Kaiser Permanente has named two seasoned health care leaders to chief operating officer roles at its Fontana and Ontario medical centers.
Richard A. Sarpong, MSN, RN, assumed the role of chief operating officer for Fontana Medical Center on Aug. 2. Wendy A. Cortez, DNP, RN, has been named chief operating officer for Ontario Medical Center and will begin her new role on Sept. 13. Both bring extensive experience in hospital operations, patient safety, care coordination and delivery, and strategic leadership.
"Wendy and Richard are exceptional leaders who have earned the respect of colleagues throughout Kaiser Permanente for their collaborative leadership, operational expertise and dedication to patients and care teams," said Ruby Gill, senior vice president and area manager for Kaiser Permanente San Bernardino County. "I am confident they will strengthen our medical centers, empower teams across both facilities and help advance our commitment to providing outstanding care for the communities we serve."
As chief operating officer for Fontana Medical Center, Sarpong oversees hospital operations and partners with physician and nursing leaders to support quality, patient safety and strategic initiatives.
Sarpong is an accomplished health care executive with more than 15 years of leadership experience spanning hospital operations, quality, patient safety and strategic operations. Most recently, he served as area safety and quality officer for Kaiser Permanente San Bernardino County, where he expanded his responsibilities to include continuum care and external network operations.
In that role, he led efforts to improve patient throughput, strengthen care transitions, advance post-acute care strategies and optimize care delivery across the external network.
"I'm honored to step into this role at Fontana Medical Center and serve alongside people who are deeply committed to improving the lives of our members and community," Sarpong said. "I look forward to fostering collaboration across departments, removing barriers and supporting our teams who care for patients and make our operations possible every day."
As chief operating officer for Ontario Medical Center, Cortez will oversee medical center operations and work closely with physicians, nurses and staff to support quality outcomes, member and patient satisfaction, and organizational performance.
A distinguished health care executive, Cortez has built a career defined by operational excellence and has served in progressively responsible leadership roles since joining Kaiser Permanente in 2011, including assistant medical center administrator and chief nurse executive.
Most recently, as chief nurse executive for Kaiser Permanente Irvine Medical Center, she oversaw nursing practice and operations and partnered across service lines to advance organizational goals related to access, throughput, safety, quality, affordability and patient experience.
Known for her people-centered leadership style, Cortez is recognized for aligning stakeholders around shared goals, solving complex challenges and driving operational excellence.
"Ontario Medical Center has tremendous momentum and a strong commitment to serving patients and members," Cortez said. "I look forward to building relationships across the medical center, bringing teams together around shared goals and helping create an environment where people can thrive and do their best work."
Sarpong earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Mount Saint Mary's University and a Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Management from Western Governors University. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Cortez earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Leadership from California Baptist University, a Master of Science in Nursing Leadership from California State University, Fullerton, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Michigan University.
Kaiser Permanente San Bernardino County serves 690,000 members across the county. More than 13,000 physicians and staff care for patients at Fontana and Ontario medical centers, 20 medical office buildings and four Target Clinics, providing coordinated care and wellness services throughout the region.