Karen Paolinelli has been appointed permanent CEO of Madera Community Hospital. Photo courtesy Madera Community Hospital.

Madera Community Hospital’s Board of Trustees has named Karen Paolinelli as the new CEO for the hospital. She served as interim CEO since November.

“Karen’s appointment is a clear reflection of the trustee’s commitment to continued transformation of our health care system,” said Stell Manfredi, chair of the board of trustees. “Her passion for clinical and service excellence as well as her ability to execute high level initiatives ensures our hospital’s chief executive is aligned with the trustee’s commitment to providing quality health care for the communities we serve.”

Paolinelli began her career with Madera Community Hospital more than 35 years ago as a nursing aid. She continued her education earning physician assistant and family nurse practitioner credentials and, in 1992, was instrumental in developing the hospital’s rural health-clinic system, Family Health Services.

In 2014, Paolinelli was appointed COO for the hospital. In addition to overseeing Family Health Services and Chowchilla Medical Center, as COO, she led the laboratory, radiology, case management admitting and scheduling departments.

“I am humbled by the confidence our trustees have in my leadership,” Paolinelli said. “I love this hospital, I love what we do and the breadth and the diversity of all the people we serve. I am thrilled with the opportunity to infuse my passion for clinical and service excellence into our corporate culture while guiding the growth and expansion of vital health care services in Madera.”