Arrowhead Regional Medical Center’s (ARMC) longtime director, William Gilbert, has announced his retirement after close to nine years of exemplary service.
Gilbert, who has overseen a period of remarkable growth and achievement at ARMC, will be stepping down at the end of May to embrace a new chapter in life focused on family and recreation.
Gilbert brought more than more than 30 years of experience in public, private and large health care systems when he joined San Bernardino County in 2015. With a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of La Verne and a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University, Gilbert moved ARMC from a good public hospital to a health system positioned to offer “World Class Health Care.”
“Bill’s leadership of ARMC these past nine years has been a shining example of the successful execution of the health and wellness components of the Countywide Vision,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman and Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe.
Gilbert established a blueprint for moving the hospital’s culture to a place where the talented people at ARMC could be the “best they could be.” He established a culture around “HEART” values – Honor, Engaged, Accountable, Respect and Teamwork, echoing the hospital’s trademarked motto: The Heart of a Healthy Community.™
“I want to express my deepest thanks to our talented staff, dedicated physicians, compassionate nurses and all of ARMC’s support teams,” said Gilbert. “Team ARMC’s hard work, commitment and resilience have been the cornerstone of our success. It has been an honor and a privilege to lead such an exceptional team.”
Under Gilbert’s leadership, ARMC achieved significant milestones, including accreditation by The Joint Commission, transition to a Level 1 trauma center, comprehensive stroke center status, expansion of primary and specialty care services and implementation of the Epic electronic health system.
Gilbert also worked with ARMC’s physician leadership to expand Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited residency and fellowship programs from three in 2015 to 15, including emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, neurology, OB-GYN, psychiatry, radiology, surgery, anesthesia, integrated vascular surgery, cardiovascular disease, emergency medical services, pulmonary critical care, maternal fetal medicine, surgical critical care, and one American Osteopathic Association-accredited neurosurgery program based at ARMC.
Gilbert brought an innovative approach and put ARMC on the journey to world-class status, positioning it to succeed in the future. He worked collaboratively with the Prime Foundation to establish the California University of Science and Medicine (CUSM) on the hospital campus.
“The hospital’s commitment to innovation and patient care has earned national recognition on Gilbert’s watch through U.S. News & World Report, American Heart Association and numerous other prestigious awards and accolades,” said Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman and First District Supervisor Col. Paul Cook (Ret.).
“Gilbert’s contributions have been instrumental in making ARMC a much needed and respected institution in our region,” said Second District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez.
“William Gilbert’s tenure at ARMC marked an era of tremendous growth and achievement,” said Fourth District Supervisor Curt Hagman. “We are grateful for his vision and stewardship that have positioned ARMC as a leader in health care within our county.”
As ARMC bids farewell to its outgoing leader, the institution looks forward to a seamless transition and remains steadfast in its mission to deliver outstanding care to the community.
“Bill has provided exceptional leadership and a dedication to excellence that has set a high standard for patient care and mission-driven work,” said Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr., whose district includes ARMC. “We are thankful for Bill’s genuine commitment to hearing our community’s needs and actively delivering impactful healthcare solutions.”
The Board of Supervisors will soon address the issue of Gilbert’s successor.
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