Watsonville Community Hospital has appointed veteran healthcare executive Tim Moran as its interim chief executive officer as the community-owned hospital begins a search for a permanent leader.
The Pajaro Valley Health Care District Board of Directors unanimously approved Moran’s appointment during its June 24 meeting. He will replace current CEO Stephen Gray, who announced earlier this month that he is resigning. Gray’s last day is July 10, and Moran will begin July 11.
Moran is expected to serve as interim CEO for six months while the board conducts a search for a permanent replacement.
Board Chair Tony Nuñez said the hospital needed a leader who could provide stability during the transition.
“At this critical moment for Watsonville Community Hospital, our community needs and deserves a leader who can provide consistency and will support staff and physicians,” Nuñez said in a statement.
Moran previously served as interim CEO of Watsonville Community Hospital from December 2011 through March 2012. He has more than 30 years of healthcare leadership experience, according to the hospital.
Most recently, Moran was CEO of Chino Valley Medical Center, a 116-bed hospital in San Bernardino County. Before that, he led Tri-City Medical Center, a public district hospital in Oceanside, where he oversaw strategic planning, physician recruitment and partnerships, including an affiliation with UC San Diego Health.
The leadership change comes as Watsonville Community Hospital continues its recovery under public ownership. The hospital was purchased by the Pajaro Valley Health Care District in 2022 after community leaders and local governments raised funds to prevent its closure.
The board also created a CEO Recruitment Ad Hoc Committee to oversee the search for a permanent chief executive. Directors Emily Balli and Aleandra Friel were appointed to the committee.
According to the hospital, the committee will develop the recruitment process, gather input from staff, physicians, labor groups, community partners and the public, and recommend candidates for consideration by the full board. The search is expected to take several months.
Hospital officials said Watsonville Community Hospital has recently improved its financial position, citing positive operating revenue and more than $10 million in emergency state funding. Officials also pointed to recent patient safety ratings and ongoing Measure N-funded equipment upgrades as signs of continued progress.
