Mary Rotunno is a mission-driven health care C-suite executive, public corporate board director, and committee member. She currently serves on the executive leadership team and as General Counsel for El Camino Health, a $1.2B revenue health care system, named one of the World’s Best Hospitals in 2022 by Newsweek. She sits on a number of boards, including VistaGen Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: VTGN), SaNOtize Research and Development, and Momentum for Health.

How did you become a leader in the health care industry? Have you always been interested in health care?

I started my healthcare career as a registered nurse, transitioning to health law where I worked in the legal department of a skilled nursing facility company, a medical device manufacturer, and a large health system. These experiences led me to my current role as General Counsel at El Camino Health and serving as a director on the boards of two biopharmaceutical companies and a mental health provider.

My desire to be a nurse began in elementary school when my father was hospitalized and was confirmed when I volunteered as a “candy-striper” in high school at a community hospital. My passion for health care comes from a desire to help people and make a difference in the health and wellness of the community.

You’re speaking at the 2023 Board Program this October – we can’t wait to see you there! Why is board service important to you, and why would you encourage other WBL members to pursue a seat of their own?

Serving on the boards of multiple health care companies, I have a broader impact on improving access to care and patient outcomes, addressing social determinants of health, and improving health equity. Board service allows me to use my 40 years of experience navigating the health care ecosystem as a clinician, executive, and strategist to commercialize innovative products and solutions to advance health and wellness. I encourage WBL members to pursue board service to expand the meaningful work they are currently doing in health care.

Your roles at VistaGen Therapeutics and SaNOtize are very different from your work at El Camino Health. Can you share the story behind ending up on these boards?

I ended up on these boards through networking, networking, networking! I was told by one of my mentors to “increase networking with men” and her advice brought me to the VistaGen board. Another wise woman leader told me to be “unabashedly visible” and “tell everyone you know that you are seeking board roles.” This advice resulted in a personal friend introducing me to the CEO of SaNOtize. On both of these pharma boards, I bring the customer’s perspective as a clinician and health system executive. I also bring governance expertise from my role as General Counsel.

Your ability to strike a balance between your passion for giving back and your “day job” is evident through your work on boards, nonprofit advisory boards, and as the founder of St. Mary’s Medical Legal Clinic. What’s your secret to making it all work?

My energy is fueled by the opportunity to do meaningful work with mission-driven organizations. I find that I am able to take on new roles with ease when I am connected to the mission. For example, in June 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was nominated to be Chair of the Board of Momentum for Health, the largest provider of behavioral health services in Silicon Valley, primarily serving the Medicaid and underserved population in Santa Clara County. I accepted because the CEO convinced me that I was in the best position to serve as Board Chair because of my “day job” on the executive team at El Camino Health where we were navigating similar pandemic challenges.

Personally or professionally, what might the WBL network be surprised to know about you?

I was a traveling nurse in the 1980s when the concept was relatively new with only two agencies. My first leadership experiences were traveling nurse assignments as a Charge Nurse, where I learned to be comfortable with ambiguity and quickly build trust with team members, leading by example.