Oregon Health Authority Launched Hospital Leadership Search
The state has initiated its fifth attempt to fill the permanent superintendent role at Oregon State Hospital.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
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The Oregon Health Authority has begun a fifth recruitment process to find a permanent superintendent for Oregon State Hospital. The search is being led by the agency's director, with direct involvement from Governor Tina Kotek's staff.
Why it matters
The facility has struggled with chronic staffing shortages and budget overruns alongside persistent safety complaints. Finding stable leadership is viewed as a necessary step to address these long-standing operational and safety challenges.
The institution serves more than 1,500 people annually. Interim superintendent Jim Diegel has held the post for 16 months across five total recruitment cycles.
The players
Oregon Health Authority
The state agency responsible for overseeing public health services and the management of state-run institutions.
Oregon State Hospital
The state's primary psychiatric facility providing inpatient care and forensic services to residents.
Tina Kotek
The Governor of Oregon who is overseeing efforts to reform the state's psychiatric hospital leadership.
Jim Diegel
The current interim superintendent who has served in the position for 16 months.
The details
The current search is being conducted internally by the Oregon Health Authority without the use of a third-party firm. Governor Tina Kotek is planning to propose future legislation that would transition the hospital into an independent agency.
Timeline
Dolly Matteucci resigned as permanent superintendent in March 2024.
Sara Walker resigned from the interim role in April 2025.
Jim Diegel was named interim superintendent in June 2025.
Sean Murphy was hired and fired during the summer of 2025.
Jim Diegel is scheduled to remain in his position until the end of 2025.
Market Landscape
The search follows a history of administrative turnover that has complicated the facility's ability to maintain consistent operational standards. This move is part of a broader push to stabilize state psychiatric services through potential legislative agency restructuring.
The lack of permanent leadership can impact the quality of care and administrative stability for the 1,500 patients served annually. Ongoing turnover may also influence the facility's operational efficiency and the availability of specialized services.
The takeaway
Stable leadership is critical for addressing the safety and staffing issues that have long plagued the hospital. Future legislative changes may eventually alter the oversight of the facility, changing how it serves patients in the long term.
What happens next
Jim Diegel is scheduled to remain in his interim position until the end of 2025, while the agency aims to hire a permanent replacement by early 2026.
Further reading
For updates on regional workforce trends, visit the Oregon Nursing Jobs section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Lund Report.
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