DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Steward Health Care announced today that Dr. Octavio (Tavi) Diaz, Steward’s Chief Medical Officer is joining the leadership team in the Massachusetts region as President of its North region, effective Thursday, February 29. As CMO, Dr. Diaz has played an integral role in leading programs throughout Steward’s network focused on the safety and quality of care for patients and their families. The appointment underscores Steward’s continued commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate care to every patient at each of its seven acute care hospitals in Massachusetts.

With more than three decades of clinical experience and more than 20 years of executive healthcare experience, Dr. Diaz is a highly sought-after speaker and thought leader when it comes to understanding the business of healthcare and how to optimize and drive stronger health outcomes for challenging patient populations.

As Dr. Diaz begins his new leadership responsibilities in Massachusetts, he will be meeting with hospital staff and leaders at each of Steward’s hospitals in the state. He will also be meeting with as many key stakeholders as possible to gain an even deeper understanding of Steward’s operations in the north region and how to collectively to drive even better patient outcomes and provide the highest quality, most compassionate care in all the communities it serves.
“Dr. Diaz is a strong, compassionate physician leader whose appointment to this role is critical as we continue working in our role as the primary caregiver to some of the most vulnerable residents and communities in the Commonwealth,” said Mark Rich, President of Steward Health Care. “He has deep experience with patient safety, a strong understanding of delivering exceptional care, and will bring a wealth of knowledge to our hospitals in the state.”

A native of Greenfield, Massachusetts, Dr. Diaz began his career in medicine as both a public health student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and again as a resident. He also holds a master’s degree in public health from Boston University. He is board certified in emergency medicine and maintains an active medical license in Massachusetts.

Dr. Diaz’s appointment comes at a pivotal time of transition for Steward. Recently, Steward announced new funding, reiterated that it has no plans to close any hospitals, and unveiled a plan to address business challenges and move Steward into its next operational phase. Steward remains committed to continuing to work with elected leaders in Massachusetts on an orderly transition that emphasizes the continuity of first-class medical care in the state.

More People on the Move