Kaiser Permanente names new Mid-Atlantic regional president

Israel Rocha returns to Washington with 20 years of experience leading integrated public health systems

ROCKVILLE, Md., October 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Kaiser Permanente announced that Israel Rocha has been named regional president of the health system’s Mid-Atlantic region. Rocha will officially begin her role at Kaiser Permanente on December 4. In this role, he will be responsible for Kaiser Permanente’s overall performance and success in the region. Rocha will lead the organization’s efforts to provide high-quality, integrated health care and coverage in partnership with the Executive Medical Director of Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group.

Kaiser Permanente currently provides care and coverage to more than 835,000 members in the Mid-Atlantic region, which includes Maryland, Virginia and the District of Colombia.

Rocha joins Kaiser Permanente from Cook County Health System in Illinois the nation’s third-largest public health system where he served as CEO since 2020. Cook County Health’s complex system includes two hospitals, a Level 1 acute care trauma center, an extensive outpatient network, a public health department, a correctional health division, and a Medicaid plan with more than 400,000 members. Prior to joining Cook County Health, Rocha held leadership positions at NYC Health + Hospitals Elmhurst and Queens Renaissance Health System hospitals and physician hospitals in Texas. He began his career working in Washington, D.C. For Texas Congressman Rubin Hinojosa (D-15).

“Israel is an accomplished leader with more than 20 years of experience leading integrated public health systems in two of the nation’s largest cities,” said Kim Horn, executive vice president/group president, external markets at California for Kaiser Permanente. “He brings a unique and broad combination of experiences in healthcare, insurance, government, public health and public policy to his new role in the Mid-Atlantic region. We are convinced that from Israel an innovative, community-centered approach will benefit our members and the communities we serve across the region.

Rocha currently serves on the board of directors of America’s Essential Hospitals and is a board member of the Illinois Hospital Association. He has also held positions on regional policy councils of the American Hospital Association in both countries. new York And Illinois. Rocha holds a master’s degree in public administration from Wagner University New York University School of Public Service and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Environmental Science from Columbia University In new York.

Rocha has been deeply committed to social justice and health equity throughout his career. In 2021, he launched the Office of Equity and Inclusion at Cook County Health and was named the most racially inclusive hospital in the country by the Lown Institute. Illinois and the second most racially inclusive hospital in the United States.

About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of the leading nonprofit health care providers and health plans in the United States. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente’s mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.6 million members in 8 states and the District of Colombia. Care of members and patients is focused on their overall health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and Permanente Medical Group team of caregivers. Our expert, caring medical teams are empowered and supported by technological advancements and cutting-edge tools for health promotion, disease prevention, cutting-edge care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to healthcare innovations, clinical research, health education and supporting community health. For more information, visit www.kp.org.

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente