PROMOTING FROM WITHIN
NorthBay Healthcare announced today that Konard Jones, president of its hospital division, will assume the role of President and CEO, taking the reins from Gary Passama, who will retire next year on March 31, after 35 years at the helm. With key leaders approaching retirement, NorthBay’s board of directors had implemented a succession plan that included promoting the next generation from within. Ben Huber, chairman of the board, said, “These selections are a result of cultivating those who live the mission and nurture the unique culture that is NorthBay Healthcare.”
EXPERIENCE AND TRUST
The CEO-select previously served as NorthBay Healthcare’s vice president of human resources before becoming president and CEO of Broadline Medical Inc. He then returned to hospital operations in 2011 serving as vice president, professional and support services, at UC San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospital, Oakland. Confident the new wave of leadership will succeed in advancing medicine and providing compassionate care, Passama said, “It’s clear that Konard has gained the trust of those who work closest with him in our hospitals, but also the other senior managers and the Board of Directors.”
ACTIVE IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
Jones and his wife, Denise, live in Fairfield. He remains active in community affairs, serving as a board member of the Solano Affordable Housing Foundation, an honorary commander at Travis Air Force Base, a board member of the Solano Coalition for Better Health and a community advisory committee member for Touro University. He is a graduate of Grambling State University, where he played football under legendary Coach Eddie Robinson.
AN EXPANDING ROLE FOR AIMEE BREWER
Aimee Brewer, who currently oversees all outpatient services as president of the ambulatory division, has also recently been promoted and will become president of NorthBay Healthcare Group. Her duties will expand as she adds leadership responsibility of the two hospitals as well as The Surgery Center at NorthBay VacaValley. Brewer has led initiatives resulting in significant improvements for NorthBay in both quality and patient experience. “Expanding Aimee’s role was an easy decision,” said Archie Humphrey, chairman of the board of directors of NorthBay Healthcare Group, the division that oversees all medical services within the system. He added, “I speak for the board when I say, without a doubt, we are confident that our progress over the years, fueled by Gary Passama’s vision of compassionate care, advanced medicine, close to home will continue with Konard and Aimee.” Passama’s March 2016 departure provides time for a smooth transition at NorthBay Healthcare, according to Huber. “Gary was adamant, as was the Board of Directors, that such a momentous transition be accomplished without distracting from the many, many advancements under way.”
OTHER RECENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
NorthBay Healthcare recently opened the $58 million VacaValley Wellness Center in Vacaville, comprising a variety of key services, including its new state-of-the-art Cancer Center, a center for diabetes treatment and prevention, functional medicine, cutting-edge diagnostic imaging and the county’s first medical fitness center. In the fall an ambitious modernization project hits stride at NorthBay Medical Center in Fairfield when a new “welcome pavilion” opens. This new entrance to the 132-bed hospital precedes construction of a new three-story wing to replace older portions of the facility and an expansion of the Emergency Department. The $250 million investment in the downtown Fairfield campus will take three years to complete.
