(EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT — Sept. 10, 2025) — When Dr. Cindy Stout walks through the halls of El Paso Children’s Hospital, she does so with the confidence and compassion of a leader who has devoted her life to caring for others. As president and chief executive officer of the region’s only dedicated children’s hospital, Dr. Stout leads with a purpose rooted in her El Paso upbringing and the lessons she first learned as a student at Andress High School.
A proud graduate of the Class of 1985, Stout is the first to say her journey wasn’t easy. She worked cleaning houses as early as age 12 while balancing school and her role as a varsity cheerleader. Those early experiences instilled in her a work ethic that carried her through college and into a remarkable career in nursing and healthcare leadership.
“I didn’t come from a family that was well off,” Stout said. “But anybody has the ability, if they listen and work hard, to become whatever they want to be.”
After beginning her nursing studies at Baylor University, Stout completed her degree at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio before returning to El Paso. She went on to earn a master’s degree in nursing with an executive focus from The University of Texas at El Paso and later a doctorate in Nursing Executive Practice from Duke University. Along the way, she broke barriers in her field by becoming the first nurse in the region to open a hospital-based radiation oncology center and to serve as a clinical research coordinator for cancer trials.
Her 20-plus years at Del Sol Medical Center prepared her for the next stage of leadership. After a brief stint at University Medical Center, she was asked to take the helm at El Paso Children’s Hospital. At the time, she became the hospital’s seventh CEO in five years, and the one to bring stability. Seven years later, her leadership has helped transform the hospital into a trusted institution for families across the region.
“You don’t notice it at the time, but all the skills you learn in school or when you’re young, help you to become a better leader later in life,” Stout said.
Stout believes deeply in the role education plays in shaping strong communities. She credits her time in EPISD, from academics to fine arts and cheerleading — with giving her the foundation to lead.
“Art, academics, and extracurricular activities all work together to make students well-rounded,” she said. “Team sports and fine arts teach you how to collaborate and work with others. Those lessons are just as important as what you learn in the classroom.”
Today, as a healthcare leader and proud Andress alumna, Stout carries that message forward, reminding parents, students, and educators that investing in education is investing in the future.
“It’s important for us to pay attention to our children’s education because they will be the ones running our community and caring for us in the future,” she said.
For Stout, her story is proof of what’s possible when hard work, community support, and opportunity come together.
See more of our interview with Dr. Cindy Stout by clicking on the video below: