Hospice of Santa Cruz County’s leadership recently announced that Karl Segnitz has been named Chief Medical Officer. He oversees all aspects of medical practice in his new role at the organization, including the strategic direction, structure and management of the medical components of hospice care.
“We are delighted to have Dr. Segnitz join our senior leadership team,” said Michael Milward, CEO. “As a hospice physician for the last 12 years, Dr. Segnitz has brought comfort to thousands of our patients and their families. He brings to this new role his clinical expertise and a lifelong passion for enhancing the patient experience.”
Karl Segnitz
Dr. Segnitz joined Hospice of Santa Cruz County in 2008 as a hospice physician providing medical direction and support to the members of the hospice interdisciplinary clinical team. During this time, he also served as an Urgent Care physician for Palo Alto Medical Foundation — Sutter Health. He is a member of the American Association of Physician Specialists and American Academy of Family Physicians.
Growing up in Lexington, Kentucky, his father was a pediatric surgeon and mother a homemaker for Segnitz and his 13 brothers and sisters. Regular philosophical discussions with his father led to his interest in medicine. After beginning his career as a family practice physician, Segnitz moved into emergency medicine and has practiced as an emergency department physician since 1997.
“In emergency care medicine, no day is like another and teamwork is essential,” said Segnitz.
He experienced that same teamwork at Hospice of Santa Cruz County in his oversight of an interdisciplinary team of nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, chaplains and hospice aides.
“During my time with Hospice of Santa Cruz County, I’ve really come to understand that hospice is about life, it’s about living,” said Segnitz. “When someone only has a few months to live, helping them to find wellbeing, comfort and dignity is really an honor. I got into medicine to comfort people, and this is part of it.”
Dr. Segnitz is board certified in Hospice and Palliative Care, Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine. He received his medical degree from Oregon Health Sciences University and completed his residency at University of Washington in Seattle.
He is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. He has resided in Santa Cruz since 2008 with his wife, Lisa Segnitz, M.D., a physician with Palo Alto Medical Foundation, and their three children.
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For more info: www.hospicesantacruz.org
