At a moment when access to affordable, high-quality health care feels increasingly fragile for many families, Legacy Community Health is doubling down on what it has always believed: health care is a right, not a privilege. Guiding that mission forward is Legacy’s recently appointed CEO, Robert Palussek, a steady, thoughtful leader whose vision blends compassion with operational excellence—and whose roots inside the organization run deep.

 

Named CEO in June 2025 after serving as interim CEO and previously as Chief Operating Officer, Palussek steps into the role during a period of unprecedented demand. Houston and Southeast Texas continue to grow at a rapid pace, post-COVID health care needs remain high, and affordability pressures—from insurance premiums to out-of-pocket costs—are squeezing working families. For Palussek, the challenge isn’t just growth; it’s responsible growth.

“Every decision we make starts with one question: does this help our patients?” Palussek says. “Expansion isn’t about getting bigger, it’s about making sure every person who walks through our doors receives care that is accessible, compassionate, and dependable.”

That philosophy aligns seamlessly with Legacy’s nearly five-decade legacy of service. As Texas’ largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and the seventh largest in the nation, Legacy serves nearly 250,000 patients annually through more than 60 clinics across Houston and the Texas Gulf Coast. From Stafford and Missouri City to Baytown, Deer Park, and Beaumont, Legacy intentionally places clinics where care is needed most—including 39 school-based health centers, making it the largest school-based health care program in the country.

Under Palussek’s leadership, growth is viewed through a long lens. Recent years have marked an important inflection point, including the systemwide implementation of Epic, a major investment that strengthens care coordination and continuity for patients. “Looking at growth over multiple years tells the real story,” Palussek explains. “More patients staying connected to care. More consistency. Systems that work better for patients and providers alike.”

Affordability remains front and center—especially as many Affordable Care Act plans have become increasingly difficult for families to sustain. Legacy’s response is unwavering: a sliding fee scale, on-site Eligibility Specialists to help patients enroll in Medicaid, CHIP, or ACA Marketplace plans, and wraparound services that remove financial barriers before they become health crises. “Care should never depend on what someone can afford that day,” Palussek says plainly.

The organization’s physical footprint is also expanding in meaningful ways. Two new community clinics—in Pasadena and Acres Homes—are slated to open by 2026, supported by a transformational $50+ million gift from Houston Methodist. In Acres Homes, a state-of-the-art facility will soon provide adult medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN, behavioral health, pharmacy services, and infusion therapy, bringing critically needed oncology care directly into the community. Meanwhile, growing engagement in Beaumont points toward a future capital campaign, with plans to break ground around 2027 and open by 2028.

All of this is guided by Legacy’s strategic framework built on three core pillars: strengthening the foundation, expanding reach, and standing out as centers of excellence. Supported by strategic priorities focused on people, financial sustainability, patient access, and healthy growth, the plan serves as both a roadmap and a promise—growth with accountability.

For Palussek, leadership ultimately comes back to stewardship. “We take seriously the responsibility that comes with growth,” he reflects. “Listening to communities, protecting our mission, and ensuring Legacy remains a trusted medical home—not just today, but for generations.”

Houston Style Magazine readers, in a healthcare landscape defined by uncertainty, Legacy Community Health’s direction feels refreshingly clear. With Robert Palussek at the helm, the organization isn’t just expanding—it’s reaffirming its purpose: driving healthy change, every day, in every way.