System Access, Capacity Management & Referral Management
Houston Methodist
Kola Ogunrinde is the Director of Access & Capacity Management and the Referral Management Center at Houston Methodist. In her role, Kola collaborates with executive, physician, and hospital/clinic operations leadership across the system to strategically optimize patient access to ambulatory and hospital-based services. This includes the execution of extensive access redesign through the implementation & hardwiring of new/innovative access solutions and technologies systemwide. She also serves as a strategic leader of access initiatives including capacity management and template design in this role.
As director of the Referral Management Center, Kola oversees all referral scheduling initiatives across the entire Houston Methodist system. This includes management of a 50+ FTE access center as well as setting strategic vision & direction for referral related initiatives in partnership with information technology, clinical operations and patient access leadership.
Kola Ogunrinde previously held the role as the Director of Community Benefits at Houston Methodist where she focused on increasing access to high quality care for the financial indigent in Greater Houston. Prior to this role, Kola served at the Project Director for the Senior Vice President of Community Development after completing the Administrative Fellowship Program at Houston Methodist.
Kola received her Master of Health Administration from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Public Health where she also served as the President for the Health Policy and Management Student Association. While in graduate school, Kola completed her Management Residency at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s (UPMC) Physician Services Division. Her undergraduate degree is in Public and Community Health which she received from the University of Maryland College Park.
Kola started her career at Houston Methodist in 2015. She is a 2020 I CARE Award Recipient.
Leveraging Technology & Innovation to Improve the Patient Journey and Access to Care
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
3:15pm - 4:15pm CT