Greg Rodriguez to Pursue DHCD CEO Position

Greg Rodriguez Announces Resignation fDesert Healthcare District Board of Directors to Pursue DHCD CEO Position

PALM SPRINGS — Greg Rodriguez, the Desert Healthcare District Board Member representing Zone 1, has announced today he is immediately resigning from the Healthcare District Board of Directors in order to pursue the position of the recently vacated Healthcare District CEO position, according to a news release.

Rodriguez issued the following statement today outlining his experience and his vision for what is needed in the next DHCD CEO:

“With the departure of the former DHCD CEO we are at a critical juncture in making sure the next CEO has the right experience in the Coachella Valley healthcare environment, a vision for how the District moves forward, the ability to implement the adopted strategic plan, experience in financial oversight, a history of leveraging other funding sources, and the community partnership connections to make our 30 to 50 year plan be successful.

It is also imperative that we select someone who can hit the ground running. We cannot afford to take a year or more to have someone settle into this position. The need to implement the strategic plan, develop and nurture community partnerships, and address the funding issues around the lease agreement have to be done by someone who is familiar with all stages and steps going forward. I know I am that individual who can make that happen.

Coachella Valley Healthcare Experience:

I have been involved in the Coachella Valley healthcare system for well over a decade. As Congressman Ruiz’ District Director, I helped oversee the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, addressed Veterans healthcare issues, participated in the DHCD’s partnership with One Future Coachella Valley for workforce development, and addressed the healthcare needs of the LGBTQ  community in the Coachella Valley.

After leaving Congressman Ruiz I not only served on the board of DAP Health, I also managed the Get Tested initiative which exponentially expanded HIV testing in the Coachella Valley. This effort required a collaborative effort between healthcare institutions including all three hospitals, all of our Federally Qualified Health Centers, and numerous community partners including the Desert Healthcare District.

When Supervisor Perez was appointed as the 4th District Supervisor I became his lead on healthcare, homelessness, and housing policy. My main focus was on our 13 Community Health Centers in the County and how we needed to turn a losing enterprise into a profitable and efficient system to serve our most vulnerable residents. I shortly joined the Riverside University Health Systems’ Community Healthcare Centers Board of Directors and became President of the Board two years later, a position I still hold today. Our Community Health Centers now operate with a profit and serve a growing number of patients each year.

One of my proudest accomplishments has been around my work in the homelessness issue. I have worked to build a successful collaboration not only in the Coachella Valley but throughout Riverside County to increase services to our most vulnerable unhoused residents. I first started with Coachella Valley Association of Governments. One month after the Supervisor was appointed the County and CVAG decided to close Roy’s Desert Resource Center because it was not effectively addressing the homeless issues in the western part of the valley. I led the effort with CVAG staff to implement the CV Housing First initiative that emphasized the Housing First principles. For almost ten years this initiative has been in operation and has proven to be one of the most successful programs in the County. During these efforts I worked to bring in the Healthcare District as a partner for funding and healthcare access for our homeless residents.

Over the past 5 years I was the lead in establishing a $40 million navigation center in Palm Springs that provides immediate shelter beds, 80 transitional housing units and full wrap around services. Once again, this was done through leveraging a variety of funding sources and has been recognized by local and state officials as a successful model.

As I transitioned from the Supervisor’s office into the Department of Housing and Workforce Solutions Department, I continued to stress the need for a healthcare nexus to addressing homelessness. I was the lead on leveraging over $100 million dollars in ARPA and CalAIM resources to address the needs of our homeless residents for healthcare access, wrap around services and permanent housing. The County of Riverside saw a 19% reduction in unsheltered homelessness in 2025 and has built or are under construction of more affordable housing units in history.

While I was still with the Supervisor, we experienced one of the worst pandemics in history with COVID 19. I was the lead in his office addressing messaging, working with public health for immediate emergency responses, working to develop testing and vaccine protocols, developing and working with a broad coalition of community partnerships to address the health and economic impacts of the pandemic. I also  played a leadership role in working with RUHS Public Health to work with the Desert Healthcare District on the amazing testing and vaccination efforts the District led in the Coachella Valley. These were recognized both state and nationally in the public and private partnerships these efforts did to save tens of thousands of lives.

Desert Healthcare District Specific Experience:

I mention above some of my interactions and participation with the Desert Healthcare District over these past ten years, but I want to specifically bullet point those efforts now.

• Worked with the District through Congressman Ruiz’ implementation of the Affordable Healthcare Act.
• Have attended numerous DHCD Board meetings and Program Committee meetings for over ten years.
• Participated in the first strategic action planning for DHCD.
• Founded Supervisor Perez’ Green Ribbon Commission to address behavioral health issues which turned into the Coachella Valley Behavioral Healthcare Collaborative led by DHCD and which I remained an active leader in.
• Worked in the redistricting efforts for the DHCD Coachella Valley expansion.
• Took an active role in the advocacy in education around the new hospital lease agreement and passage of Measure AA.
• Elected as Zone 1 District Board Member in 2024.
• Actively engaged in the District’s Strategic Planning, Governance workshops, and Activate Inclusion workshops.

I believe this history of active participation and decision making in conjunction with my public role and my relationship with the Healthcare District provides me a unique perspective and qualifications to be the next CEO.”

Strategic Plan Implementation:

“One of the most critical aspects in selecting the next CEO is the ability of that individual to implement the recently passed strategic plan. I played a key role alongside the Board and staff in developing that plan that truly sets out a vision and concrete steps to make the District the upmost catalyst for healthcare systems change we have ever seen in the Coachella Valley. I really believe having the new CEO who has been through this process would be the most effective in working with the Board and staff to implement the plan for maximum benefit and impact,” Rodriguez continued.

“I have had numerous experiences in not only drafting, but implementing these types of plans and can honestly say my leadership has made those efforts successful. From my early work in HIV and AIDS, to homelessness and housing, and healthcare systems transformation, I am very confident that I can provide the right leadership, but more importantly the vision to make the Desert Healthcare District’s strategic plan the most impactful and beneficial to the residents we serve.

Community Partnerships:

“In order for the next CEO to make our strategic action plan successful and provide the most equitable and positive impact on our residents, it is crucial that the CEO candidate has not only current community partnerships, but also has the experience and capacity to develop those further.

“As a staff member for Congressman Ruiz, Supervisor Perez, DAP Health, and Riverside County Housing and Workforce Solutions Department, my main focus and duties have been to build community partnerships. This has included but not limited to: Local, State, and Federal elected officials; Veterans organizations; Health Care organizations; Managed Care Plans, Chambers of Commerce, Research Institutions, Trade Associations, Farmworker and Agriculture industries, Unions, Faith Based Organizations, Community Based Organizations, Governmental Agencies, Neighborhood Associations, and local, state and national advocacy groups.

“My network of contacts and partnerships is probably unparallelled in the Coachella Valley as one who would seek the CEO position. The key is not having these relationships but how I can make these relationships work to advance the goals and objectives of the Desert Healthcare District in implementing our strategic action plan and truly advancing the health and wellbeing of our residents. I am more than confidant that I can be the person to achieve this vital role.”

Rodriguez said looks forward to the DHCD CEO selection process and is confident he is the right leader at this critical juncture in the DHCD’s role in advancing healthcare access, workforce development, and improving the social determinants of health for all Coachella Valley tesidents.