SAN BENITO HEALTHCARE DISTRICT APPOINTS MARY CASILLAS TO CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

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SAN BENITO HEALTHCARE DISTRICT APPOINTS

MARY CASILLAS TO CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

January 25, 2024 - Hollister, Calif. – At its January 25th Board Meeting, the San Benito Health Care District Board of Directors voted to appoint Mary Casillas as CEO. Ms. Casillas has been acting as the interim CEO since the Fall of 2022.

Since taking the lead, Casillas navigated the hospital through one of its most critical times. She succeeded in improving the troubled institution’s financial position from having one day's worth of operating capital in the bank to more than 51 days cash on hand. Casillas is also credited with leading a team of nationally recognized financial advisors to shore up the hospital's finances and to assist in obtaining three potential partners in an effort to save Hazel Hawkins and keep quality healthcare available to residents of San Benito County.

Originally hired as the Chief Operating Officer in 2022, she stepped up to fill the CEO position after the departure of Steven Hannah in the fall of that year. Casillas has over 28 years of experience and a master’s degree in healthcare administration.

“Mary’s dedication and leadership during these extremely volatile times has been nothing short of extraordinary,” said Board President, Jeri Hernandez. “It has become clear to the Board that she is the right person for this job, and she is definitely the right person to lead us through this complex time in the Hospital’s history. The efforts of Mary and her team continue to strengthen the institution and we feel it is time she is formally recognized as CEO - a job she has been performing for the past 15 months. As a lifelong resident of Hollister and someone who grew up near the hospital where her mom once worked as a nurse, Mary possesses a level of appreciation that few other candidates could offer. She understands on a deeply personal level the importance of this hospital for the residents of San Benito County.”

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About Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital

Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital is a full-service, public agency hospital delivering modern medicine and compassionate care to the growing San Benito County community. HHMH offers hundreds of health services across multiple locations, including top-tier specialists, a modern Emergency Department, and a state-of-the-art Women’s Center. To learn more about Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital and the Hazel Hawkins Hospital Foundation, please visit www.hazelhawkins.com.