Salinas (Calif.) Valley Memorial Healthcare System's former CEO Sam Downing, 74, was found dead in his home March 22, according to a Monterey Herald report.
Mr. Downing died of an apparent suicide. A family member found him at 9:15 p.m. March 22. Mr. Downing's son wrote on Facebook his father "was suffering [from] serotonin syndrome, [which is] linked to a medication interaction," the report notes.
Mr. Downing served as CEO of Salinas Valley Memorial from 1985 to 2011. He previously served as assistant administrator at the health system, working there for 40 years in total. He also was president of the District Hospital Leadership Forum in California and an adviser to the Clinton administration.
Salinas Valley Memorial's current CEO Pete Delgado said in an email to hospital staff "[Mr.] Downing's role in making SVMH what it is today can't be overstated," the Monterey Herald reports.