Ousted County Health Official Has a New Job
The former director of Ventura County’s Behavioral Health Department has been hired as medical director of Simi Valley Hospital’s behavioral health unit.
David Gudeman, a UCLA-trained psychiatrist and internist, began his current job July 24. He oversees the hospital’s 32-bed, acute-care psychiatric unit, which is a locked, inpatient facility for adults.
“His ability and expertise will be an asset to the hospital as a whole and to this community,” said Margaret R. Peterson, the hospital’s president and chief executive.
Gudeman, who ran the county’s $50-million, 450-employee agency for three years, was terminated in April amid accusations of low morale, a lack of cooperation with other county departments and that his department unnecessarily blocked treatment of juveniles.
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