Kayla Gutierrez is a senior healthcare and advanced practice leader serving as Director of Advanced Practice for the Houston Methodist Physician Organization. In this role, she leads enterprise-wide strategy for the growth, optimization, and professional development of advanced practice providers, partnering closely with physician, APP, executive, and operational leaders to strengthen care delivery models and improve access, quality, and performance across diverse specialties and care settings. With a strong foundation in both clinical practice and operations, Kayla leads high-impact APP initiatives that advance team-based care while driving measurable improvements in access and service delivery performance. She is known for her ability to bridge clinical excellence with operational strategy, ensuring care models are both effective and scalable in complex healthcare environments. Kayla actively collaborates with interdisciplinary leadership to advance system-wide strategy, co-leading efforts focused on APP care model innovation, workforce development, and the standardization of best practices. Her leadership is grounded in data-driven decision-making, cross-functional collaboration, and a commitment to continuous improvement in clinical and operational outcomes. Kayla holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Duke University and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration. She is board certified as an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Executive Advanced.