| About MultiCare |
Our Leadership
President and CEO Diane Cecchettini, RN, joined MultiCare in 1989. She became MultiCare’s first woman and first nurse CEO in 1999. She has played a pivotal role in many organizational initiatives focused on providing the highest quality of care to patients throughout MultiCare. Diane previously worked for Sutter Health System in Sacramento, California, and UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. In 1993 she retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the Air Force Reserve, having served 21 years as a flight nurse in aeromedical evacuation. Diane earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from University of California, Los Angeles, and a Master of Science degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Utah. She is currently serving in her second term as Chair of the Governing Board of the Washington State Hospital Association.
Executive Vice President Florence Chang joined MultiCare Health System in 2006. She came to MultiCare from Dearborn Advisors, LLC, where she served as senior vice president and partner. She has 20 years of health care information technology experience. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Medical Technology from California State University, Dominguez Hills. She is a licensed Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) and holds an American Society of Clinical Pathologists License (ASCP). She also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Pepperdine University. Florence volunteers with the Tacoma Symphony and is a vocal conductor with the Seattle Christian Assembly.
Senior Vice President of Community Services Lois I. Bernstein joined MultiCare in 1998. Prior to joining MultiCare, she worked in similar positions at Scripps Health and Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego and University of California, San Diego Medical Center. Lois received her Bachelor of the Arts in Communications from Michigan State University and a Master of Science in Rehabilitation from San Diego State University. She also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of California, Irvine. She serves on the executive committee of the Board of the Point Defiance Zoological Society.
Senior Vice President, Strategy and Business Development Theresa M. Boyle, Ms. Boyle is the Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development for MultiCare Health System. Her previous experience includes twenty-one years with Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound in various progressive management capacities culminating as Executive Director, Strategy and Planning, 2004 – 2008 and Executive Director, Market Development and Analysis, 1997 – 2004. Over the past twenty years Ms. Boyle’s leadership abilities and experience have resulted in numerous accomplishments in marketing and communications, strategic planning, business planning and development initiatives. Ms. Boyle received a Master in Business Administration degree from Seattle University in 1991 and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Puget Sound in 1984.
Senior Vice President of Human Potential Sarah M. Horsman joined MultiCare in 2002. Her experiences in organizational effectiveness and human resources include senior management positions with the Allina Health System in Minneapolis; Bridge Medical, Inc., in Solana Beach, California; and the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. She received her undergraduate degree in nursing from Creighton University and a Master of Arts degree in Adult and Continuing Education from the University of Minnesota. She also holds a Master of Science degree in Organization Development from Pepperdine University. Sarah serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the YWCA of Tacoma & Pierce County.
Senior Vice President and General Counsel Erik Rasmussen joined MultiCare in 1986. He came to MultiCare from the Garvey Schubert and Barer law firm in Seattle. He also served as a law clerk for the Hon. Herbert Swanson of the Washington State Court of Appeals. Erik received a Bachelor of Arts with honors in economics from the College of William & Mary in Virginia and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law and is admitted to practice law in Washington State. Erik serves on the United Way Healthcare Access Committee and in other community organizations.
Senior Vice President, Quality H. Lester Reed, MD, first came to MultiCare Health System in 2001 as Associate Medical Director of the MultiCare Medical Group, where he eventually became Medical Director. He left MultiCare in 2004 to become a Clinical Director for a public health agency in New Zealand and returned to MultiCare in 2005. Dr. Reed was promoted to Vice President of Medical Affairs, for Acute Care, in 2007 and to senior Vice President for Quality in 2010. He received his medical degree from the University of Kentucky and completed his internal medicine residency and an endocrinology and metabolism fellowship at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He has published over 35 peer-reviewed manuscripts and is a teacher and practitioner. He has held positions with Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Madigan Army Medical Center. He has served as the U.S. representative to the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research, is a current registrant of the Medical Council of New Zealand, a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington. Dr. Reed has presented nationally for the American College of Healthcare Executives, served as the Co-Chair of the Tacoma-Pierce County Tier 3 Pandemic Flu Response Task Force and a Board Member for Pierce County Project Access.
Senior Vice President, Chief Nurse Executive Kate Bechtold joined the MultiCare Health System in 2011. Prior to joining MultiCare, she served as Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President for Patient Care at Colorado hospital facilities in the Centura Health Systems. She is committed to ensuring patient safety and quality care through transformational leadership, shared governance, and empowerment of nurses. Kate received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, and a Masters in Health Administration from the University of Denver. She serves on the board of directors of the Regional Hospital, Metropolitan Development Council, and on the Advisory Board to the School of Nursing at Pacific Lutheran University.
Senior Vice President of Clinical Support & Integration, Katherine Smith, RN, first came to MultiCare in 1977 as a staff nurse in the Intensive Care Unit. She holds a Bachelor in Nursing from Pacific Lutheran University, as well as an MBA from City University where she graduated with both the President’s Scholar and Meritorious Scholastic Achievement awards. Before joining Tacoma General Hospital, she worked at North Carolina Baptist Hospital for her nursing diploma and in the Intensive Care Unit at Wake Medical Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. Kathy has been promoted to multiple levels of leadership at MultiCare since 1977, including Nurse Manager positions in Critical Care, Director, Clinical and Management Support, Administrator, Clinical Finance, Vice President of Careline Development, and Senior Vice President Clinical Operations. In addition to her current position, Kathy is one of the executive sponsors for MultiCare’s implementation of MultiCare Connect, the organization’s electronic health record that won the 2009 HIMSS Davies Award for Excellence. In 2009, Kathy was awarded the annual award for Authentic Leadership by the Northwest Organization of Nurse Executives. Kathy is a member of the finance committee for the Hilltop Artists organization in Tacoma.
President, East Pierce Region Glenn Kasman joined Good Samaritan in 1998 and was named President in April 2011. Glenn has served many roles at Good Samaritan, including Vice President of Professional Services and Business Development, Vice President of Strategic Development, Administrator of Good Samaritan Surgery Center, Director of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and other positions. His portfolio has included hospital, clinic, physician, and health system operations as well as strategic planning and transactions. He began his career as a physical therapist and has co-authored three textbooks on kinesiological surface electromyography as well as presented extensively in national and international settings. Glenn has played a key role in Good Samaritan’s transformation into a regional medical center and is committed to serving the East Pierce community. He has a Master in Behavioral Neuroscience from Northwestern University as well as undergraduate degrees in psychobiology and physical therapy. Glenn is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has completed a certificate program in Managing HealthCare Delivery from the Harvard Business School.