R. David Shimp was named COO chief operating officer of St. David's Medical Center in Austin, Texas, filling a spot vacated by Richard Hammett, who took over as CEO at HCA-HealthOne's Medical Center of Aurora (Colorado) and Centennial Medical Plaza.

Shimp previously was COO at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center in Oklahoma City, also an HCA-affiliated hospital. St. David's is a joint venture owned by investor-owned HCA, Nashville, and two tax-exempt partners, the St. David's Foundation, Austin, and Georgetown (Texas) Health Foundation.