Candace L. “Candy” Markwith has announced her intention to retire as Chief Executive Officer at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center effective September 15. She has been at Sierra Vista, the City’s largest private employer, since March 2005.
“Candy Markwith has been the major force behind the developments that have allowed Sierra Vista to be so successful in recent years,” said Jeff Koury, senior vice president of operations for Tenet’s California region. “Her leadership and vision has shaped Sierra Vista’s award-winning quality programs and provided the community with an outstanding medical institution.”
Markwith, a pharmacist by training with more than 35 years with Tenet and its predecessor companies, started her career as a weekend shift pharmacist at Twin Cities Community Hospital and quickly rose to leadership positions, eventually spending seven years as the hospital’s Chief Operating Officer. She went on to serve four years as the COO at Doctors Medical Center of San Pablo and Pinole in the Bay Area before landing her first CEO role at Suburban Medical Center in the Los Angeles area. Prior to coming to Sierra Vista she was the CEO at Redding Medical Center.
During her tenure at Sierra Vista the hospital has earned numerous quality and service designations and awards including becoming San Luis Obispo County’s first-ever officially designated Trauma Center, Joint Commission accreditation as a Primary Stroke Center and for Congestive Heart Failure, Gold Quality Achievement Awards from the American Heart Association, Cigna Centers of Excellence, Blue Distinction Awards from Blue Cross/Blue Shield, United Health Premium Specialty Center Designations and recognition as a High Performing Regional Hospital by U.S. News & World Report in its annual Best Hospitals in America edition.
Sierra Vista has also completed two phases of its City approved expansion plan, expanded the Newborn Intensive Care Unit by six beds, became one of the first Tenet hospitals in the nation to install an electronic health record and last year added a helistop for helicopter transport to and from the hospital. Sierra Vista was also twice recognized for its environmental leadership earning the Green Award from the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce as well as being honored as an environmental leader by the Pacific Coast Business Times.
On a personal level, Markwith earned awards and honors that included among others Top 50 Women in Business for Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo County and the Susan Dressler Women in Administrative Leadership Award from Cuesta College.
A fourth generation native of San Luis Obispo County and a Paso Robles High School graduate, Markwith has never been shy about giving back to her community. She has served on numerous community boards including Chair of the Economic Vitality Corporation, Chair of United Way of San Luis Obispo County and is currently vice-chair of the Central Coast Economic Forecast, a member of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Board, Rotary and the only CEO to currently serve on the American Stroke Association Western States Task Force. Additionally, during her tenure Sierra Vista twice earned Tenet’s highest hospital achievement, the Circle of Excellence.
An executive search is currently underway for a new CEO who will continue to strengthen the hospital’s relationship with the community and further its reputation as a trusted, high-quality provider.
With 164-licensed beds, Sierra Vista is San Luis Obispo County’s largest hospital. It serves as the area’s tertiary referral center with five exclusive services including neurosurgery, high risk pregnancy, a 22-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, a 6-bed pediatric unit and a Level III trauma center.