VBJ May 22
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THE VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL<br />
www.TheValleyBusinessJournal.com<br />
21<br />
EXECUTIVE PROFILE |<br />
DARLENE WETTON<br />
Growing up in the local mountains of Lake Arrowhead provided me with a<br />
wonderful appreciation of community engagement. When you live in a small<br />
community, your extended family is your church, school, firehouse and hospital.<br />
Although much larger, the City of Temecula has this same sense of community.<br />
When my husband and I moved here in 2012, we were so impressed with the<br />
kindness and generosity of everyone we met. Before moving to this beautiful<br />
region, we were warned that it can get ‘warm’ in the summers. No one mentioned<br />
it would reach over 110 in October that first year...and every year since!<br />
As the CEO of Temecula Valley Hospital, it is<br />
very important that I am integrated into the community<br />
that the hospital is privileged to serve.<br />
I need to understand the community’s quality<br />
of life, health risks, economic viability, overall<br />
demographics, and community resources.<br />
The level of community engagement with the<br />
hospital has always impressed me in this region.<br />
We have a large group of very dedicated<br />
Volunteers, a Community Advisory Group that<br />
are hospital advocates, and a strong Board of<br />
Governors of Temecula Valley Hospital. This<br />
important group of community business leaders<br />
and physicians ensures that we provide the<br />
highest quality of care to our patients. Under the<br />
leadership of Board Chairman, Major General<br />
Ret. Claude Reinke, this amazing Board provides<br />
me with their sound wisdom and advice.<br />
AFFILIATIONS<br />
I was recently honored to serve as the chair for<br />
the 2019-2020 Executive Leadership Team for<br />
the American Heart and Stroke Association in<br />
South Riverside County. This years event was<br />
held virtually and we successfully raised funds<br />
to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular<br />
disease and stroke.<br />
I am a strong advocate for health and wellness.<br />
Over the past several months, I have actively<br />
participated on various advisory councils during<br />
the Coronavirus pandemic. One of my important<br />
roles, through public speaking and social media,<br />
has been to help educate the community on safe<br />
practices to prevent the spread of the disease<br />
including wearing masks and hand hygiene.<br />
Keeping our patients, employees, providers and<br />
visitors safe has been my highest priority.<br />
BUSINESS PHILOSOPHIES<br />
Providing a clearly defined framework and<br />
developing an intentional culture that promotes<br />
the values of the organization are paramount<br />
to business success. Our framework<br />
is focuesed on the delivery of patient<br />
centered, family sensitive care to the<br />
community that we serve. Our most<br />
important value is compassion and this<br />
drives the culture of the hospital.<br />
My priority as the leader of the organization<br />
is to drive rapid quality improvement<br />
and provide for patient safety.<br />
This is accomplished by choosing,<br />
developing and aligning a leadership<br />
team capable of transformational tasks,<br />
and holding this team accountable for<br />
exceptional performance.<br />
FAVORITE SPORT<br />
I love any sports involving water, although my<br />
kids will tell you that this is limited to sports<br />
where I don’t get my hair wet. I enjoy house<br />
boating, waterskiing and have recently taken up<br />
stand-up paddle boarding. I’m the proud owner<br />
of my own pink stand up paddleboard now.<br />
GOALS<br />
To continue to follow the Lord’s path for my<br />
life and to enjoy as much time as I possibly<br />
can with my beautiful husband, children and<br />
grandchildren.<br />
MENTORS<br />
My parents have been wonderful mentors for me<br />
my entire life. Their passion for adventure, love<br />
for one another, and focus on faith has served as<br />
guiding principles. Throughout the many challenges<br />
in their lives, they have shared through<br />
example that life is not waiting for the storm to<br />
pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.<br />
FAVORITE READING<br />
I enjoy legal intrigue by John Grisham,<br />
heart-wrenching love stories by Nicholas Sparks<br />
and Southern fiction by Pat Conroy. “Prince of<br />
Tides” by Pat Conroy is a great summer read.<br />
RESUME<br />
I attained a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from<br />
Cal State Dominguez Hills and enjoyed working<br />
as a Registered Nurse in the specialty field of<br />
Oncology.<br />
I went back to school while raising my family<br />
and attained my MBA from Webster University<br />
where I was recognized as valedictorian in my<br />
graduating class. I progressed through my health<br />
care career to executive level positions including<br />
Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Operating Officer.<br />
I now serve as the Chief Executive Officer<br />
for Temecula Valley Hospital.<br />
BIRTHPLACE<br />
I’m a native Californian and was born at Hemet<br />
hospital.
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