Memorial Hospital names interim CEO

<p>Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital on Tuesday appointed its chief operating officer to serve as interim CEO.</p><p>Kevin Klockenga will fill the void left by the departure of George Perez, whose last day at the hospital was Monday.</p><p>Perez announced in August that he intended to leave St. Joseph Health System-Sonoma County after serving as CEO for about three years.</p><p>Klockenga joined St. Joseph in early September after serving for three years as chief operating officer of two Bakersfield hospitals operated by Catholic Healthcare West.</p><p>In his interim role, Klockenga will oversee all of St. Joseph's operations in Sonoma County, including Petaluma Valley Hospital and St. Joseph's hospice, urgent care and home care units.</p><p>"I'm looking forward to the opportunities and challenges," Klockenga said Tuesday. "My first priority is getting to know all the medical staff and making sure we have good relations with the team and the community."</p><p>St. Joseph Health System is conducting a national search for a permanent replacement.</p><p>-- Nathan Halverson</p>