Sound Anesthesia Builds Physician-CRNA Executive Partnership, Names Emil Engels, MD, Chief Physician Officer

The newly created role puts physician and CRNA executives side by side at the top of Sound Anesthesia's clinical leadership

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Sound Physicians has appointed Emil Engels, MD, MBA, as Chief Physician Officer for Sound Anesthesia. Dr. Engels is a cardiac anesthesiologist and physician executive with more than 25 years of experience leading anesthesia practices and healthcare organizations. He joined the medical group in September to partner with Sound Anesthesia's physician leaders and support operational excellence and clinical quality initiatives across the specialty.

Sound Anesthesia created the Chief Physician Officer role to work alongside Noele Morse, DNP, CRNA, Chief Anesthetist Officer. Together, Dr. Engels and Morse bring complementary physician and CRNA perspectives to the specialty's leadership, with a similar collaborative approach reflected in the associate-level roles.

"Our physician anesthesiologists and CRNAs care for patients together every day, and our leadership should reflect that," said David Leachman, MD, Chief Executive Officer, Sound Anesthesia. "Dr. Engels has led anesthesia practices across multiple states and served as CEO of an orthopedic organization, so he knows what hospitals and surgeons need from an Anesthesia partner. With Emil and Noele working as a team, our clinicians and partners benefit from close collaboration between the physician and CRNA perspectives within the Anesthesia care team."

Most recently, Dr. Engels served as CEO of Aligned Orthopedic Partners. There, he grew the organization through strategic acquisitions and new ancillary services, oversaw ambulatory surgery centers, and championed value-based care initiatives with the organization's surgeons. Earlier, as Market President for Mednax, he oversaw 12 anesthesia practices across four states. He also chaired a 150-clinician anesthesia practice that covered two major tertiary care hospitals. He spent nearly 20 years as a cardiac anesthesiologist at Inova Health System and taught at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

Dr. Engels has served on the American Society of Anesthesiologists Board of Directors and as president of the Virginia Society of Anesthesiologists. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and his medical degree from Yale School of Medicine. He completed his anesthesiology residency and cardiac anesthesia fellowship in the Harvard University system and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Tennessee.

"A surgical day runs well when physicians, CRNAs, surgeons, and OR staff work from the same plan," said Dr. Engels. "Sound has built that partnership into its leadership structure, and I'm glad to share the work with Noele. I want our clinicians to have the support they need to practice at the top of their licenses, and I want our hospital partners to see it in on-time starts and a consistently strong experience for their surgeons."

About Sound Physicians

As a physician-founded and led medical group, our priority is building lasting partnerships with hospitals and health systems to ensure every patient receives the care they need – and deserve. Shaped over two-plus decades by clinical excellence and well-honed business acumen, we're proud to have more than 4,000 clinicians serving across emergency and hospital medicine, critical care, and anesthesia. Through these specialties, we touch the lives of millions of patients each year in local communities across 45 states. We also support the health and well-being of tens of thousands of long-term care residents, some of the most vulnerable patients, through our accountable care organization. From addressing universal challenges to unique community needs, we help our partners and clinical teams thrive today and well into the future. For more information, visit SoundPhysicians.com

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SOURCE Sound Physicians