Ms. Ness became president and CEO of PeaceHealth in January 2026, making her the second female lay leader in the history of the 135-year-old nonprofit Catholic health system, which includes about 16,000 caregivers, nearly 3,200 physicians and clinicians, more than 160 clinics, and nine medical centers across Washington, Oregon and Alaska. She brings more than 25 years of leadership experience and deep institutional knowledge to the role, having previously served as executive vice president and chief administrative officer, overseeing human resources, mission integration, organizational integrity, and marketing and communications. She has held multiple other senior leadership roles throughout her career at PeaceHealth. Wielding a commitment to caregiver engagement and patient experience, she has outlined three clear priorities for PeaceHealth’s next chapter: deepening connections with caregivers, clinicians and community members through direct engagement and active listening; modernizing the system’s care delivery and services model by bringing hospitals, clinics and community-based services together around a shared purpose of delivering holistic care; and strengthening the system’s operational and financial health while expanding access in primary and specialty care through transfer acceptance, fast-track clinic models and digital pathways. She aims to build meaningfully on PeaceHealth’s legacy while meeting the evolving needs of the communities it serves.
