Chief Executive, President, AltaMed Health Services Corp.
As the longtime chief executive and president of AltaMed Health Services Corp. de la Rocha is an enduring trailblazer in community health. He first joined AltaMed’s predecessor entity in 1977 as its first paid employee, when it was a storefront barrio health clinic in East Los Angeles. The health clinic was renamed AltaMed in 1986; since then, under de la Rocha’s leadership it has transformed into the largest Federally Qualified Health Center in California (required to serve all patients, regardless of ability to pay), and is among the top five in the nation. He oversees 61 medical, dental and elder-care sites staffed by more than 4,900 employees. These facilities provide care to nearly 500,000 county residents. Last year, de la Rocha received the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Distinguished Business Leader award. Also last year, the University of La Verne named its new College of Health and Well-Being in his honor.
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