Executive Team

Chris Van Gorder, FACHE, President and CEO, Scripps Health

Chris Van Gorder, President and CEO, Scripps Health headshot

Chris Van Gorder, FACHE, President and CEO, Scripps Health

As president and CEO of Scripps Health since 2000, Chris Van Gorder has been instrumental in positioning Scripps among the nation’s foremost health care institutions. Board-certified in health care management and an American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Fellow, Van Gorder oversees all functions of the San Diego-based integrated health system. Read more about Chris Van Gorder.

Thomas Buchholz, MD, Corporate Senior Vice President, Medical Director, Scripps Cancer Center

Scripps MD Anderson Medical Director Thomas Buchholz, MD

Thomas Buchholz, MD, Corporate Senior Vice President, Medical Director, Scripps Cancer Center

As medical director of the Scripps Cancer Center, Dr. Thomas Buchholz leads a comprehensive and clinically integrated cancer care program that serves patients throughout Southern California. He leads the development of clinical research activities within the program, including collaboration with industry-sponsored and investigator-initiated clinical trials. Read more about Thomas Buchholz.

Eric Cole, Corporate Senior Vice President, Human Resources

Eric Cole, Corporate Senior Vice President of Human Resources

Eric Cole, Corporate Senior Vice President, Human Resources

As corporate senior vice president of human resources, Eric Cole’s priority is people. With a local workforce hovering around 17,000, this means providing a vision for individual growth as well as a “world class” workplace that allows for engagement, innovation and productivity. Read more about Eric Cole.

Bradley S. Ellis, Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer

Brad Ellis, Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer

Bradley S. Ellis, Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer

As chief legal officer, Brad Ellis provides legal guidance and support to the president and CEO, the Board of Trustees, and the operating units across the Scripps system. He leads a diverse legal department with extensive internal capabilities (as well as engaged services) in litigation, employment law, patient care, medical malpractice, tax issues, legal risk management, contract negotiations, joint ventures and acquisitions, Medicare and Medicaid billing regulations, and physician practice acquisition and contracts. Read more about Brad Ellis.

John B. Engle, Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Development Officer, Senior Executive, Marketing and Communications

Headshot of John B. Engle

John B. Engle, Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Development Officer, Senior Executive, Marketing and Communications

Part of the Scripps team for more than 30 years, John Engle is responsible for the operations and management of the Scripps Health Foundation, real estate development and planning. He also has executive oversight of Scripps’ marketing, public relations, corporate communications and conference services functions including the customer relationship management (CRM) database, community relations and internal communications. This includes marketing and communications efforts for all patient care lines, new business acquisitions, launches and partnerships. Read more about John Engle.

Carl J. Etter, Corporate Senior Vice President, Regional Chief Executive – North

Headshot of Carl J. Etter

Carl J. Etter, Corporate Senior Vice President, Regional Chief Executive – North

As regional chief executive for Scripps Health’s northern region, Carl Etter has oversight of three hospital campuses — Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, Scripps Green Hospital and Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. His focus is on greater alignment of the care and services provided by these hospitals to ensure high-quality, accessible health care and an exceptional health care experience for Scripps patients in North San Diego County. Read more about Carl Etter.

Tom Gammiere, FACHE, Corporate Senior Vice President, Regional Chief Executive – South

Tom Gammiere, FACHE, Corporate Senior Vice President, Regional Chief Executive – South

Tom Gammiere, FACHE, Corporate Senior Vice President, Regional Chief Executive – South

As regional chief executive for Scripps Health’s southern region, Tom Gammiere has oversight of two hospital campuses — Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego and Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista. His focus is on aligning the care and services provided by these hospitals to ensure high-quality, accessible health care and an exceptional health care experience for patients in South San Diego County. Read more about Tom Gammiere.

Anil N. Keswani, MD, Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Medical and Operations Officer, Ambulatory Care

Dr. Anil Keswani, Corporate Senior VP. Chief Medical Officer of Ambulatory and Accountable Care

Anil N. Keswani, MD, Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Medical and Operations Officer, Ambulatory Care

As corporate senior vice president, chief medical and operations officer, ambulatory care at Scripps Health and for Scripps Health Plan Services, Dr. Keswani’s role at Scripps is diverse. His responsibilities include ambulatory services, Scripps affiliated medical groups, seven major clinical service lines, post-acute care, population health management, executive health, and value-based care, including managed care and ACOs. Read more about Dr. Keswani.

June Komar, Corporate Executive Vice President, Chief of Staff

Headshot of June Komar

June Komar, Corporate Executive Vice President, Chief of Staff

June Komar oversees Scripps information technology, government and community relations, legislative advocacy, and construction & facilities development. As chief of staff, she assists and supports the president and CEO in the management and operations of Scripps’ integrated system of health services. Komar was named corporate executive vice president in 2010, leading Scripps strategy development and administrative services, and was named chief of staff in 2020. Read more about June Komar.

Richard Neale, Corporate Executive Vice President, Chief Business Development and Growth Officer

Headshot of Richard Neale

Richard Neale, Corporate Executive Vice President, Chief Business Development and Growth Officer

Richard Neale is responsible for revenue growth through business and corporate development and payer contracting, as well as the Scripps Health Plan. He aligns business needs and a rapidly evolving health care landscape with strategy, integration and culture to identify and develop new growth opportunities. This can include geographic expansion, collaborations, partnerships and ventures and alliances that support Scripps’ mission and help to broaden health care access. Read more about Richard Neale.

Barbara Price, Corporate Senior Vice President, Strategy and Planning

Headshot of Barbara Price

Barbara Price, Corporate Senior Vice President, Strategy and Planning

Barbara Price joined Scripps Health in 2001 and is corporate senior vice president of strategy and planning. In her role, she provides leadership and oversight for the strategic planning and annual performance objectives including systems that drive alignment around and ensure execution of key strategic priorities. Read more about Barbara Price.

Ghazala Sharieff, MD, MBA, Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Medical and Operations Officer, Acute Care

Ghazala Sharieff, MBA, MD, Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer of Excellence and Experience

Ghazala Sharieff, MD, MBA, Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Medical and Operations Officer, Acute Care

As corporate senior vice president, chief medical and operations officer, acute care, Dr. Ghazala Sharieff engages physicians and staff in the coordination and management of inpatient clinical care and the reduction of unnecessary variation — especially as it relates to patient experience, quality and safety. She also has leadership oversight of Scripps’ pharmacy, supply chain, inpatient imaging, engineering, environmental services, food and nutrition, security, and disaster/emergency management. Read more about Dr. Sharieff.

Gerry Soderstrom, Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Audit, Compliance & Risk Officer

Gerry Soderstrom, Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Audit, Compliance & Risk Officer

Gerry Soderstrom, Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Audit, Compliance & Risk Officer

Gerry Soderstrom joined Scripps Health in 2016 and is currently corporate senior vice president and chief audit, compliance and risk officer. In his role, he has executive responsibility for corporate assurance and advisory services provided through the audit, compliance and risk services department. Read more about Gerry Soderstrom.

Brett Tande, Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Brett Tande, Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Scripps Health

Brett Tande, Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

As Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Brett Tande is responsible for all financial planning and financial operations at Scripps Health, including corporate finance, treasury, revenue cycle, payroll, real estate operations, hospital and ambulatory financial operations, and all affiliated functions. He also advises senior management on organizational financial matters. Read more about Brett Tande.

Shane Thielman, Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer

Shane Thielman, FACHE, CHCIO, Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer

Shane Thielman, Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer

Shane Thielman is responsible for the vision and implementation of Scripps information and digital technology. As the organization’s chief information officer, he provides leadership for the development, implementation, integration and execution of technology and biomedical engineering initiatives, focusing on solutions that enable system strategy and deliver effective clinical and business operations. Read more about Shane Thielman.

Scripps Corporate Leadership Team

Tracy Chu

  • Corporate Vice President, Population Health Chief Executive


Jason Cook

  • Corporate Vice President, Medical Management


Cecile Hozouri

  • Corporate Vice President, Supply Chain


Tim Jacoby

  • Corporate Vice President, Construction and Facilities


Loucas Koutoufidis

  • Corporate Vice President, Controller


Sherman T. Moore

  • Corporate Vice President, Business Development


Athena Philis-Tsimikas, MD

  • Corporate Vice President, Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute


Tina Pickett

  • Corporate Vice President, Facilities and Support Services


John Poole

  • Corporate Vice President, System Improvement, Value by Design


Ed Turk

  • Corporate Vice President, Financial Operations & Performance Improvement


Craig M. Uejo, MD, MPH

  • Corporate Vice President, Chief Quality Officer