Salinas Valley Health Names Carla Spencer as Chief Nursing Officer

Media Contact: Karina Rusk
831-759-1843

July 12, 2024 – Salinas Valley Health is proud to announce the appointment of Carla Spencer, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, as Chief Nursing Officer (CNO). With extensive experience in various nursing roles and a deep connection to the community, Spencer will lead the more than 700-member nursing team at the Medical Center. Salinas Valley Health is a public district network of primary and specialty care operations, including a 263-bed acute care Medical Center, delivering quality care at a local level to everyone in the community since 1953.

Spencer has served in a variety of crucial positions at Salinas Valley Health, including Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Director of Critical Care & Emergency Services, Director of Emergency Services, Clinical Nurse Manager Critical Care, and Registered Nurse III ICU/CCU. Her tenure at Salinas Valley Health began in 2002, and she has consistently demonstrated clinical expertise, a process-oriented, outcomes-driven leadership style. Carla’s commitment to professional governance and her experience in intensive care, education, and emergency services have been instrumental in supporting the organization's success.

"Carla has been a key leader in our organization for more than 20 years,” said Salinas Valley Health president/CEO, Allen Radner, MD. “Her clinical skills, combined with her dedication to community health and her proven leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, make her an invaluable asset to our organization. Carla’s passion for nursing and her unwavering commitment to quality healthcare and the patient experience exemplify our mission.”

Salinas Valley Health is known for nursing excellence as demonstrated by the 2021 American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Recognition, the highest and most prestigious distinction a healthcare organization can achieve for nursing excellence. The recognition is held by fewer than 10% of medical centers nationwide. In addition to her clinical expertise, Carla has also been a steadfast advocate for nurturing the more heartfelt aspects of exceptional nursing care. She was the primary driver behind the Care for the Caregiver Program at Salinas Valley Health, which includes the Code Lavender Peer Support Program and Schwartz Rounds. Most recently, her leadership contributed to the ICU/CCU achieving the Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. She also served on the Salinas Valley Health Foundation Board of Governors from 2014 to 2021.

"It is an honor to take on the role of Chief Nursing Officer at Salinas Valley Health,” said Carla Spencer, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Officer at Salinas Valley Health. “The nurses here are not just my colleagues, they are my family. I am deeply committed to supporting and empowering them as we are a locally established healthcare leader, dedicated to providing exceptional care to everyone in our community."

Carla Spencer, MSN, RN, NEA-BC assumes the role of CNO following the retirement of Lisa Paulo, MSN, RN, NEA-BC. Paulo served as an invaluable leader in the organization for more than 23 years, in multiple nurse director roles, including organizational leadership as the Director of Corporate Compliance, Revenue Integrity, and Patient Experience.