San Andreas, CA…Dignity Health announced that Bob Diehl, President and CEO of Mark Twain Medical Center, has been named to the California Hospital Association’s Rural Healthcare Center Advisory Board. Diehl’s three-year term begins Jan. 1, 2018. “I’m excited to join an advisory board that is committed to meeting the healthcare needs of patients in rural communities,” said Diehl. “In today’s challenging and ever-changing health care environment, I look forward to advancing successful best-practices of California’s rural hospitals. I’m honored.”

Bob Diehl, President and CEO of Mark Twain Medical Center

With 27 percent of California rural hospitals having closed since 1995, Diehl brings to the Advisory Board a strong cache of unique skills that will help CHA navigate the increasing challenges placed on local hospitals. Prior to joining Mark Twain Medical Center as its CEO in June 2016, Diehl spent six years at Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, most recently as Vice President of Operations. Prior to that he spent six years at a sister hospital within the Providence St. Joseph Health System, St. Mary Medical Center in southern California, as Vice President of Strategic Planning.

Under Diehl’s leadership, St. Mary underwent a complete makeover of its older, more established portion of the campus and developed a new gastroenterology center and endoscopy lab to meet growing patient demand. While at Tenet Health’sLakewood Regional Medical Center and Whittier Hospital, Diehl brought together strategic physicians, medical groups and community organizations that increased and strengthened business at both hospitals.

Diehl earned a Master of Health Administration from the University of Southern California, School of Policy, Planning, and Development and holds a Master of Business Administration from University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business.

About Dignity Health
Dignity Health, one of the nation’s largest health care systems, is a 22-state network of more than 9,000 physicians, 62,000 employees, and 400 care centers, including hospitals, urgent and occupational care, imaging centers, home health, and primary care clinics. Headquartered in San Francisco, Dignity Health is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality, and affordable patient-centered care with special attention to the poor and underserved. In FY16, Dignity Health provided $2.2 billion in charitable care and services. For more information, please visit our website at www.dignityhealth.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

About Mark Twain Medical Center
Founded in 1951, Mark Twain Medical Center is a 25-bed, critical access hospital providing inpatient acute care, outpatient services and emergency services. The Medical Center’s Medical Staff represents a broad range of specialties that ensure access to high quality medical care in a rural community. In addition to being a major provider of health services, Mark Twain Medical Center is also one of the area’s largest employers. More than 300 people are employed at the hospital and its five Family Medical Centers. The Medical Center is a member of Dignity Health, the fifth largest not-for-profit healthcare system in the nation. For more information, please visit our website at www.marktwainmedicalcenter.org. Mark Twain Medical Center is also on Facebook.