Wesley Medical Center marketing chief leaving for job in California

After nearly six years with Wesley Medical Center, Paul Petitte is leaving for California.

Petitte, Wesley’s vice president for marketing and public relations, said he will leave in June to be marketing director for Dignity Health, a nonprofit hospital system in California.

Petitte will oversee marketing at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard and St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo, Calif.

“For me it’s an opportunity to move my career into the next gear and see if the success we’ve had here at Wesley Medical Center can translate to a system out there,” Petitte said.

Petitte is originally from Chicago, but grew up in San Diego. He graduated from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa in 1985.

“For me, it’s an opportunity to get back for the first time in 30-plus years, an area that’s absolutely gorgeous, hone skills and enjoy. I still have friends and family out there, so it’s really a homecoming,” he said.

Prior to joining Wesley, Petitte was in broadcasting for more than 20 years, reporting from Tulsa, Virginia Beach, Orlando and South Bend, Ind.

He was an anchor and reporter for Channel 3 KSN in Wichita from 2004 to 2007, when he joined Wesley in his current position.

“Hugh Tappan (Wesley CEO) has truly trusted someone with very little health care marketing experience,” Petitte said. “He took a chance on me, and I’ll forever be grateful to him. He brought on somebody who’s a communicator first and marketer second. I was able to bring the knowledge I had from media and learn the trade of marketing, and it’s been a great ride.”

Petitte said he hopes to help in the transition for his replacement. The job has been posted on Hospital Corporation of America’s website.

This story was originally published April 23, 2013 at 3:13 PM with the headline "Wesley Medical Center marketing chief leaving for job in California."