SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Longtime Sutter leader Rachael McKinney will step into the role of CEO of Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, effective Jan. 3, 2022.
McKinney currently is the CEO of Sutter Davis Hospital in Davis, Calif., a position she has held since 2017. During her time there, she has led the vision for the expansion of the emergency department, birthing center and medical-surgical unit, which is scheduled for completion in 2024. She also has been a key force while mobilizing and guiding the hospital’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. McKinney’s approach and commitment over the years has also helped her teams earn the hospital Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to Work award and achieve top decile performance in quality and patient experience.
McKinney has a long history of leading teams within Sutter Health’s integrated, not-for-profit network. She first arrived in 2004 as an administrative fellow. In roles at Sutter Solano Medical Center in Vallejo, Calif., she spent seven years leading ancillary services and cancer center operations, where she grew local oncology programs, improved operational efficiency and expanded access to care. In 2011, she became a Sutter regional executive for neurosciences and was instrumental in the growth and development of the service line and improving quality across the nine-county Sacramento region. She led efforts to secure Joint Commission stroke certification at six hospitals, design and implement large-scale construction projects and raise significant philanthropic donations to support patient care. She also has served as the interim CEO of Sutter Amador Hospital in Jackson, Calif. since May 2021. Additionally, she served as the chief operating officer for VEP Healthcare, Inc. in Concord, Calif., for a period of time.
“Sutter’s mission is to enhance the well-being of people in the communities we serve by delivering high-quality, compassionate care and support,” said McKinney. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue championing those efforts in this new role.”
McKinney is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves as a Board Member of the Child Abuse Prevention Center, the California Association of Healthcare Leaders and the University of Minnesota MHA Alumni Association. In 2019, she was awarded the Patriotic Employer Award by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and was selected as a participant of World 50 Next Leader, an exclusive executive development program for top leaders from around the world. In 2021, she also received a “Women Who Mean Business” recognition from the Sacramento Business Journal.
McKinney assumes the CEO role at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento from Dave Cheney, who most recently was named CEO of Sutter Health Hospitals. Cheney’s new role, which oversees all 23 of Sutter’s acute care facilities, will help support overall clinical operations and align efforts across the network. McKinney will also continue oversight of Sutter Davis Hospital and Sutter Amador Hospital, with the two new interim chief administrators of those hospitals, Tammy Powers and Michael Cureton, respectively, reporting to her.
“Rachael quickly distinguished herself as a mission-driven, patient-centered and relationship-focused leader,” said Cheney. “I have no doubt that her experience, earned trust in the community and familiarity with all aspects of Sutter Health will guide Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento now and well in the future.”
