Carrie Owen Plietz, FACHE, is president, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, Calif. In this role, Ms. Owen Plietz oversees Kaiser Permanente’s care delivery and health plan operations in Northern California.

She also serves as Immediate Past Chair of the American College of Healthcare Executives, an international professional society of more than 48,000 healthcare executives who lead hospitals, healthcare systems and other healthcare organizations. With comprehensive programs in credentialing, education, career counseling, publications and research, ACHE works toward its goal of being the preeminent professional society for leaders dedicated to advancing health.

Board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow, Ms. Owen Plietz served as an ACHE Governor from 2016 to 2019, as the ACHE Regent for California—Northern & Central from 2013 to 2016, as president of the California Association of Healthcare Leaders, an ACHE chapter, and on numerous ACHE committees. In 2010, she received the Robert S. Hudgens Memorial Award for Young Healthcare Executive of the Year.

Before joining Kaiser Permanente in 2020, she served as executive vice president/COO, Hospital Division, Wellstar Health System, Marietta, Ga., from 2016 to 2020; CEO (2011 to 2016) and COO (2011), Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, Calif.; and COO, Sutter Mills-Peninsula Health System, Burlingame, Calif., from 2008 to 2010. Previously, she served as chief administrative officer, Pacific Campus (2005 to 2008); vice president, operations, specialty services (2007 to 2008); vice president, clinical services (2002 to 2007); assistant administrator/compliance officer (2000 to 2002); and administrative resident, Western Division (1999 to 2000), at the Sutter California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco.

Earlier, Ms. Owen Plietz served in a number of positions at Bon Secours Richmond (Va.) Health System; HCA Richmond (Va.) Atlantic Division; and Rockingham Memorial Hospital/Health Department, Harrisonburg, Va.

In addition to her service to ACHE, she is a member of the Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College Alumni Committee, co-chair of the Bay Area Council Health Committee and past chair of the Healthcare Executive Study Society.

She received the Service Award (2010), the Distinguished Service Award (2012) and the Exemplary Service Award (2015) through ACHE’s Recognition Program, and an Early Careerist Healthcare Executive Regent Award from ACHE in 2004.

Ms. Owen Plietz earned an executive fellowship in health law and a master’s degree in health administration from Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia Campus, and a Bachelor of Science in health administration from James Madison University, where she graduated magna cum laude, with distinction.