Lompoc Hospital Picks Cope as New CEO as Outgoing Popkin Announces Retirement

Lompoc Valley Medical Center CEO Steve Popkin is set to retire in September, at which time longtime hospital staff member Yvette Cope will assume the role.

Cope’s selection was announced at Thursday’s board meeting.

“The board filters every decision by asking one question: ‘What is best for the district?’” said Leslie Kelly, LVMC Board Chair. “Selecting a new CEO was no different. After considering the community, staff and our vision for Lompoc Valley Medical Center, Yvette Cope was the unanimous logical and most qualified choice for the CEO position.”

Cope, who joined LVMC staff in 2010 and began serving as the hospital’s chief operating officer/chief nursing officer in December 2022, will take over as the hospital district’s leader Sept. 4, the hospital announced.

Popkin has held the position since 2019.

LVMC Board Chair Leslie Kelly, RN, left, and Yvette Cope sign the new CEO’s hiring document after Thursday’s board meeting. Contributed by Lompoc Valley Medical Center▲

“It is an honour for me to take on the role of CEO,” said Cope. “I have seen first-hand the dedication of our incredible staff and health care professionals who are committed to providing the highest quality of care and timely access to our community.”

During her career at the hospital, Ms. Cope has also held the positions of Medical Surgical Unit Director, Intensive Care Unit Director and Emergency Department Director. She was promoted to Deputy Chief Nursing Officer in 2014 and rose to the position of Director of Nursing in January 2018 before assuming her current role as Director of Operations.

According to the hospital, Cope also led the launch of the inpatient dialysis service in the acute care hospital; launched the hospital’s structured interdisciplinary bedside rounding team; served as project leader for the acute stroke ready hospital program; led the expansion of skilled nursing beds in the comprehensive care center; and served as administrative lead for the completion of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence for Accreditation and Quality Improvement and the hospital’s designation as a Blue Distinction facility.

She is also the administrative lead for the Robotic Surgery Steering Committee, which has enabled the hospital to perform more than 700 robotic surgeries in the last two years. LVMC has been designated as the only hospital on the Central Coast to achieve Centre of Excellence status.

Cope said she is looking forward to her new role.

“I am committed to leading our exceptional team to expand and enhance our services, ensuring we achieve excellence in every area,” she said. “Together, we will deliver on our commitment to making Lompoc Valley Medical Center a model of excellence in health care.”

Lisa André covers lifestyle and local news for the Santa Ynez Valley News and Lompoc Record, editions of the Santa Maria Times.