Dignity Health - Memorial Hospital Names Kenneth Keller as New President/CEO

Dignity Health is pleased to announce that Kenneth Keller has accepted the position of President/Chief Executive Officer for Memorial Hospital

BAKERSFIELD, CA ― December 19, 2018 ―

Dignity Health is pleased to announce that Kenneth Keller has accepted the position of President/Chief Executive Officer for Memorial Hospital effective Monday, December 24, 2018. Mr. Keller has been with Memorial Hospital for three and a half years as Chief Operating Officer where he has provided important leadership to achieve operational efficiency of a $440 million healthcare enterprise serving all of Kern County. Ken has been instrumental in facilitating physician engagement and partnerships, overseeing major construction and expansion projects, leading strategic initiatives to achieve clinical excellence, and programmatic growth in cardiovascular, neuro science, pediatrics, and burn care service lines. He serves as Board Chair of the American Heart Association as well as the Board of Directors for Ronald McDonald House Charities Bakersfield. Ken has now served in two roles at Memorial Hospital and began his relationship in 2003 as Vice President of Physician and Business Development, a role he held for five years.

During his time away, Ken was recruited by Providence Health and Services of Southern California to lead their physician organization strategy, including Providence Medical Institute, a 120 physician group in Los Angeles. He then joined the Advisory Board Company as a Vice President leading numerous organizations through the evolution to successfully operate within today’s Accountable Care Era. During his five year tenure, Ken guided a variety of projects created to transform partnerships in value based healthcare delivery promoting quality, efficiency, and transparency.

Ken holds a Masters in the Executive Program from the University of New Orleans and a Bachelors in Pre-Medicine from the University of Southwestern Louisiana.

On October 19, 2018, Jon Van Boening announced his resignation as president of Memorial Hospital to accept a full time position with its parent company, Dignity Health as President and Senior Vice President of Operations for Dignity Health Central California.

Since 2001, Mr. Van Boening has led significant expansion at Memorial Hospital during his tenure as president. The construction of the hospital’s second patient tower and service line expansions in cardiac, neuro science, obstetrics and all surgical specialties have marked his time as president. Jon strategically developed a full children’s service line with the establishment of the Lauren Small Children’s Center and the Robert A. Grimm Children’s Pavilion for Emergency Services. Under his leadership, comprehensive burn services were brought to Memorial Hospital through a partnership with The Grossman Burn Center. Additionally, he has led joint venture partnerships with Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Center (CBCC), Millennium Surgery Center, GemCare IPA and Health Plan, along with many other similar successes for the hospital. Jon serves on many community boards including California State University, Bakersfield and has led the 34th Street beautification efforts, in concert with the City of Bakersfield.

In his new full time role as President and Senior Vice President of Operations for Dignity Health Central California, Jon will be responsible for the support and oversight of all clinical care, patient services, and business operations of the seven hospitals in Dignity Health’s Central California service area. His main office will remain at Memorial, and he will supervise Memorial’s new president, Ken Keller, as well as the other five hospital presidents in the service area.

  

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About Dignity Health – Memorial Hospital

Bakersfield Memorial Hospital is a 426 bed acute care medical center offering a full range of services including advanced cardiovascular and neurology care at the Sarvanand Heart and Brain Center, Grossman Burn Center, expanded maternity and family care, the Lauren Small Children’s Center, orthopedic services, wound care center, 24-hour emergency care including the area’s only pediatric emergency room, robotic and general/outpatient surgery. Memorial Hospital is a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital and is home to the Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House. Memorial Hospital is a member of Dignity Health and is a trusted community partner, serving residents of Bakersfield and Kern County with quality, compassionate care since 1956. Learn more at dignityhealth.org/bakersfieldmemorial.

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