Montage Health announces new CEO, Dr. Michael McDermott
Media contact: Monica Sciuto, Montage Health, monica.sciuto@montagehealth.org, (831) 622-2756
MONTEREY, CA – Montage Health is excited to announce that Michael McDermott, MD, MBA, will officially assume the role of president and CEO on March 21, 2025. This marks a new chapter for the organization as McDermott takes the reins from Steven Packer, MD, who is retiring after 26 years of visionary leadership.
For the past 10 years, McDermott served as CEO Mary Washington Healthcare in Virginia which, like Montage Health, is a local, nonprofit, independent healthcare system delivering high-quality and high-level care to the community. With his extensive leadership experience and background as a diagnostic and interventional radiologist, McDermott is well-positioned to lead Montage Health into the future.
"It’s truly an honor to join such a respected institution that has long been a leader in healthcare in Monterey County,” McDermott says. “I’ve admired Montage Health from afar for years, and now I’m thrilled to become part of its legacy. My wife Chrissy and I are grateful to live in this beautiful area and be closer to our sons who reside in California. I look forward to building upon the incredible work Dr. Packer has done and leading this organization with a continued focus on innovation, community-centered care, and the highest standards of local healthcare delivery.
Under Packer’s leadership, Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula grew into Montage Health to meet the growing needs of the community. Packer led significant advancements such as doubling the number of Community Hospital’s beds and creating new programs like Ohana, a groundbreaking youth mental health program, Montage Medical Group, which has grown to a practice of more than 100 primary and specialty providers, and Aspire Health Plan, Monterey County’s first Medicare Advantage program. Packer’s legacy set a solid foundation for McDermott to continue the pursuit of excellence in healthcare for Monterey County.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. McDermott into the Montage Health family,” says Patrick Burke, chair of Montage Health’s Board of Trustees. “Dr. Packer has built an incredible legacy, and we have every confidence that Dr. McDermott will continue to elevate this organization and further our commitment to improving the health and well-being of our community.”
“As we welcome Dr. McDermott, we remain focused on our core purpose — putting the health and well-being of our community first,” Burke says. “We are confident that under his leadership, Montage Health will continue to deliver world-class care locally and explore new ways to meet the evolving needs of our community.”
