The Palomar UC San Diego Health Joint Powers Authority (JPA) Board of Directors brings together six leaders — three appointed by the Palomar Health District and three by UC San Diego Health — to provide oversight and guidance for a new health system. Together, these leaders bring diverse experience across healthcare, business, public service, research, technology and behavioral health, working collaboratively to support the needs of the communities they serve.
The JPA Board works together to address the priorities identified by the publicly elected Palomar Health District Board of Directors, supporting the successful operation of Palomar UC San Diego Health and helping to ensure the organization is positioned to deliver high-quality care for the nearly one million people across North San Diego County.
Pauline Margaret Gourdie
Pauline Margaret Gourdie, Board Chair, is a global business leader, entrepreneur and community advocate with more than three decades of experience in international operations, supply chain management, workforce development and organizational transformation. Her career includes leading complex fulfillment and manufacturing initiatives for IBM and Lenovo across the United States, United Kingdom, Europe and China, providing her with a global perspective on leadership, culture and operational excellence.
Ms. Gourdie serves as Chief of Staff for Dalrada Technology Group, a publicly traded company delivering advanced climate technology, semiconductor and electronics solutions worldwide. She is also the founder and owner of CSL Staffing, a boutique staffing firm serving North County San Diego, and President and owner of Bandy Canyon Ranch, a boutique resort hotel in the region.
Her commitment to service extends beyond business. Ms. Gourdie is an active philanthropic leader and board member with longstanding involvement in healthcare, youth initiatives, veterans’ services, animal welfare and the San Diego community. Following the loss of her brothers, Adrian and Cannon, she and her surviving siblings established the Brothers Forever Foundation to support veterans facing PTSD and substance-use challenges.
A proud Cornell University graduate, Ms. Gourdie combines entrepreneurial vision, global business expertise and compassionate leadership with a deep commitment to strengthening the communities she serves.
Margarita Baggett
Margarita Baggett, Vice Chair, MSN, RN, is the Chief Clinical Officer (CCO) for UC San Diego Health. In this role, she provides leadership and direction for the nursing staff and is responsible for planning, organizing, directing and controlling all functions of nursing, pharmacy and pathology/clinical laboratories, as well as overseeing emergency medicine. Ms. Baggett’s responsibilities include the day-to-day operations for a staff of more than 4,500 along with key participation in strategic planning for growth.
She is a highly accomplished nursing leader with vast experience in quality management, service excellence, patient throughput, staff recruitment and retention, and regulatory affairs. Ms. Baggett joined UC San Diego Health in 2006, most recently serving as Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Clinical Officer.
A graduate of the Johnson & Johnson-Wharton Fellows Program in Management for Nurse Executives, Ms. Baggett earned her Master of Science degree from Adelphi University and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Molloy College, both in New York state. She lives in La Mesa, California with her husband, Frank.
John M. Carethers
John M. Carethers, MD, MACP, FAACR, is a nationally and internationally recognized physician-scientist, cancer researcher and visionary healthcare leader serving as vice chancellor for Health Sciences at UC San Diego. In this role, he leads UC San Diego’s School of Medicine, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, UC San Diego Health and numerous research centers and institutes, advancing a unified strategy for clinical excellence, groundbreaking research, education and philanthropy. A distinguished gastroenterologist and leading authority on colorectal cancer, Dr. Carethers’ research focuses on familial colon cancer syndromes, tumor progression, DNA mismatch repair and cancer health disparities. Before returning to UC San Diego in 2023, he spent 13 years at the University of Michigan, including serving as chair of Internal Medicine and holding distinguished professorships. His national leadership includes serving as president of both the Association of American Physicians and the American Gastroenterological Association, as well as major leadership roles with the American Association for Cancer Research. An elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, Dr. Carethers combines scientific excellence, transformative leadership and a deep commitment to advancing health equity and improving outcomes for patients worldwide.
Zafiris “Jeff” Daskalakis, MD, PhD
Zafiris “Jeff” Daskalakis, MD, PhD, is a distinguished psychiatrist, neuroscientist and internationally recognized leader in brain-based treatments for severe psychiatric disorders, serving as Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at UC San Diego. A pioneering clinician-scientist, Dr. Daskalakis’ research focuses on developing innovative therapeutic brain interventions and uncovering the neurophysiology that drives their effectiveness. His work has earned sustained support from leading national research organizations, including the National Institute of Mental Health and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, along with numerous prestigious awards for scientific excellence. A Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher in 2022, 2024 and 2025, he ranks among the world’s most influential researchers by citation impact. Dr. Daskalakis has authored more than 560 peer-reviewed publications, books and chapters in leading scientific and medical journals and serves in prominent editorial and scientific leadership roles, including with Biological Psychiatry, Clinical Neurophysiology and the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. His career reflects a powerful commitment to translating neuroscience into transformative treatments that improve the lives of people living with serious mental illness.
John C. Whitham
John C. Whitham is a nationally recognized healthcare executive with more than 25 years of experience working with health systems, physician organizations, healthcare services companies and investors. His career spans healthcare consulting, executive leadership, strategy and growth, and direct healthcare operations, providing him with a broad perspective on the challenges facing healthcare organizations today. John has spent many years partnering with healthcare leaders across North County, San Diego, and has advised boards and executives on strategy, financial and operational performance, physician alignment, growth, technology and digital transformation, and the responsible use of AI to improve healthcare performance. As a board member, he brings extensive industry expertise and practical operating experience to help inform strategy, evaluate opportunities and risks, support strong leadership and advance the organization’s mission and long-term success.
Charlene Zettel
Charlene Zettel is a trailblazing civic and healthcare leader whose career has been defined by public service, organizational leadership and a steadfast commitment to improving the lives of Californians. A history-making figure in California politics, she was the first Republican Latina elected to the State Assembly, serving the 75th Assembly District from 1998 to 2002, where she championed legislation supporting seniors, children and people with developmental disabilities while serving in key legislative leadership roles. In 2004, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed her to lead the California Department of Consumer Affairs, overseeing more than 40 licensing boards and bureaus responsible for regulating 2.5 million professionals and advancing collaborative efforts to combat identity theft and protect children online. As a University of California Regent, she chaired major committees overseeing audit, national laboratories and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory governance. She later served as CEO of Donate Life California, growing the nation’s largest organ and tissue donor registry from eight to 12 million registered donors, and went on to serve as Interim CEO of the American Red Cross San Diego/Imperial Counties Region. A former chair and longtime board member of the American Red Cross, Ms. Zettel brings decades of distinguished leadership, public policy expertise and a deep commitment to strengthening communities and expanding opportunities for those she serves.