Healthy Petaluma CEO Ramona Faith Named California Health Care District 2025 CEO of the Year
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PETALUMA, CALIF., December 2, 2025 – The Association of California Healthcare Districts (ACHD) has named Healthy Petaluma District and Foundation’s leader of nearly 15 years, Ramona Faith, as 2025 CEO of the Year. As the sole winner of this award out of 45 California healthcare districts and presented at its recent Annual Conference, ACHD recognized Faith’s visionary leadership, unwavering commitment to community health and significant achievements in advancing health equity and access to essential services in southern Sonoma County.
Faith's career in healthcare spans nearly five decades, beginning as a teenage volunteer at Petaluma’s Hillcrest Hospital. She then pursued nursing for several decades and served as Petaluma Valley Hospital’s chief nursing officer and administrator, as well as executive director of patient care services at Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa, before becoming CEO of Healthy Petaluma (formerly Petaluma Health Care District).
“I am deeply honored to receive this award,” said Faith. “This recognition reflects the tireless dedication of the entire Healthy Petaluma team—our Board and partners included. Even in the face of significant challenges, we remain united by our shared passion to build a healthier, more vibrant community for everyone.”
Under Faith's leadership, Healthy Petaluma has spearheaded numerous impactful initiatives in recent years:
● Financial Settlement: Secured a historic $10 million settlement from Providence for local women's and behavioral health services after the closure of the Petaluma Valley Hospital's Family Birthing Center.
● Community Well-being: Launched Blue Zones Project Petaluma, a multi-year initiative focused on improving well-being and longevity across the city.
● HeartSafe Community: Expanded the HeartSafe Community Program, which has trained nearly 10,000 people in CPR, installed and maintained over 450 automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and provided free youth and young adult heart screenings that detected three potentially fatal heart conditions.
● Grant Program: Grew the General Operating Support Grant Program to its highest-giving year, providing $1.2 million to more than 30 local nonprofits, with additional funding planned for 2026.
● Workforce Development: Pioneered new initiatives, including the pilot Certified Nursing Assistant training program for high school students to address local healthcare workforce needs.
● Healthy Petaluma Presents: This fall, Healthy Petaluma kick-started a new initiative, “Healthy Petaluma Presents,” a free, ongoing educational series. The first events of the series focused on youth and technology and will be brought into local high schools in early 2026.
Elece Hempel, a member of Healthy Petaluma's Board of Directors, praised Faith's collaborative spirit and dedication. "Ramona's leadership is truly exceptional," said Hempel. "She has a remarkable ability to bring people together and turn a vision into reality. Her commitment to our community's health is profound, and she is incredibly deserving of this honor."
Faith’s influence extends beyond the local community. She served on the ACHD Governance Board for six years, advocating for the needs of smaller communities across California. She ensures there is a voice at the table advocating for the health needs of southern Sonoma County. Her inclusive and transparent leadership has strengthened the district's financial health and public trust, cementing her legacy as a visionary leader with a profound and lasting impact on community health.
About Healthy Petaluma District and Foundation
Healthy Petaluma District and Foundation (formerly Petaluma Health Care District) is a community-owned and -operated agency comprising a special district and a 501(c)(3) foundation dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all members of southern
Sonoma County. Its vision is a healthier community with equitable access to comprehensive health and wellness services. The district has ensured access to local acute care and emergency services and has served southern Sonoma County’s health and wellness needs since 1946. For more information, visit healthypetaluma.org and follow Healthy Petaluma on Facebook and Instagram.