Seattle – September 30, 2026 -- Washington Permanente Medical Group (WPMG) has named Taejoon Ahn, MD, MPH, as its new CEO and executive medical director, placing him at the head of an organization that oversees more than 1,200 clinicians serving over 550,000 Kaiser Permanente members across Washington state.
Ahn succeeds interim leader Dorian Reid, who held the role since September 2025
Dr. Ahn takes over an independent, physician-owned medical group that works exclusively with Kaiser Permanente to deliver care in the region. The leadership transition closes a one-year interim period under Dorian Reid, MD.
WPMG board cites Ahn's 15-year executive track record as key to the hire
Viral Shah, MD, chair of the WPMG board of directors, said Ahn's leadership, working alongside Kaiser Permanente Washington regional president Cynthia Dold, will support the organization's continued delivery of care to members, clinicians, and communities. Ahn spent 12 years as president of John Muir Medical Group before joining WPMG, following earlier roles as vice president and medical director of urgent care services at the same organization.
New CEO points to integrated care model as a template for U.S. health systems
Ahn said he views Kaiser Permanente's integrated care and coverage structure as a model for the future of health care delivery in the United States, and framed his appointment as an opportunity to expand coordinated care access across Washington. Dold said Ahn's experience leading physician organizations will support efforts to expand access and advance care quality for the region's member base.
Ahn's credentials span clinical, governance, and legislative roles
Ahn holds a medical degree and completed a family and community medicine residency at the University of California, San Francisco, along with a master's in public health from the University of California, Berkeley. He has served on the boards of John Muir Health and Canopy Health, held positions with the California Academy of Family Physicians, and sat on the California Medical Association's Specialty Delegation and Council on Legislation. He is a certified physician executive with the American Association for Physician Leadership.