SACRAMENTO (January 13, 2026) — Julie Sprengel, President of Dignity Health California, a member of CommonSpirit Health, has been elected 2026 chair of the California Hospital Association’s Board of Trustees. Sprengel, who joined Dignity Health in 2016 as the then-Southern California Service Area SVP, now leads one of California’s largest not-for-profit health systems. In her role as head of the largest region within CommonSpirit, Sprengel oversees 45,000 employees and 15,000 physicians working at 29 acute care hospitals and more than 250 ambulatory care sites across the state.
Prior to joining Dignity Health, Sprengel spent 10 years with Providence, including as the CEO at St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank. A graduate of Pepperdine University, where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, she also holds a nursing degree from the Los Angeles County/University of Southern California School of Nursing. She began her career as an emergency room nurse and served as director of emergency services for several organizations.
Sprengel has been named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Most Influential People in LA” and “Women of Influence in Health Care,” as well as to Becker’s Hospital Review “Great Leaders in Healthcare” and “CEO Influencers List.”
“It is a privilege to serve as the chair for the California Hospital Association Board of Trustees alongside other talented health care leaders,” Sprengel said. “Now, more than ever, it is time to unite and leverage our resources and expertise to shape a healthier future for millions of Californians. During these challenging times, we will champion policies and advocate for initiatives that positively influence access and sustainability of health care.”
CHA President & CEO Carmela Coyle noted that California hospitals are facing the most significant financial headwinds in a generation.
“CHA is fortunate to have a board chair with such deep strategic, financial, and clinical expertise as Julie Sprengel to help us navigate these turbulent times on behalf of small and large hospitals alike,” Coyle said.
Joining Sprengel as CHA officers for 2026 are:
- Chair-Elect Lori Morgan MD, Trustee, Valley Children’s Healthcare Board of Trustees, Madera
- Secretary-Treasurer Christopher “Chris” Howard, President & CEO, Sharp HealthCare, San Diego
- Immediate Past Chair Siri Nelson, President & CEO, Marshall, Placerville
Other members of the 2026 CHA Board are:
- Elaine Batchlor, MD, CEO, MLK Community Healthcare, Los Angeles
- Kavitha Bhatia, MD, President & Chair, Prime Healthcare Foundation, and CMO of Strategy, Prime Healthcare, Ontario
- Carolyn Caldwell, President & CEO, St. Mary Medical Center, Long Beach
- John T. Chapman, President & CEO, San Antonio Regional Hospital, Upland*
- Armand H. Dorian, MD, CEO, USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, Glendale*
- Susan Ehrlich, MD, CEO, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, San Francisco
- David Entwistle, President & CEO, Stanford Health Care, Palo Alto
- Karen Faulis, CEO, Hi-Desert Medical Center, Joshua Tree; and JFK Memorial Hospital, Indio
- Michelle Gaskill-Hames, RN, Regional President, Kaiser Permanente Southern California & Hawaii
- Diane Hansen, President & CEO, Palomar Health, Escondido
- Kerry Heinrich, CEO, Adventist Health, Roseville
- Keith Hobbs, President & CEO, Torrance Memorial Health, Torrance
- James E.T. Jackson, CEO, Alameda Health System, Oakland
- Neerav Jadeja, CEO, Paradise Valley Hospital, National City*
- JoDee Johnson, CEO, Plumas District Hospital, Quincy
- David Klein, MD, CEO MarinHealth, Greenbrae
- Mark Lisa, Governing Board Member, Doctors Hospital of Manteca, Manteca
- Marcia Manker, CEO, MemorialCare, Orange County Region
- Patty Maysent, CEO, UC San Diego Health, San Diego
- Brett McClain, Executive Vice President & COO, Sharp HealthCare, San Diego
- Rachael McKinney, President, Greater Sacramento Region, Sutter Health, Sacramento*
- Murali Naidu, MD, CEO, Tenet San Ramon Regional Medical Center, San Ramon
- Jorge Orozco, CEO, Los Angeles General Medical Center, Los Angeles
- Carrie Owen-Plietz, Group Senior Vice President and COO of Care Delivery, Kaiser Permanente
- Rick Shumway, Executive Vice President & COO, Stanford Health Care, Palo Alto
- Warner Thomas, President & CEO, Sutter Health, Sacramento
- Jackie Van Blaricum, President, Far West Division, HCA Healthcare, Henderson, NV
- Paul Viviano, CEO, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles*
- Craig Wagoner, President & CEO, Community Health System, Fresno*
- Louis Ward, COO, Tahoe Forest Health System, Truckee
- Jim West, President & CEO, PIH Health, Whittier*
- Darlene Wetton, CEO, Group Vice President, California, Southwest Healthcare, Temecula
*Indicates new CHA board member for 2026
One of the largest health care trade associations in the nation, CHA represents nearly 400 hospitals and health systems in California. The association advocates for patients and hospitals, promotes public health policy, and represents hospitals at the state and federal levels.