Center for Elders’ Independence Appoints Maria Lozzano as Chief Operating Officer
Maria Lozzano, COO, CEI • Photo Credit: Center for Elders’ Independence
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OAKLAND, Calif., January 22, 2026 (BUSINESS WATCH GLOBAL) — Healthcare organization Center for Elders’ Independence, which specializes in comprehensive care for older adults, has announced the appointment of Maria Lozzano as Chief Operating Officer. Lozzano reports directly to President and Chief Executive Officer 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. Her background includes operational leadership within complex, multi-site healthcare environments.
Prior to joining CEI, Lozzano served as President of Pharmacy Services at InnovAge, where she oversaw pharmacy operations and supported enterprise pharmacy strategy across multiple states. Her previous roles at InnovAge included Corporate Chief Operating Officer and Chief Business Development & Operations Officer, with responsibilities spanning national operations, market development, mergers and acquisitions integration, and enterprise oversight. Earlier in her career, Lozzano served as Chief Operating Officer at VNA California, leading operational initiatives across home health, hospice, and palliative care services.
“I believe senior care’s future depends on leaders who are disciplined about systems and deeply committed to people. 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,” said Lozzano.
“CEI has experienced significant growth over the past few years, and we eagerly look forward to the continued expansion of our mission. 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,” said Zamora.
In her role as Chief Operating Officer, Lozzano will oversee organizational operations and work with clinical and administrative leaders to support operational effectiveness, organizational growth, and CEI’s person-centered care model.
For more information, visit www.elders.org.
Source: Center for Elders’ Independence
