CEO Stephen DelRossi steps down, Allison Partridge named Acting CEO

Northern Inyo Healthcare District (NIHD) Chief Executive Officer Stephen DelRossi announced his resignation effective April 1 to District staff Tuesday afternoon. DelRossi, who has served as CEO since May 2023, earlier informed the NIHD Board of Directors of his decision, citing family commitments and the need to focus more time outside the Eastern Sierra.

“It has been my honor and privilege to serve NIHD for the last three years, especially during my time as CEO,” DelRossi said in his message to NIHD staff. “I am proud of the incredible work we have accomplished, and I believe now is the time for new leadership to steer the District’s next chapter.”

DelRossi joined NIHD as Chief Financial Officer and later stepped into the CEO role. In an email to staff following DelRossi’s announcement, Board Chair Jean Turner thanked him for offering much-needed stability and leadership as CFO in a time of uncertainty. “(As CEO) Stephen continued his work to move the District forward and steer our course for continued success,” Turner wrote to staff. “On behalf of the Board, we express our gratitude to Stephen for his hard work, dedication, and service. We wish him and his family the very best.”

Until further notice, NIHD’s Chief Operations and Nursing Officer Allison Partridge will serve as Acting Chief Executive Officer. The Board will begin the process of identifying permanent leadership in the coming weeks.

A healthcare veteran of now more than 25-years, Partridge joined NIHD in 2018 as the Director of Nursing for Emergency and Inpatient Services. Named the District’s Chief Nursing Officer in August of 2020, the move placed Partridge at the forefront of the District’s pandemic response. DelRossi later named her Chief Operations Officer, giving her a dual role within the District that displayed her deep understanding of both clinical care and operational strategy.

Turner said Partridge is well-positioned to ensure a smooth transition and clearly understands the need for continued progress during this interim period.

Turner also said the Board, which also consists of Vice Chair Melissa Best-Baker, Secretary David Lent, Treasurer David McCoy Barrett, and Member-at-Large Laura Smith, remains committed to maintaining transparency through this leadership transition and will provide updates to staff and the community as the search for NIHD’s next CEO moves forward.