Betty Baker has been promoted to the newly created position of chief human resources officer at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, the largest private employer in San Luis Obispo.

For more than four years, she has served as human resources director and currently serves as the chairperson for the San Luis Obispo County Workforce Investment Board.

In her new role, Baker is responsible for the recruitment and retention of all employees as well as oversight of labor relations, human resources systems and process improvement. She also manages the employee health function and nurse recruitment.

With almost 20 years in health care and human resources, Baker came to Sierra Vista after spending three years in the same capacity at USC University Hospital and the USC Norris Cancer Center in Los Angeles. Prior to that she had left the health care industry to work wtih internet start-up companies.

Baker earned both a Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Science and a Master of Arts in Human Behavior at National University. She holds a Professional Human Resources Certificate (PHR) and is a Certified Facilitator for Development Dimensions International (DDI) as well as a certified mediator.