El Centro Regional Medical Center (ECRMC) has a new chief.

The hospital held a press conference on Wednesday morning and announced that Pablo Velez is the new Chief Executive Officer of the health care facility. Velez has most recently been CEO and Senior Vice President of Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center. Velez, a native of Puerto Rico, will begin his new job on Monday, April 17, 2023. Velez has a Ph.D. from University of San Diego. He has over two decades of relevant experience working with Sharp Chula Vista in providing health care in border communities. Velez will work with, and leverage, UC San Diego Health's expertise and capabilities to bolster ECRMC's oncology and cardiology services, expand access to life-saving clinical trials, and bring reliable radiology and imaging services to the Imperial Valley. Velez is a UC San Diego Health employee.