Steve Stark will lead Madera Community Hospital. Photo courtesy of American Advanced Management

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Steve Stark, the regional CEO of Orchard Hospital, Glenn Medical Center in Willows and Colusa Medical Center, has been selected to lead Madera Community Hospital in the central San Joaquin Valley, effective immediately, Orchard Board Chairperson Clark Redfield announced Aug. 15. 

With Stark’s departure, Amy Micheli, DNP, FNP-BC, at American Advanced Management will assume the role of interim hospital administrator to ensure a smooth transition.

Stark has served at Orchard since 2015 and helped lead the hospital to American Advanced Management in 2023, securing the hospital’s success through a management services agreement. He also has been active in the Gridley Rotary and Lions clubs.

“During Steve’s time at Orchard Hospital, he worked closely with our incredible staff, community members and providers to build a healthcare organization that we can all be proud of,” Redfield wrote in messages to board members and hospital employees.

“We are immensely grateful for the image and reputation he has helped create and preserve.”

Highlights of Stark’s tenure and team include:

Attracting more inpatients to the 24-bed Orchard Hospital, which is operating nearly full in 2024 compared to half full in 2020, procuring nearly $8 million in grant funding to put the first youth psychiatric health facility in Butte County, expanding rural health clinic services into Oroville, recruiting numerous physicians and advanced practitioners for the rural health clinics and modernizing health care IT systems to have a single patient and provider experience.

Micheli, who serves as American Advanced Management’s corporate chief operations officer and director of provider relations for the acute hospital division, brings more than 26 years of health care experience to her role. She began her time at the company as chief operations and nursing officer for both Colusa and Glenn Medical Centers in 2018.

“Amy’s expertise, leadership and strong local relationships will be crucial as we continue our mission to provide excellent health care to our community,” Redfield said.

Amy Micheli will assume the role of interim hospital administrator at Orchard Hospital. Photo courtesy of American Advanced Management

After earning her registered nursing degree at Yuba College, Micheli earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in nursing and her Family Nurse Practitioner board certification. In addition to her executive role, she provides clinical hospitalist services at multiple hospitals.

A Live Oak resident, Micheli looks forward to serving the North Valley community with the Orchard Hospital team, she said.

“We have incredible employees and providers here and a wonderful community.”