After more than a year at the helm of the region’s largest healthcare facility, Chief Executive Officer Kelli Davis will be stepping down in December.

“The Northern Inyo Healthcare District Board of Directors sincerely regret to announce the resignation of Kelli Davis, our Chief Executive Officer,” said NIHD Board Chair Jody Veenker after Wednesday morning’s special board meeting. “We sincerely appreciate Kelli’s excellent service to the District. She has been a calm and steadying influence who helped us navigate turbulent waters in the last few years and we wish her and her family well.”

Board Vice-Chair Mary Mae Kilpatrick said she and her colleagues are disheartened by Davis’ coming departure. “Kelli always put the District and its communities first in all her decisions,” Kilpatrick said. “That is a rare trait to find these days and it will be a difficult one to match.”

During her tenure, Davis implemented timely internal budgeting procedures, created a Return on Investment committee, and led the District through a worldwide pandemic that saw unprecedented healthcare challenges for patients and staff. She also played a critical role in guiding the District’s most recent Community Health Needs Assessment. Also, she was able to spotlight the quality care and consistent longevity of both the District with its 75th Anniversary and the Rural Health Clinic with its 20th Anniversary.

Davis’ last day will be Dec. 1. Davis, who served the District in dual roles as CEO and Chief Operations Officer, will not continue with the District. Davis has served as CEO since last October. Before that, she served as interim CEO since February 2020 and as Chief Operating Officer since 2016.

The Board of Directors will begin the process of seeking a new Chief Executive Officer in the coming days and pledges to keep staff and community apprised of efforts as it moves forward.