About this speaker
Ray Vara serves as President & CEO of Hawai‘i Pacific Health, an integrated healthcare system consisting of Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children, Pali Momi Medical Center, Straub Benioff Medical Center, Wilcox Medical Center on Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i Pacific Health Medical Group and over 70 locations. Vara joined Hawai‘i Pacific Health in 2002 as executive vice president and CEO of operations, and assumed the role of president and CEO in 2013. Prior to that, Vara served as chief executive officer at Los Alamos Medical Center, a member of Banner Health System in Los Alamos, New Mexico. He was the center’s chief financial officer before being appointed CEO. Previously, Vara served as a U.S. Army Officer with various assignments including Assistant Administrator and Chief Financial Officer for Bassett Army Community Hospital in Fairbanks, Alaska, and Deputy Chief Financial Officer for Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington and with the 9th Infantry Regiment, FT Lewis, Washington.
Vara currently serves as Immediate Past-Chairman of the American Heart Association (National).
Vara holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Hawai‘i Pacific University and an MBA from the University of Alaska at Fairbanks. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves on several local and national boards to include: Lead Independent Director, Bank of Hawai‘i Corporation; Director, Tradewind Group, Inc.; Director, Island Insurance Co., Ltd.; Director, Tradewind Capital Group; and Director, Hawai‘i Executive Collaborative.
He and his wife, Tiffany, have five children.
