Mary Ann Barnes has been with the Kaiser Permanente system for 32 years, rising from her first position, as an ICU nurse in San Diego, to her current position as Senior VP and Area Manager for Kaiser's Hospital and Health Plan in Santa Clara.

While the Santa Clara "Kiely" hospital is still providing services, Kaiser's "Homestead" Medical Center, on the Lawrence Expressway, represents one of the largest construction projects in Kaiser's - and Santa Clara County's - history. In fact, the 52-acre site hosts the second largest healthcare construction project in California (fifth overall), with: 327 licensed beds, 37 total departments, and a cancer treatment center. Already in operation is the new medical office building, with 426 exam rooms and 270 provider offices for 59 departments and specialty clinics, including pharmacies on three floors. The ambulatory surgery unit will open in March 2006, and the full hospital is scheduled for final completion in mid-2007.

Previously, between 2000 and early 2006, Mary Ann was the Medical Group Administrator for Kaiser's Los Angeles Medical Center, which serves more than 275,000 members with 460 physicians, and is the tertiary care center for Kaiser Permanente members throughout Southern California. From 1998 until 2000, Mary Ann was Medical Group Administrator for the West Los Angeles Area of the Southern California Permanente Medical Group, which serves 176,000 members for primary and secondary care. Earlier, she was Hospital Administrator of Kaiser Permanente’s 251-bed general, acute care hospital in Harbor City, from 1991 to 1998. In addition, she led the team that planned the opening of Kaiser's hospital in Baldwin Park, in October 1998, as a joint labor-management partnership.

From 1984 until 1991, Mary Ann was Assistant Medical Group Administrator for Southern California Permanente Medical Group. There she was responsible for the administration and coordination of ambulatory care services in 13 sites throughout San Diego County. Mary Ann joined Kaiser Permanente in San Diego, in 1974, as a Staff Nurse in the Medical Intensive Care Unit and, over the next nine years, held increasingly responsible positions in Nursing Administration.

She earned her BS degree in Nursing from Arizona State University and her MSN in Administration from San Diego State University.