not a pre-planned career move. While attending the James & Gail Ellis School of Business Leadership, Cook took a part-time job at Saint Joseph Medical Center. He managed accounts receivable there. This role introduced him to the financial aspects of the medical industry, though he did not initially view it as a long-term vocation.

Cook joined Presbyterian in 2004, two years after earning his Bachelor of Business Administration in 2002. He started in a managerial position. Over the next two decades, he moved through various roles, shifting from finance to operations. He returned to UNM in 2015 to earn an MBA. He credited the program with teaching him how to organize, prioritize, and think strategically.

Cook emphasized that teamwork is central to his leadership style. He believes no one can succeed alone in healthcare. His approach focuses on listening, asking questions, and bringing the right people together to create clarity. He values humility, inclusion, and integrity in his interactions with staff.

A major transition occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cook moved from finance to operations after spending his first 16 years in financial roles. He acknowledged he lacked the clinical depth of some colleagues. However, he relied on his ability to organize people and simplify complex issues. He stated that effective leadership involves redesigning systems to prevent problems from recurring rather than just fixing individual issues.

Cook advises students that the healthcare industry offers cross-disciplinary opportunities. He notes that digital health and telehealth will expand access and reduce administrative burdens. He encourages new professionals to find places where they can learn and take on responsibility. He views leadership as an ongoing process shaped by years of experience, relationships, and decision making.