By Special to the Town Crier
The El Camino Hospital District Board last Friday announced the selection of Lee Domanico as the new chief executive officer of El Camino Hospital and the El Camino Hospital District.
The selection of Domanico marks a turning point for a hospital beset by uncertainty about its future. It currently faces financial difficulties, morale issues and the major question of whether to rebuild the hospital.
Domanico was senior vice president of the Pennsylvania Region of Tenet HealthSystem Corporation, where he is credited with the turnaround of the largest health care bankruptcy in history, the former Allegheny Healthcare System.
He was awarded Philadelphia Business Leader of the Year in 1999.
Earlier in his career, Domanico was Tenet’s vice president of operations, Southern California, overseeing its 11-hospital Los Angeles region.
He joined Tenet in 1996 as CEO of USC University Hospital where he led a financial turnaround, dramatically increasing revenues and doubling income, earning Tenet’s CEO Circle of Excellence Award in his first year.
Before joining Tenet, Domanico was CEO of Columbus-Cabrini Health System in Chicago.
Before relocating to Chicago, he held various chief executive officer positions in Northern California beginning with Delta Memorial Hospital in Antioch.
At Delta, he led the merger between Delta and Merritt Peralta Medical Center, where he eventually became CEO of the parent organization.
He began his professional career at Stanford University Medical Center in management engineering and strategic planning, later becoming vice president of marketing and development at the former Alexian Brothers Hospital in San Jose.
“Mr. Domanico has the experience, energy and vision to surmount the formidable challenges which El Camino and all other hospitals face, such as seismic upgrades, dwindling medical staff and the need to improve bottom-line performance from operations,” said Dr. Dominick Curatola, president of the El Camino Hospital District Board. “We are very excited about the talents Mr. Domanico brings to El Camino Hospital.”
“I’m very enthusiastic about the future prospects of the hospital. This position gives me an opportunity to return home to where I began my career,” Domanico said.
Domanico, who will be earning an annual salary of $350,000, is expected to join El Camino at the end of the month.
