Adventist Health Selects Michelle Fuentes to Lead Adventist Health Sonora

ROSEVILLE, Calif., Feb. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Adventist Health—a faith-based, nonprofit integrated health system serving more than 75 communities in California, Oregon and Hawaii—today announced the appointment of Michelle Fuentes to president of Adventist Health Sonora. In the new role, Fuentes will oversee the Adventist Health Sonora medical center, 32 medical offices and other services in Northern California. Fuentes will assume her new duties on February 28, 2018 and report to Wayne Ferch, president of Adventist Health Central California Region.

“Michelle was the ideal candidate for the role given her depth of knowledge of Adventist Health Sonora operations and her dedication to the patient care experience and operational excellence which is at the core of what we do for Sonora and surrounding communities,” said Ferch.

Fuentes previously served as Adventist Health Sonora’s vice president of operations since 2014 under outgoing President Andrew Jahn who was recently promoted to president of the health system’s Southern California region operations.

“It has been a privilege to work directly with Michelle for the last four years and to see her dedication to this organization,” Jahn said. “Her leadership, experience and outcomes-based approach will help continue our growth in the Sierra foothills. Michelle is committed to the mission, vision and values of Adventist Health and will continue to look for ways to make healthcare in Sonora world-class.”

Fuentes, who previously served as an assistant vice president and chief operating officer at Florida Hospital, brings more than 18 years of healthcare experience to her new position.

“I’m honored to take on the role and want to continue to build the culture that makes us special,” Fuentes said. “I love that we take care of our friends and the neighbors we see every day, and I feel a huge responsibility to take care of this community.”

Fuentes holds a bachelor of science in business administration from Union College in Lincoln, Neb.; a master’s degree in business administration from Webster University in Orlando; and membership in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

ABOUT ADVENTIST HEALTH: Adventist Health is a faith-based, non-profit integrated health system serving more than 75 communities on the West Coast and Hawaii. Its compassionate and talented team of 33,300 includes more than 24,600 employees; 5,000 medical staff physicians; and 3,700 volunteers working together in pursuit of one mission: living God’s love by inspiring health, wholeness and hope. Founded on Seventh-day Adventist heritage and values, Adventist Health provides care in 19 hospitals, more than 280 clinics (hospital-based, rural health and physician clinics), 13 home care agencies, seven hospice agencies and four joint-venture retirement centers. Through a separate public benefit corporation, Adventist Health seeks to reach more communities and accommodate their specific needs from an affiliated health system. For more information, visit www.adventisthealth.org.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a5f3ffa1-1934-4590-bb46-859ab9d62542