(November 13, 2006 – Los Altos Hills, California) – The Daughters of Charity Health System (DCHS) and their sponsoring community, the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, are pleased to announce that Robert Issai has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of DCHS. Mr. Issai assumed his responsibilities on November 10, 2006. He has been serving as Interim President and CEO of DCHS since July 2006.
DCHS, formed on January 1, 2002, is a regional healthcare system with System Offices located in Los Altos Hills and Pasadena, CA, and six hospitals and medical centers spanning the California coast: Seton Medical Center, Daly City; Seton Coastside, Moss Beach; O’Connor Hospital, San Jose; St. Louise Regional Hospital, Gilroy; St. Vincent Medical Center, Los Angeles; and St. Francis Medical Center, Lynwood.
The announcement of Mr. Issai’s appointment was made by Sister Margaret Keaveney, DCHS Board Chairperson. “Mr. Issai’s commitment to our mission and demonstrated exceptional leadership uniquely qualify him for this position,” she said. “His record of service, excellent stewardship of our resources and commitment to quality will be the keystone to our future as a health system.”
Mr. Issai brings a wealth of experience to the DCHS executive team. He has more than 23 years of progressively responsible management experience in major health care organizations, including over 15 years as a senior finance executive. Mr. Issai served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of DCHS for five years prior to stepping up to this new role.
Since 1992, Mr. Issai has been affiliated with the Daughters hospitals and ministries. He served in leadership positions with St. Francis Medical Center and Catholic Healthcare West, and was the founding CFO of the Daughters of Charity Ministry Services Corporation.
In May 2001, Mr. Issai was instrumental in creating DCHS after separating from Catholic Healthcare West. At that time, he joined DCHS as its Executive Vice President and CFO. Also among his noteworthy career accomplishments include: Mr. Issai’s role in the operational and financial turnaround of St. Francis Medical Center, including rebuilding the medical center and expanding disproportionate share funding for private safety net hospitals; spearheading a process to refinance the DCHS tax exempt debt, resulting in a savings in excess of $80 million over the term of the loan; directing the development of 10-year integrated strategic/financial plans for each hospital in DCHS.
“I am honored to accept this leadership role, and eager to build upon the great work that has been accomplished in our health system,” Mr. Issai said. “Our goal for the next few years will be to stay the course and continue to build upon our mission of service to the sick and the poor through operational and financial excellence. Additionally, I look forward to supporting each of our hospitals as they provide quality patient care and outreach to our communities,” he said.
Mr. Issai, a resident of Palo Alto, California, received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration at Andrews University of Michigan and his M.B.A. in Finance with honors from California State Polytechnic University in Pomona. Mr. Issai is married to Alice and they have two children, Vahe and Selene.
About DCHS: The roots of DCHS reach back into California’s history: The Daughters’ health ministry began on the West Coast in 1856 when they established the Los Angeles Infirmary, now St. Vincent Medical Center. In 1889, the Daughters of Charity founded the San Jose Sanitarium, today’s O’Connor Hospital in San Jose; and in 1893, they opened Mary’s Help Hospital, now Seton Medical Center in Daly City.
DCHS supports the mission of its sponsors, the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, by providing holistic, spiritually centered care to the sick and vulnerable. Other ministries of the Daughters of Charity Province of the West are an education ministry with nine schools, and social and other ministries, which range from daycare centers to senior services.
For more information, please contact Elizabeth Nikels, VP of Marketing and Communications, at 408-947-2905.