California’s Santa Clara Family Health Plan (SCFHP) has appointed Indian American Ria Paul as its Chief Medical Officer (CMO) effective December 18, 2023. In this role, Paul will foster relationships with healthcare providers, enhance clinical systems, and lead SCFHP’s population health efforts for health equity. She succeeds Laurie Nakahira, who transitions to the role of Medical Director. With over 25 years of commitment to equitable healthcare, Paul is enthusiastic about joining a team emphasizing cultural and equitable care.
Christine M Tomcala, the non-profit’s CEO, expresses confidence in Dr. Paul’s extensive healthcare leadership experience, expecting her contribution to SCFHP’s inclusive mission. As a practicing geriatrician and clinical associate professor at Stanford School of Medicine, Paul’s background includes roles at Stanford Health Care and the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley, where she earned recognition for value improvement in 2022. Paul’s medical journey began with a degree from Calcutta University in 1994, followed by residencies at St. Luke’s Hospital and Temple University and a fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at Stanford in 2004.
