Kenneth West

Kenneth M. West II currently serves as President and CEO of Regional Medical Center of San Jose located in San Jose, CA where he also previously served as Chief Operating Officer. Regional Medical Center is an affiliate hospital of HCA Healthcare based in Nashville, TN where over the past 13 years, Ken has advanced with increasing responsibilities in operations. His roles have included Administrative Resident, Assistant Administrator, Associate COO and COO of hospitals in Virginia, Florida and California. His areas of experience include general operations, P&L management, strategic planning, service line development, technology evaluation, labor union management, real estate development and over +$500M in healthcare construction.

Ken has been recognized by the California Diversity Council as one of Northern California’s Top 50 Diverse Leaders (2020), awarded the ACHE Service Award by the America College of Healthcare Executives and the California Association of Healthcare Leaders(2020) and featured by Becker’s Hospital Review Rising Stars: Top 25 Healthcare Leaders under 40 (2014).

Within HCA Healthcare, Ken serves as a board member of the Leadership Institute Advisory Board, as a Division Lead for the Chief Operating Office Development Initiative and as Executive Mentor for the HCA Healthcare Leadership Excellence Program and HR Leadership Development Program. He has previously served on the Ethics and Compliance Officer Advisory Committee.

In addition, Ken previously served on the American College of Healthcare Executives Board of Governors Exam Committee, Louisiana State University A.P Tureaud Chapter Alumni Board, Georgetown University Health Systems Administration-Executive Mentor, Pasco County Economic Development Council, Pasco County-Ford Next Generation Career Academy Advisory Committee, Georgetown University HSA Alumni Association Board, Spotsylvania Education Foundation Board, Smart Beginnings Rappahannock Area Board.  

Ken earned a Bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA where he served as President of the Student Dietetic Association, was a member of Leadership LSU and awarded the Louisiana Dietetic Association’s Most Outstanding Dietetic Program Student Award (2005). As a Ronald E. McNair Research Scholar, he co-authored three abstracts and two manuscripts through the school of Human Ecology and College of Agriculture. He later completed a Dietetic Internship with North Oaks Health System in Hammond, LA where he was also awarded the Louisiana Dietetic Association’s Most Outstanding Dietetic Intern Award (2006).  

He holds a Master’s degree in Health Systems Administration from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C where he attended as a Hospital Corporation of America, Inc. Corris Boyd Scholar and served as President of the Healthcare Executives of Georgetown University. He completed post-graduate training in Operations Integration at Johns Hopkins Health System and holds a certification in Lean Healthcare from Belmont University Massey Graduate School of Business in Nashville, TN. He is a board certified healthcare executive and a fellow of the American College of Health Care Executives. He holds memberships in the American College of Healthcare Executives, the National Association of Healthcare Executives, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity.

 He has a passion for mentorship and technology. Ken lives in San Jose, CA with his wife Erica and two children, Penelope and Kenneth III.