Hospital CEO resigns
Change will not affect opening of new tower, officials say

Gary Irish will resign as president and CEO of Simi Valley Hospital Friday, March 8, according to Scott Reiner, senior vice president of Adventist Health and board chair of the hospital.

An executive search for a permanent replacement is underway; in the meantime, Truman Esmond, hospital COO/CFO, will be the interim CEO.

"This leadership transition will not impact the opening of SVH's new patient care tower, which is slated to open early in May," said Reiner, who acknowledged Irish's contributions to the hospital and Adventist Health, the notforprofit health system comprising 18 hospitals, including SVH.

During Irish's tenure at the hospital, $1.7 million was invested in computerized radiology and picture archiving computer system technology.

As a result, the Nancy Reagan Breast Center provided its first digital mammogram in November 2007, according to a hospital spokesperson.

Also, plans were submitted to the city of Simi Valley as part of a joint venture with developer and builder DASCO to create a threestory, 44,724-square-foot medical office building intended to expand physician office space and outpatient services.