Paul F. DeChant, MD, named Chief Executive Officer of Sutter Gould Medical Foundation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:
Catherine Larsen, Regional Marketing Director,
209-525-3106.

Modesto – October 9, 2009: David P. Benn, President of Sutter Health’s Central Valley Region, announced the appointment of Paul F. DeChant, MD, as Chief Executive Officer of Sutter Gould Medical Foundation. In his position as CEO, DeChant will be responsible for all operational, administrative and strategic activities at the medical foundation.

“Sutter Gould Medical Foundation and Gould Medical Group have served the Central Valley community for six decades as one of the premier multi-specialty medical groups in California. I look forward to joining this exceptional team as we build upon this legacy of quality and service in these times of great change, and great opportunity, in health care,” said DeChant.

He is a Physician Executive who brings to the position over 25 years of experience as a family physician and medical group leader in both rural and suburban settings. For the past four years, DeChant has been the President of the Palomares Division of Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF). During that time, he built a multi-specialty physician practice in four locations in Castro Valley and the Tri-Valley area. He also facilitated successful merger discussions between three prominent medical groups in Northern California. DeChant has also been a leader in innovation, designing physician practices with lean principles that foster teamwork and communication between physicians and support staff. He has recently been elected Chair of ACME, Sutter’s Administrative Council of Medical Executives, in which Sutter-Affiliated Medical Foundations collaborate and support each other’s work across the Sutter System.

“Paul’s unique experience makes him ideally suited for this role,” said David Benn, President of Sutter Health’s Central Valley Region. “He will provide the vision and leadership needed for Sutter Gould Medical Foundation’s continued growth and success.”

Prior to returning to PAMF four years ago, he was a department director for Geisinger Health System in central Pennsylvania. Before that, he led the creation of High Country Health Care, a multi-specialty group in the Colorado Mountains. He was one of the original physicians with PAMF’s Fremont Center.

Paul holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Doctor of Medicine from the University of Oregon, and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Colorado-Denver. He is a graduate of the Sutter Leadership Academy Class of 2007-8. His professional associations include the American College of Physician Executives, American Medical Group Association and the American Academy of Family Physicians. He also has a long standing record of service to the community, starting up and working in clinics for the homeless and others without health insurance, as well as in developing countries.

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The Sutter Health Central Valley Region includes Memorial Medical Center in Modesto, Sutter Tracy Community Hospital, Memorial Hospital Los Banos and Sutter Gould Medical Foundation care centers in Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Merced counties. Sutter Health is a family of not-for-profit hospitals, physician organizations and other medical services that share resources and expertise to advance health care quality and access. Serving more than 100 communities in Northern California, Sutter Health is a regional leader in cardiac care, cancer treatment, orthopedics, obstetrics, and newborn intensive care, and is a pioneer in advanced patient safety technology.