Center for Elders’ Independence Appoints Maria Lozzano as Chief Operating Officer

OAKLAND, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Center for Elders’ Independence (CEI) announced the appointment of Maria Lozzano as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO). Lozzano joined CEI’s executive leadership team effective January 12, 2026, reporting directly to President and CEO Maria Zamora.

Lozzano brings more than 20 years of healthcare leadership experience across value-based care organizations, including Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), home health, hospice, pharmacy and specialty infusion services. She is recognized for her expertise in operational effectiveness, organizational growth and execution within complex, multi-site healthcare settings.

Most recently, Lozzano served as President of Pharmacy Services at InnovAge, overseeing pharmacy operations and advancing the organization’s enterprise pharmacy strategy across multiple states. She previously held executive roles at InnovAge, including Corporate COO and Chief Business Development & Operations Officer, managing national operations, market development, M&A integration and enterprise oversight.

Earlier in her career, she served as COO at VNA California, leading operational transformation across home health, hospice, and palliative care. She also held senior leadership roles within specialty and home infusion pharmacy organizations.

“I believe senior care’s future depends on leaders who are disciplined about systems and deeply committed to people,” Lozzano stated. “Having been raised by my grandparents, this work is personal to me. As COO at CEI, my approach is to be hard on problems and soft on people, building strong, accountable teams and reliable operations that support dignity, independence and trust, so older adults can live safely and purposefully in their communities.”

“CEI has experienced significant growth over the past few years, and we eagerly look forward to the continued expansion of our mission,” said Maria Zamora, MBA, President and CEO of CEI. “As we step into our 44th year of operation, now is the right time to bring a seasoned COO into our organization. I am delighted to have an operations leader of Maria’s caliber join our executive team.”

As COO, Lozzano will oversee organizational operations, collaborating with clinical and administrative leaders to enhance operational excellence, support growth and advance CEI’s commitment to person-centered care for older adults in the communities we serve.

About Center for Elders’ Independence (CEI)

Now in its 44th year in the East Bay, CEI is a comprehensive healthcare model for vulnerable older adults. CEI serves nearly 1,600 senior participants using PACE (the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), which provides medical care and integrated support services, enabling older adults with multiple health challenges to live safely in a home and their community setting for as long as possible. CEI provides PACE services at six PACE Centers in San Leandro, East Oakland, Downtown Oakland, El Sobrante, Concord, and Livermore.

CEI also provides care coordination for more than 800 residents of all ages in Alameda and Contra Costa counties through the Home and Community Based Alternatives (HCBA) waiver program. The program helps disabled persons aged 18 and over to stay living independently in their communities. For more information about Center for Elders’ Independence, visit www.elders.org or call [phone].

Contacts

Sarah Juckniess

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