California Health Care Personnel News Update for August 2009

California Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau Governing Committee

On Aug. 11, Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner (R) announced that he has appointed Sara Flocks and Lee Pearson to the Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau Governing Committee.

Pearson previously served as general vice president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

Flocks previously served as the public policy coordinator for the California Labor Federation (California Department of Insurance release, 8/11).

Children's Health Council, Palo Alto

Children's Health Council has named Rosalie Whitlock executive director, the San Jose Mercury News reports.

Previously, Whitlock served as head of the Charles Armstrong School for students with dyslexia and other learning difficulties. She also has served on CHC's board of directors for the past nine years (Oremus, San Jose Mercury News, 8/20).

Children's Hospital Oakland

On Aug. 5, Children's Hospital Oakland named Bertram Lubin interim president and CEO, the Contra Costa Times reports. Lubin has worked at the hospital since 1971 (Kleffman, Contra Costa Times, 8/5).

Lubin will replace Frank Tiedemann, who stepped down as chief executive of Children's Hospital Oakland. Hospital officials declined to comment on Tiedemann's departure (Leuty/Rauber, San Francisco Business Times, 8/5).

Kaiser Permanente, Oakland

Christine Malcolm has resigned from her post as senior vice president of Kaiser Permanente's Oakland-based national facilities services unit, the San Francisco Business Times reports. The health care system declined to offer a reason for Malcolm's departure (Rauber, San Francisco Business Times, 7/31).

St. Joseph Hospital, Eureka

Scott Sageman has accepted a post as chief medical officer for St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka, the Eureka Times-Standard reports. Sageman said he hopes to use the new position to boost communication among hospital departments.

Previously, Sageman served as a partner at Humboldt Pulmonology and a member of several St. Joseph Hospital committees (Faulkner, Eureka Times-Standard, 8/27).

Valley Health System

On Aug. 26, the board of directors for Valley Health System named Joel Bergenfeld interim CEO effective Sept. 10, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports.

Bergenfeld previously served as president and CEO of the consulting firm Balboa Health and Education Associates (Hines, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 8/27).

Bergenfeld will replace the health system's previous CEO Fred Harder, who resigned on Aug. 14 (Hines, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 8/17).

Valley Health System filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection in 2007 and currently is in negotiations over the sale of the hospital district (Hines, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 8/27).

Valley Presbyterian Hospital, Van Nuys

Valley Presbyterian Hospital has named Gustavo Valdespino president and CEO effective Sept. 1, Los Angeles Business reports (Los Angeles Business, 8/20). Valdespino said he hopes to help the hospital establish a new medical office building and expand oncology and acute rehabilitation programs.

Previously, Valdespino served as CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County, president and CEO of St. Vincent Medical Center and senior vice president of operations for Tenet Healthcare's Southern California region (Billingsley, San Fernando Valley Business Journal, 8/31).