Michelle Oxford has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital, according to an announcement from Sutter Health. Her tenure will begin on December 1. Oxford will work closely with Chief Medical Executive Dr. Karin Shavelson and continue collaboration with Kirkland Wade, who remains Chief Operations Officer.
Oxford brings over 20 years of experience in hospital operations and leadership roles. Before joining Sutter Santa Rosa, she was the Chief Administrative Officer for Providence’s Northern California region, where she managed operational leadership at Healdsburg and Petaluma Hospitals and helped align strategies across a six-hospital network. During her time there, she co-led efforts to improve financial performance, increase patient satisfaction, and enhance employee engagement while reducing turnover.
Earlier in her career, Oxford served as President and CEO of Bakersfield Heart Hospital. Under her direction, the hospital received its first Leapfrog “A” Safety Grade and achieved high patient satisfaction scores. She also expanded specialty programs by establishing new centers such as a Women’s Heart Center and a Joint Center.
Oxford’s previous positions include leadership roles at Dignity Health Mercy and Memorial Hospitals, where she contributed to developing service lines and increasing access to specialty care.
“Michelle’s leadership is defined by transparency, collaboration and an unwavering focus on quality,” said Christina Oh, president of Sutter’s Greater San Francisco and East Bay Division. “Her track record of building strong teams and delivering patient-centered care will be invaluable as Sutter Santa Rosa continues to grow and meet the healthcare needs of the Sonoma County community.”
Oxford holds an MBA in Healthcare Management from Western Governors University as well as a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from California State University, Bakersfield. She is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has completed executive programs at Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Denver Health Lean Academy.
“I’m thrilled to join Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital,” said Michelle Oxford. “Our goal is to make SSRRH a great place to work and practice medicine, a trusted place for patients to receive care, and to keep expanding the high-quality services our community needs. Together, we’ll build on SSRRH’s strong foundation and shape the future of care for all we serve.”
Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital opened in 2014 with 124 licensed beds. It offers clinical specialties such as bariatric surgery, cardiac services, orthopedics, women’s health including labor and delivery services, along with round-the-clock emergency care. The hospital recently received recognition for safety with a Leapfrog “A” Safety Grade as well as being named among America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Orthopedic Surgery by Healthgrades.
The facility also serves as a Primary Stroke Center within Sutter Health’s telestroke network that covers Northern California.
