Huntington Health Appoints Dr. Mariko Kita as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer

Huntington Health announced the appointment of Mariko Kita, MD, MBA, as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, effective September 29, 2026.

Dr. Kita joins Huntington following a national search and was selected for her clinical expertise, and strong alignment with Huntington’s strategic vision.

“Dr. Kita is an accomplished physician executive whose commitment to quality, innovation and patient-centered care makes her an outstanding addition to our leadership team,” said John M. Corman, MD, president and chief clinical officer of Huntington Health. “Her ability to bring clinicians together, improve outcomes, and foster a culture of excellence will help advance our mission of delivering exceptional care to the communities we serve. We are thrilled to welcome her to Huntington.”

Dr. Kita brings more than 25 years of experience as a physician leader, clinician-investigator and health system executive. She currently serves as Chief of the Department of Medicine at Virginia Mason Medical Center, where she oversees more than 200 providers across 17 specialties and has led improvements in quality, access, operational performance, and physician engagement.

She earned her undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University and her medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School. She completed an internship in Internal Medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, a residency in Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania and a fellowship in Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis at the University of California, San Francisco.

A board-certified neurologist and nationally recognized multiple sclerosis researcher, Dr. Kita has led more than 50 clinical trials and authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications.  She also holds faculty appointments at the Benaroya Research Institute and the University of Washington School of Medicine.

“I am honored to join Huntington Health, an organization that shares my commitment to exceptional patient care,” said Dr. Kita. “I look forward to partnering with our physicians, nurses and staff to advance quality, safety, and innovation while supporting an environment where caregivers and patients can thrive.”

In her new role, Dr. Kita will provide strategic and clinical leadership across Huntington Health, overseeing initiatives focused on clinical quality, patient safety, physician engagement, operational excellence, and the patient experience.

To learn more about leadership at Huntington Health, go to: https://www.huntingtonhealth.org/about-us/hospital-leadership/