Francisco Velazquez, MD

Board Chair

Francisco Velázquez, M.D., S.M., F.C.A.P. serves as Spokane County Health Officer at the Spokane Regional Health District. Dr. Velázquez is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Pathology Associates Medical Laboratories (PAML) and PAML Ventures, a healthcare solutions company with a focus in diagnostics, and one of the top ten reference laboratories in the country. Prior to his role at PAML, Dr. Velázquez was the Managing Director for the Nichols Institute, Vice President for Focus Diagnostics, and responsible for the Infectious Diseases Clinical Trials Division for Quest Diagnostics, Inc. Dr. Velázquez has held numerous clinical, academic, and executive positions in healthcare systems, academic institutions, integrated delivery systems, in addition to his leadership roles in publicly traded companies. He received his training at the Mallory Institute of Pathology in Boston, and the Boston University Medical Center. Subsequently he obtained a master’s in healthcare management and policy at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts.

In addition to being a nationally known Pathologist, Public Health Official and Physician Executive, Dr. Velázquez has significant expertise in mergers, acquisitions, financial turn-around, development of regional healthcare networks, and health system integration. He has written and lectured extensively on Health Care Economics, Consumerism in Healthcare, Life Sciences Technology, Women’s Health, Access to Care, Intergenerational Impact in Health Care, and Economic Development.

Dr. Velázquez is a member of numerous boards for professional organizations, and nonprofit organizations, and is currently advising several early-stage diagnostic companies. He is the current board chair for the Health Sciences & Services Authority of Spokane County. Prior to his role as Spokane County’s Health Officer at the Spokane Regional Health District, Dr. Velázquez served as the Interim Executive Director for the Life Science Washington Institute, a non-profit subsidiary of the Life Science Washington Organization, where he is a board member and a member of the executive committee.

City of Spokane Appointee Third Term: 10.26.22-10.26.26