Last month saw a leadership shuffle at Dignity Health’s Glendale Memorial and Northridge hospitals as the former chief executive of the Glendale hospital was elevated to Southern California market president in charge of six hospitals.
The leadership changes are part of a statewide restructuring being carried out by Dignity Health’s parent, Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health.
First, in April, the former chief executive of Glendale Memorial, Jill Welton, was promoted to a new position as president of the Southern California region for San Francisco-based Dignity Health. Welton, who is based in Glendale, is in charge of six hospitals; the Glendale and Northridge facilities as well as California Medical Center in downtown Los Angeles, St. Mary Hospital in Long Beach and two hospitals in San Bernardino – Community Hospital and St. Bernardine Medical Center.
“I am deeply committed to upholding the values of compassionate care and excellence that Dignity Health is known for,” Welton said in the April announcement. “Together, with our exceptional teams, I am eager to build upon our legacy of service and innovation, ensuring that every patient receives the highest standard of care.”
Betsy Hart replaced Welton as chief executive of Glendale Memorial as of Aug. 19.
Hart most recently served as chief operating officer of Dignity Health Northridge Hospital, where she led operational responses during the Covid-19 pandemic and spearheaded construction projects, including an emergency department expansion and a new urgent care center.
“Her track record of creating effective and cohesive teams that are committed to exceeding quality health care outcomes will enable Glendale Memorial Hospital to remain a pillar in the community that patients and their families continue to rely on for exceptional medical care,” Welton said of Hart’s appointment.
Prior to joining Dignity Health, Hart served as the chief nursing officer at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank.
Meanwhile, at Northridge Hospital, Paul Watkins, chief executive since 2018, announced earlier this year that he was retiring.
Jeremy Zoch replaced Watkins as chief executive at Northridge, effective Aug. 19.
Zoch most recently served as chief executive of Providence St. Joseph Hospital, a 463-bed facility in Orange, where he oversaw more than 3,000 caregivers and another 1,300 staff members and helped raise over $140 million during his 11-year tenure.
Before that, Zoch served as chief operating officer at Mercy Hospitals Southwest. Prior to moving to California, Zoch worked for the University of Maryland Medicine and Medical System in Baltimore, as well as the Johns Hopkins Health System.
Dignity Health’s predecessor organization, Catholic Healthcare West, bought both Glendale Memorial and Northridge Hospital as part of a larger purchase of eight hospitals from Burbank-based UniHealth. In 2012, San Francisco-based Catholic Healthcare West rebranded as Dignity Health. Then, in 2019, Dignity Health merged with Catholic Health Initiative to form CommonSpirit Health, which is the second-largest nonprofit hospital chain in the United States with more than 140 hospitals.
