Irma Cota, M.P.H.
Retired Healthcare Executive
Board of Trustees for the California Wellness Foundation & The Conrad Prebys Foundation
Ms. Cota started her healthcare leadership career in 1977 upon her completion of a B.S. in Community Health from San Diego State University with a major concentration in community health. With a lifelong passion for learning and a desire to have a meaningful impact in the field of public health she obtained a M.P.H. degree from SDSU. In addition, she obtained advanced training in executive management among them Executive Healthcare Leadership certifications from Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, UCSD Extension Healthcare Executive program, UCLA Anderson School of Business in nonprofit healthcare and Executive Leadership in Non-Profits from Harvard University.
Ms. Cota retired after 42 years in healthcare administration; the area of concentration was in the field of Primary Care for the medically underserved. She led multiple federally funded Health Centers in San Diego county as well as worked in leading a large private medical group and Birth Center.
From 1997 to March of 2018 Ms. Cota was the CEO of North County Health Services (NCHS) now doing business as TrueCare. She welcomed the opportunity to lead this organization originally rooted in healthcare to migrant farm workers for which Ms. Cota had a lifetime dedication as she was originally introduced to healthcare through the United Farm Workers Union as a 16-year-old farm worker herself. Under her leadership NCHS went from operating 5 clinics with a $12 million budget to a system of 12 comprehensive health centers and specialty care centers. She oversaw a $74 million budget serving over 66,000 patients with a staff of over 800. She served as Chief Administrative Officer at San Ysidro Health Center 1987-9 and Chief Administrative Officer at Sharp Healthcare nonprofit from 1991-97.
Current Board service: The Conrad Prebys Foundation (January 2023); California Wellness foundation – Board of Directors (September 2020); Latino Coalition for a Health California – Board of Directors (September 2013); San Diego State University School of Public Health – Advisory Board (January 2016); Rady Children’s T Danny Sandford Behavioral Health Advisory Board (March 2019); San Diego Foundation El Camino Fund Advisory Council (2025); North County Lifeline Community Services – CEO Advisory Council (2025).
Past Board Leadership Experience: Alliance Healthcare Foundation: Served as Chair, Executive, Programs and Audit Committees; California Primary Care Association: Served as Board Chair; National Cooperative Bank (NCB): Served as Board Chair and in the Executive Committee; National Impact Bank, affiliate of NCB: Served as Chair and Executive Committee; SDCCC now Southern California Healthcare Partners: Served as Chair, Executive Committee and Audit Committee; Board of The Elizabeth Hospice, served in the Governance and Audit Committees; City National Bank, Advisory Board for San Diego County region; California State University San Marcos University Council
