Sutter Regional Medical Foundation Names John Ray CEO

FAIRFIELD, Calif. - October 28, 2003 - Sutter Regional Medical Foundation, Solano County's largest multi-specialty physician organization, today announced the appointment of John Ray as chief executive officer. Ray has served as interim CEO since the organization's affiliation in July with the not-for-profit Sutter Health network of hospitals, ambulatory care clinics and physicians.

"I look forward to continuing my work with our local volunteer board of directors, our physicians, and our employees to identify and help meet community health care needs," said Ray. "Within our organization, we have physicians who have cared for four generations of local families. I'm committed to making certain our organization provides the same quality care for many more generations to come."

As the former managing partner of a Bay Area-based health care consulting organization, Ray has broad expertise working with large medical groups throughout the Bay Area region and around the country. He previously held the positions of CEO of the Shoreline Medical Group in Mountain View and CEO of French Health Plan in San Francisco.

In the early 1980's, Ray spearheaded the statewide expansion of Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound through the development of community physician networks in three Washington State markets. Earlier in his career, Ray provided management and fund raising assistance to National Health Service Corps Clinics, Community Health Centers, and Migrant Health Clinics in the Pacific Northwest.

He holds a master's degree in health care administration from the University of Washington. He was the recipient of the 1980 Advanced Fellowship in Healthcare Leadership sponsored by the American Hospital Association and the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association. Ray has published numerous articles and is a frequent speaker at health care conferences and educational forums.

With 60 physicians and other practitioners and 350 employees, Sutter Regional Medical Foundation is Solano County’s largest multi-specialty physician organization, and has served the community for over 50 years. It is an affiliate of Sutter Health, one of the nation's leading not-for-profit networks of community-based health care services. Solano Regional Medical Foundation offers high-quality and compassionate care out of five care centers in Vacaville, Fairfield, Vallejo and Rio Vista, Calif.