California Health Care Personnel News Update for June 2010
Blue Shield of California Foundation
On June 2, the Blue Shield of California Foundation announced that Peter Long would take over as the foundation's president and CEO on July 6, the San Francisco Business Times reports. Long will succeed Crystal Hayling, who departed from the organization last year.
Previously, Long served as senior vice president for executive operations at the Kaiser Family Foundation, as well as senior program officer and director of research and planning at the California Endowment.
In his new role, Long said he plans to help California maximize benefits from the federal health reform law and bolster the state's safety net (Rauber, San Francisco Business Times, 6/2).
Buck Institute for Age Research, Novato
On July 1, Brian Kennedy took over as president and CEO of the Buck Institute for Age Research, the San Francisco Business Times reports. The institute is constructing a 65,000-square-foot building to study stem cells and aging.
Previously, Kennedy served as head of the University of Washington's biochemistry department. He also has served as an associate editor for the Journal of Gerontology (Leuty, San Francisco Business Times, 6/28).
California Medical Association
The California Medical Association has appointed labor advocate Jay Hansen to a newly created position as chief strategy officer, Capitol Weekly reports.
Hansen previously served as legislative director at the State Building and Construction Trades Council, an umbrella organization for 160 unions that represent about 350,000 construction workers. In his new position, which is scheduled to start July 5, Hansen will be CMA's second-in-command behind CEO Dustin Corcoran (Capitol Weekly, 6/7).
California Veterans Board
On June 14, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) appointed Donna Dacier, Derek McGinnis (R) and Glenn Yokum (D) to the California Veterans Board.
The positions require Senate confirmation and compensation is $100 per diem (Office of the Governor release, 6/14).
El Camino Hospital Foundation
On June 8, the El Camino Hospital Foundation named Larry Feder president of the organization, the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal reports.
Feder previously served as vice president of the Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation in Tampa, Fla. (Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, 6/8).
Kaiser Permanente
On June 30, Kaiser Permanente announced that it had promoted Anthony Barrueta to senior vice president of government relations after Steve Zatkin retired from the position, the San Francisco Business Times reports.
Barrueta previously served six years as Kaiser's vice president of government relations. Kaiser said Barrueta will lead advocacy efforts at the state and federal level in his new role (Rauber, San Francisco Business Times, 6/30).
Marin General Hospital, Greenbrae
During its June 8 meeting, the Marin Healthcare District Board unanimously approved directors for Marin General Hospital's operating board, the San Francisco Business Times reports.
The appointees are: Harvey Bichkoff, Jeremy Fair, David Hill, Ann Kao, Paul Kirincic, Gene Marie OâConnell, Derek Parker, Mara Perez, Steven Schroeder, Timothy Sowerby and Marin Healthcare District CEO Lee Domanico.
Officials said the new board members would be sworn in June 30, when the district regains control over Marin General Hospital from its longtime operator, Sutter Health (Rauber, San Francisco Business Times, 6/9).
Medical Board of California
On June 14, Gov. Schwarzenegger appointed Eric Esrailian (R) to the Medical Board of California. Esrailian has served as a physician and faculty member at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine since 2006.
The position requires Senate confirmation and compensation is $100 per diem (Office of the Governor release, 6/14).
Tri-City Healthcare District
The governing board of the Tri-City Healthcare District has appointed Ira Landis to fill a vacancy left by former chair Madeline Rodriguez, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Landis, who previously worked at public accounting firms and universities, is a member of the hospital district's audit committee, as well as its committee on finance, operations and planning. Landis is expected to serve in the new role until his term expires in November, at which time he could run for the seat (Burge, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/9).
UC-San Francisco
The UC Board of Regents recently approved the promotion of Barbara French to vice chancellor for strategic communications and university relations at UC-San Francisco, the San Francisco Business Times reports. French joined UCSF five years ago as associate vice chancellor for university relations.
In her new role, French will take responsibility for strategic communications, advocacy, and governmental and community relations at UCSF and its medical center (Rauber, San Francisco Business Times, 6/4).
U.S. HealthWorks Group, Valencia
U.S. HealthWorks Group, one of the nation's largest operators of occupational health care centers, has hired Sacramento attorney Kevin Coyle as general counsel, the Sacramento Bee reports.
According to the Bee, Coyle has served as a partner at DLA Piper and its predecessor law firms, where he gained experience in mergers, acquisitions, initial public offerings and venture investments (Glover, Sacramento Bee, 6/30).
Veterans Home of Barstow
On June 14, Schwarzenegger appointed Jeffrey Aronson as skilled nursing facility administrator for the Veterans Home of Barstow. Aronson previously served as president of His Way Health Services.
The position does not require Senate confirmation and annual compensation is $60,000 (Office of the Governor release, 6/14).
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