OCEANSIDE, CA. – Tri-City Healthcare District (TCHD) today announced the appointment of Dr. Gene Ma as interim President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organization effective March 22, 2023.

“I am pleased to announce that the board of directors unanimously selected Dr. Ma for this very important role,” said Rocky Chavez, chairperson of TCHD’s seven-member publicly-elected board of directors. “Dr. Ma is a proven leader with more than two decades of service to the medical center.”

Dr. Ma currently serves as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for TCHD, a role he has held since 2019.

“I am deeply honored and humbled by the board’s expression of confidence in my ability to provide stability at this moment in time,” stated Dr. Ma. “Despite unimaginable challenges in healthcare over the last few years, we have accomplished so much during Mr. Dietlin’s tenure, yet what truly excites me are the opportunities ahead of us in Tri-City’s future.”

An emergency department physician at Tri-City for over 20 years and a 10-time honoree as one of San Diego Top Doctors in Emergency Medicine, Dr. Ma has served in numerous administrative roles within Tri-City, including as the chief of staff, a role which he held from 2015-2017. In 2012, Dr. Ma was named CEO of WorkPartners, overseeing the turnaround of what would become the region’s dominant occupational health practice.

He brings into his new role as interim CEO of TCHD a wealth of experience in business and practice management, along with demonstrated prowess in adapting to a constantly changing medical field to provide quality care. Dr. Ma’s background includes work in healthcare affiliations, mergers and acquisitions, executive leadership in private equity and healthcare IT startups. Additionally, Dr. Ma serves on numerous boards including for an Independent Physician Association (IPA) and an investment capital firm.

Dr. Ma attended medical school at the University of California, San Francisco. He then completed his internship at Stanford, followed by a residency in Emergency Medicine at UC San Diego. He joined Tri-City Emergency Medical Group in July of 2000, subsequently becoming their executive director and managing partner.

Current President and CEO Steve Dietlin, who has served in the organization’s top leadership position since 2016, announced his retirement in December 2022. His last day is March 21, 2023.

The TCHD board of directors has engaged HealthSearch Partners, an executive search firm out of Dallas, Texas, to aid in a national search for a permanent President and CEO for the District. That process is underway and expected to take a number of months.

About Tri-City Medical Center … Tri-City Medical Center has served our community for more than 60 years and is one of the largest employers in North San Diego County. As a full-service acute care hospital with three primary care clinics and over 500 physicians practicing in over 60 specialties, Tri-City is vital to the well-being of our community and serves as a healthcare safety net for many of our citizens. The hospital has received a Gold Seal of Approval® from the Joint Commission showcasing a commitment to safe and effective patient care for the residents of the community.

Tri-City Medical Center prides itself on being the home to leading orthopedic, spine and cardiovascular health services while also specializing in world-class women’s health, robotic surgery, cancer and emergency care. Tri-City’s Emergency Department is there for your loved ones in their time of need and is highly regarded for our heart attack and stroke treatment programs. When minutes matter Tri-City is your source for quality compassionate care close to home. The hospital operates the largest Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in North County.

Tri-City partners with more than 80 local non-profit and community organizations as part of our COASTAL Commitment initiative. Together we are helping tackle some of our communities’ pressing health and social needs.

For more information about Tri-City Medical Center and Tri-City Healthcare District, please visit tricitymed.org.