Press Releases: Southern California
October 21, 2004
Diana Bontá, former California DHS director, assumes new role for Kaiser Permanente's Southern California region
PASADENA, Calif. – Diana M. Bontá, RN, DrPH, former director of the California Department of Health Services, has assumed the newly created position of vice president of public affairs for Kaiser Permanente's Southern California region.
Dr. Bontá will direct Kaiser Permanente's public policy agenda for Southern California. "I look forward to sharing Kaiser Permanente's vision for the future—caring for people and helping them to thrive. I'm glad to be part of an organization that does so much to promote and enhance community health," she said. Her responsibilities will include community benefit, community relations, government relations, grant management, corporate communications, media relations, and multimedia activities.
At the California Department of Health Services, Bontá enhanced preparedness for potential bioterrorism, including the smallpox vaccination program and the California Health Alert Network. She designed California's antifraud initiative (now being replicated nationally), established the nation's first hospital nurse-to-patient ratios, restructured the state's Vital Records system, and created a model pharmacy discount program for seniors. She was responsible for a $32 billion budget and a staff of 6,000.
Under her leadership, 1 million children were added to California's MediCal and Healthy Families programs. Another 130,000 received coverage through the new Child Health and Disability Prevention Gateway program during the first three months of its operation.
She also led the California Department of Health Services' participation in the California Campaign to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, a statewide public/private sector initiative to raise awareness about health disparities and advance systematic change that will improve health outcomes for all Californians.
"I have known Diana for more than 15 years and have had the opportunity to personally experience her integrity, commitment to community, and ethics," said Raymond J. Baxter, PhD, interim president of Kaiser Permanente's Southern California region and senior vice president of the organization's National Community Benefit Program. "She is a consummate health care professional and has made significant contributions to the field of public health, to the profession of nursing, and to the health and welfare of the people of California. I am delighted she is joining Kaiser Permanente."
Bontá serves on several state and national governance and advisory boards. In addition, she has earned many awards and honors, including:
- The American Public Health Association's Presidential Citation Award
- The California Women's Law Center's annual Pursuit of Justice Award
- A spot on Hispanic Magazine's list of 100 Leading Latinas
- Inaugural induction into the UCLA School of Public Health's Alumni Hall of Fame
Prior to serving at the California DHS, Bontá was the director of Health and Human Services for the city of Long Beach, Calif.
She began her career as a registered nurse and is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo, which recently honored her with its Distinguished Alumni Award. She earned her master's degree and her doctorate from the UCLA School of Public Health, where she is an adjunct associate professor.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is America's leading integrated health plan. Founded in 1945, it is a nonprofit, group practice prepayment program with Southern California headquarters in Pasadena, California. Kaiser Permanente serves the health care needs of 3.3 million members in Southern California. Today it encompasses the nonprofit Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and their subsidiaries, and the for-profit Southern California Permanente Medical Group. Kaiser Permanente's Southern California Region includes more than 49,900 technical, administrative and clerical employees and caregivers, and more than 6,000 physicians representing all specialties. More information about Kaiser Permanente can be found at kaiserpermanente.org.
