Oceanside, CA – After a nation-wide search, Tri-City Healthcare District (TCHD) today announced the
appointment of Dr. Gene Ma to the permanent role of President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the
organization. Dr. Ma has served in the interim President and CEO position since March 2023 following
the retirement of long-time CEO Steve Dietlin.
“I am pleased to announce that the board of directors selected Dr. Ma for this incredibly important
role,” said Tracy Younger, the new chairperson of TCHD’s seven-member publicly-elected board of
directors. “Board members were impressed with Dr. Ma’s longtime commitment to Tri-City, as well as
his achievements over the past several months of interim leadership, both of which weighed heavily on
our decision.”
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, prior to his time as interim President and CEO Dr. Ma served
in numerous administrative roles within Tri-City, including as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) from 2019 to
2023, and as chief of staff of the medical center’s independent medical staff, a role which he held from
2015 to 2017. From 2012 to 2022, Dr. Ma also served as CEO of WorkPartners, overseeing the
turnaround of what would become the region’s dominant occupational health practice.
“It is absolutely the honor of my career to be chosen to serve as President and CEO of this amazing
medical center, and to continue to work side-by-side with the dedicated members of the Tri-City
Family,” said Dr. Ma. “I am so appreciative of every one of our partners, both within the hospital and in
our community, and look forward to working with them to continue to advance our mission.”
Dr. Ma earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of California, Irvine, and attended
medical school at the University of California, San Francisco. He then completed his internship at
Stanford Medical Center, followed by a residency in Emergency Medicine at UC San Diego Medical
Center. He joined Tri-City Emergency Medical Group in July of 2000, subsequently becoming their
executive director and managing partner.
The TCHD board of directors also announced changes to their leadership. Tracy Younger, a healthcare
business owner who lives in Carlsbad and represents Zone 6, has stepped into the chairperson position.
Rocky Chavez, an Oceanside resident and retired United States Marine Corps colonel, stepped down
from the chairperson role, a position he has held since 2022.
Dr. Nina Chaya, an anesthesiologist who has served on the board since 2020 and represents Zone 7, will
now serve as vice chairperson of the TCHD board of directors.
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 nonprofit and community organizations as part of our COASTAL Commitment community outreach
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.
