School of Public Health Alumnus of the Year: Matthew Cova

Matthew Cova has spent his career leading hospital operations and health systems. As a healthcare executive, he manages complex clinical operations while staying involved with UNLV as a mentor to emerging healthcare administrators. In the medical field, he has played a key role in expanding emergency services, advancing robotic surgery capabilities, launching a pharmacy residency program, and supporting graduate medical education initiatives. Cova’s leadership has had a lasting impact on healthcare delivery, organizational growth, financial management, and student success across Southern Nevada. 

What does being selected as the 2026 School of Public Health Honoree mean to you? 

Being recognized by the university that shaped my journey—and where I later had the privilege to teach—is an incredible honor that makes me immensely proud to be a Rebel. 

My time at UNLV set a high standard for how I approach leadership now. Professor and department chair Dr. Chris Cochran truly invested in his students, providing the guidance, strategic mindset, and encouragement that helped lay the groundwork for my transition into executive leadership. 

Now, as the CEO of Ascension Seton Medical Center, I’m working toward establishing a culture where our associates feel empowered and supported to do their best work every day. That’s what drives our ability to serve more patients and meet the community's growing healthcare needs. 

What inspired you to pursue a Master of Healthcare Administration at UNLV?

Moving to Las Vegas after undergrad, UNLV’s MHA program offered the perfect blend of flexibility with its mix of in-person and online classes, allowing me to build my career while staying fully present as my family grew. 

Is there a mentoring story that has been especially meaningful to you?

During my time at MountainView, I brought on an intern whose drive and potential were immediately clear. Over the past decade, I watched them grow into an exceptional healthcare leader—so much so that when I took on my current CEO role, they were the very first person I called to join me as my chief operating officer. 

I’ve also mentored accounting summer interns who work their way up to becoming controllers, and an undergrad healthcare administration student navigate three different internships with me before realizing her true calling was in nursing.  Seeing those lightbulb moments is easily the most rewarding part of my career. 

Throughout your career, you've helped lead hospital expansion and develop new clinical and workforce development programs. Which accomplishment are you most proud of?

Establishing the MountainView Hospital Paramedic Institute. Recognizing a critical need in our community, we built the first accredited, hospital-based paramedic program in the HCA Healthcare system and the only one in Las Vegas. It yields near-perfect exam pass rates and created a sustainable pipeline for first-responder education that directly strengthens prehospital care across the entire Las Vegas Valley.