PLACERVILLE, Calif. — Marshall Medical, El Dorado County’s largest locally governed health care system, announced Friday that President and Chief Executive Officer Siri Nelson has stepped down after seven years at the helm, ending a tenure marked by expansion, organizational transformation and the challenges of leading a rural health system through the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath.
The Marshall Board of Directors has appointed Chief Medical Affairs Officer Dr. Martin Entwistle as interim chief executive officer, effective immediately, while the board begins a search for a permanent CEO. Entwistle has served in Marshall’s executive leadership team and is expected to oversee day-to-day operations during the transition.
Board Chair Tom Cumpston thanked Nelson for her leadership and confidence in the organization’s future.
“Siri has led Marshall with vision, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to our patients, employees and community,” Cumpston said in a statement. “On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Siri for her leadership and the lasting impact she has made on this organization and community. We are grateful for her continued support during this leadership transition and are confident Marshall is well positioned for continued success.”
Nelson joined Marshall in 2019 after serving as CEO of Renown South Meadows Medical Center in Reno. During her leadership, Marshall completed a strategic rebrand, expanded outpatient and specialty services, strengthened its financial operations and significantly increased its presence in western El Dorado County with the opening of the Marshall El Dorado Hills medical campus. The organization also earned multiple national quality awards and broadened access to specialty care through partnerships with regional health providers.
Her leadership extended beyond El Dorado County. Nelson served as chair of the California Hospital Association Board of Trustees and was recognized earlier this year by Assemblyman Joe Patterson as the Fifth Assembly District’s El Dorado County Woman of the Year for her contributions to rural health care and community service.
The transition comes during a period of uncertainty for hospitals across California. Rural health systems, including Marshall, continue to prepare for potential reductions in Medicaid funding and increasing financial pressures that have affected hospitals statewide. Nelson previously warned that reimbursement changes could force hospitals to tighten budgets while maintaining patient care.
For residents of El Dorado County, Marshall remains the county’s primary nonprofit health system, operating Marshall Hospital in Placerville along with outpatient clinics and specialty care locations in Placerville, Cameron Park, El Dorado Hills and Georgetown. Leadership stability will be closely watched as the organization continues expanding services while responding to the growing health care needs of one of Northern California’s fastest-growing regions.
Marshall has not announced a timeline for selecting a permanent chief executive.
Sources: Marshall Medical news release, Sacramento Business Journal, California Hospital Association, American Hospital Association.
