Dignity Health

Ken Keller is President/Chief Executive Officer at Dignity Health Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. Ken accepted his new leadership role at Memorial in December 2018 after serving as the hospital’s Chief Operating Officer for four years where he provided important leadership to achieve operational efficiency of a $440 million healthcare enterprise serving all of Kern County. Ken has been instrumental in facilitating physician engagement and partnerships, overseeing major construction and expansion projects, leading strategic initiatives to achieve clinical excellence, and programmatic growth in cardiovascular, neuroscience, pediatrics, and burn care service lines.

Ken began his relationship with Bakersfield Memorial Hospital in 2003 as Vice President of Physician and Business Development, a role he held for five years. During his time away, Ken was recruited by Providence Health and Services of Southern California to lead their physician organization strategy. He then joined the Advisory Board Company as a Vice President leading numerous organizations through the evolution to successfully operate within today’s Accountable Care Era.

Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Ken’s connection to community service is deeply rooted. He currently serves as a member of the American Heart Association Board of Directors for Kern County, the Ronald McDonald House Board of Trustees, the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce. He also served on advisory groups within several State Hospital Associations and Departments of Insurance.