Message

from the CEO

Craig A. Wagoner, President and Chief Executive Officer

Craig Wagoner Portrait

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A Message from the CEO

When I became president and CEO of Community Health System, I outlined a vision for our journey ahead that I shared with every team member of our organization. This vision, which I called The Cause, expanded upon Community's ongoing commitment to being the trusted health leader in the Central San Joaquin Valley: opening new doors to educate, innovate, and enhance our care and services across the region. 


What I wrote describes the future we at Community are working toward — not only for our health system but for our patients, our teams and our entire community. It transforms our commitment into a comprehensive, actionable path toward becoming the model for excellence in healthcare, not just locally, but nationally.


This is the vision I shared with the team, and I share it here with the hope we all continue to work together to make the Valley a healthier, happier place to live.

Craig Wagoner Signature

Craig A. Wagoner

President & CEO, Community Health System

In the News
CEO Craig Wagoner talks healthcare challenges on '13th and Park’ podcast

Wagoner joins a roster of thought leaders and influencers who have appeared on the podcast, including Governor Gavin Newsom, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

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Patients are often left ‘out of network’ as hospitals, insurers clash over cost

Lengthy contract negotiations between health insurers and healthcare providers put patients in the middle — and no one wins.

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Inside Community's Future: CEO Craig Wagoner Reflects on Year One

Community Health System President and CEO Craig Wagoner reflects on his first year leading the organization, sharing the vision behind “The Cause” and the challenges ahead.

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About Craig Wagoner

As the president and chief executive officer of Community Health System, Craig Wagoner is committed to advancing healthcare excellence in our region and fulfilling Community’s mission to better the lives of all those we serve. This is evident through his expertise in effective healthcare leadership and decision-making strengths.  

 

Craig first joined Community in 2007, serving as chief operating officer for Clovis Community Medical Center, then as chief operating officer for Community Regional Medical Center in 2011. In 2014, he was promoted to chief executive officer of Community Regional Medical Center. Craig’s CEO role expanded in 2017 to include all Community Medical Centers’ hospitals, clinics and associated facilities. In 2020, he was again promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer of Community Health System. 

 

Prior to that, Craig served as chief operating officer at Salt Lake Regional Medical Center in Utah and in a variety of corporate and hospital executive leadership roles with Iasis Healthcare Corporation, the University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics, Davis Hospital and Medical Center, and American Healthways. 


Craig has more than 35 years of healthcare operations and strategic planning experience working with more than 22 hospitals across six states in a range of diverse markets. He earned a Master of Science degree from University of Montana and a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Stanislaus.

"At Community, safety, excellence and compassion are not goals — they are our way of life."

– Craig A. Wagoner

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