Speaker
Ron C. Werft, FACHE
Ron Werft is president/CEO of Cottage Health, a not-for-profit, multihospital system serving patients on California’s Central Coast. With hospitals in Santa Barbara and Goleta and a critical access hospital in the Santa Ynez Valley, Cottage Health offers a broad scope of clinical services, including those of the Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital and Cottage Children’s Medical Center. Founded in 1888 by 50 women, Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital now serves as a regional referral center for Level 1 trauma, neurosciences, cardiovascular, psychiatry and pediatric care. Through its long-term commitment to graduate medical education, Cottage offers residencies in internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics and radiology. Its mission includes a commitment to improve the health status of the communities it serves through its population health programs. Before joining Cottage Health, Mr. Werft served as associate director at the University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinics. He is past chair of the California Hospital Association and the Hospital Association of Southern California, and he currently serves on the board of the American Hospital Association. His local leadership includes service on the boards of directors for Santa Barbara Partners in Education, World Telehealth Initiative, and the Fighting Back Steering Committee for the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. He was awarded the 2013 CHA Award of Merit for outstanding contribution to the California healthcare community and the 2015 Walker-Sullivan Fellowship presented by California Health Foundation and Trust. A graduate of the University of California San Diego, Mr. Werft earned his master’s degree in hospital and healthcare administration from the University of Minnesota.