Leadership
2015 Go Red For Women Chair
CEO Monica Vargas-Mahar, Sierra Medical Center
Event Chair Information
Monica C. Vargas-Mahar currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer for Sierra Medical Center, a part of the Sierra Providence Health Network in El Paso, TX. Sierra is a 351-bed acute care hospital, which opened in February of 1976, and specializes in Cardiovascular Services, Neurological Services, Orthopedics, and Rehabilitation Services. Monica provides strategic and operational leadership for Sierra and its numerous outpatient locations to ensure exceptional care to each patient.
Monica recently served as Chief Operating Officer of Providence Memorial Hospital, also home to the Providence Children’s Hospital. At Providence, Monica played a key role in driving improved patient satisfaction and led the formation of El Paso’s first acute-care based geriatric behavioral unit in partnership with Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso as well as the full service Wound Care Program.
From 2008 to October 2011, Monica served as the Chief Operating Officer for Sierra Providence East Medical Center (SPEMC), Sierra Providence’s newest acute care hospital. She served as the cornerstone of the development of East, attending to the groundbreaking and serving as the hospital’s on-site administrator during construction. During her tenure at East she oversaw the expansion of SPEMC’s ER, Orthopedic Center & the development of the Wound Care Center. Monica has played a vital role in the expansion of Sierra Providence Health Network.
Previously, Monica served as the Vice President of Ancillary Services at Sierra Medical Center and oversaw Ancillary Services at Providence Memorial Hospital in El Paso, Texas. Prior to joining the Sierra Providence Health Network family, she served as the Director of Women’s Specialty & Psych Services for Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas in Dallas, Texas.
Monica is a Fellow of American College of Healthcare Executives and a Board Member of the National Forum for Latino Healthcare Executives. Monica received the 2014 National Forum for Latino Healthcare Executives (NFLHE) Leadership Award that recognizes top healthcare executives for exhibiting strong and impactful leadership within the healthcare community. She serves as a Board Member of the United Way of El Paso and Creative Kid’s. In 2015, on behalf of the Women’s Business Border Center and the EL Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, she received the Cutting Edge Award presented in recognition of a team of women who are at the helm of the industry that they represent. She’s a graduate of Leadership El Paso and Leadership Texas. Monica was named 2012’s Up & Comers by Modern Healthcare Magazine.
A graduate of Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, California) with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Monica earned a Master’s of Science degree in Healthcare Administration from Trinity University (San Antonio, Texas).
Monica is a native El Pasoan and resides here with her husband, Keith.
