Dignity Health Mercy General Hospital Welcomes Dr. Kathleen Tong as New Chief Medical Officer

Sacramento, January 14, 2025 – Dignity Health Mercy General Hospital is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Kathleen Tong as its new Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Tong replaces Dr. Doug Barton who has served as Interim Chief Medical Officer at Mercy General since April 2024. 

Dr. Tong comes directly to Mercy General from Adventist Health St. Helena Hospital where she served as Market Medical Officer and Cardiologist since 2018. In that role, she oversaw the quality team, research coordinators, medical staff, case management, pharmacy and medical directors. Additionally, Dr. Tong provided direct acute care for cardiac patients.

Prior to St. Helena Hospital, Dr. Tong was the Director of Heart Failure at UC Davis Medical Center where she built and sustained the heart failure program, including the transition of care program, the mechanical circulatory support (LVAD) program and heart failure clinic. 

"I am excited to join Dignity Health and the outstanding team at Mercy General Hospital," said Dr. Kathleen Tong, Mercy General Hospital’s new Chief Medical Officer. “For the last 100 years, Mercy General Hospital has been providing high-quality, compassionate healthcare to patients and the community, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to build on that legacy. 

In her role, Dr. Tong will focus on elevating patient care, quality and safety, optimizing clinical operations, and pioneering innovative healthcare delivery models. Her responsibilities will include overseeing the medical staff, fostering a collaborative culture, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, promoting a shared commitment to excellence in patient care and spearheading strategic initiatives to enhance patient care. 

"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Tong to our leadership team as Chief Medical Officer," said Steven Foster, President and CEO at Mercy General Hospital. "Dr. Tong brings exceptional expertise, a commitment to innovation, and a passion for patient-centered care that aligns with our mission. I am confident that she will further enhance our clinical excellence and help shape the future of how we deliver care at Mercy General Hospital.” 

Dr. Tong earned her Bachelor of Science in Plant Biology from the University of California, Davis, Doctor of Medicine from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and her Master in Health Care Management from Harvard University School of Public Health. 

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About Dignity Health

Dignity Health is a multi-state nonprofit network of 10,000 physicians, more than 60,000 employees, 41 acute care hospitals, and 400-plus care-centers, including community hospitals, urgent care, surgery and imaging centers, home health, and primary care clinics in Arizona, California, and Nevada. Dignity Health is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality, and affordable patient-centered care with special attention to the poor and underserved. Dignity Health is a part of CommonSpirit Health, a nonprofit health system committed to advancing health for all people and dedicated to serving the common good. For more information, please visit our website at www.DignityHealth.org.