When you hear the name Stacy Cross, you may think of a strong voice in reproductive health and women’s care. And you would be right. She is one of the most experienced leaders in today’s healthcare world, and her work is shaped by fairness, simple ideas, and a deep respect for people. She has spent more than 30 years helping communities, building programs, and guiding teams through very hard times. Even now, her leadership feels calm, steady, and full of purpose.
Stacy Cross is best known as the President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, the largest Planned Parenthood affiliate in the United States. If you think about how big that responsibility is, imagine leading 34 health centers across half of California and parts of northern Nevada. Imagine supporting patients who may have no transportation, low income, or face unfair barriers every day. This is the world where Stacy Cross works, and she shows up for these people with care and strength.
A Leader With More Than 30 Years of Experience
Stacy Cross did not become a respected healthcare leader overnight. She spent decades learning, training, and working in different parts of the health system. Her background includes sexual and reproductive health, wellness programs, pharmaceuticals, and public health management. She has built programs, managed large teams, handled budgets, and shaped public policy.
Her experience also stretches across several states. Before coming to California, she served as President and CEO of Planned Parenthood affiliates in Oregon, southwest Washington, and Montana for a combined 17 years. Before all that, she led wellness programs in a Florida hospital system. You can see a clear pattern in her life: she always chooses work that helps people stay healthy and safe.
A Mission Shaped by Personal History
One of the reasons Stacy Cross cares so deeply about reproductive rights is her own family story. Both of her grandmothers died young because they did not have access to safe preventive healthcare or reliable birth control. One of them was only 19. This painful family history shaped her life and made her believe that everyone deserves access to quality care, no matter their background or income.
This is why she works so hard to protect reproductive rights, even when these rights are under attack. She knows that real people’s lives depend on safe choices, informed options, and respectful healthcare.
Leading Planned Parenthood Mar Monte Through Big Challenges
Since 2017, Stacy Cross has guided Planned Parenthood Mar Monte through both political storms and major health challenges. Under her leadership, the organization now supports nearly 350,000 patient visits each year, with programs reaching almost 300,000 more people through education, research, and advocacy. These are huge numbers, but behind every number is a real person who needed help.
Many patients who come to PPMM live at or below the federal poverty level. That means they often struggle with things like childcare, transportation, long work hours, or expensive medical bills. Stacy Cross understands these struggles very well. She often speaks about meeting patients where they are and removing barriers instead of creating more.
Why Telehealth Became a Lifeline
One thing Stacy Cross focuses on is telehealth, especially audio-only visits. During the pandemic, many patients could not travel to clinics. Some were sick. Some had small children at home. Some had no way to get across town. Telehealth became their lifeline. Half of all patient visits during this period were done by phone, and patients loved it.
You might wonder: is phone care really effective? Stacy Cross and her team say yes. Health outcomes stayed strong, and in some cases even got better. Patients felt comfortable, safe, and heard. This is why she continues to fight for telehealth payment parity and fair rules that let people choose the type of visit that works best for them.
Telehealth, Fair Care, and the Fight for Better Policies
As telehealth grew, something else became clear to Stacy Cross: fair care is not just about providing services. It is also about changing the rules that shape healthcare. Many leaders in the field, including doctors at Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, shared stories showing why phone visits must stay. A patient with diabetes who cannot walk long distances. A mother with no childcare who needs help with anxiety. A woman recovering from pneumonia who speaks with her doctor each week to stay safe at home.
These stories show why Stacy Cross continues to speak up for policies that protect health equity. She works with lawmakers, joins public talks, and takes part in important health panels. She wants rules that match real life, not rules based on old ideas. When health officials pushed to reduce payment for audio visits, she stood firm. She knew people would suffer. She knew removing telehealth options would hurt those who already face the biggest barriers.
A Voice in the National Conversation
Today, Stacy Cross is not only a leader inside Planned Parenthood Mar Monte. She is also a strong national voice in the fight for reproductive rights, sexual and reproductive health, and public health fairness. She has served on many committees with the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and she works closely with partners across California and Nevada. Her work reaches far beyond the clinic doors.
She also speaks at major events, including MedtechFORUM: Women’s Health in 2024 & Beyond, where she helps people understand how the fall of Roe v. Wade affects the entire healthcare system. She explains how it reaches into all areas of care, from contraception to wellness to family planning. Her goal is simple: help more people understand that protecting rights is protecting health.
A Career Built on Purpose and Care
When you look at the full career of Stacy Cross, you see a leader who has grown through many roles. She has been CEO in Oregon, southwest Washington, Montana, and now California and Nevada. She has been a board member for Planned Parenthood Votes Nevada. She has worked with hospital systems, community programs, and even as an Area Director for the Yellowstone Valley Special Olympics early in her career.
But what makes her story special is not the titles. It is the way she uses simple, clear ideas to help people. She believes in dignity. She believes in access. She believes in meeting people where they are. And she believes that everyone deserves safe, respectful healthcare without fear.
Education and Skills That Support Her Mission
Her education also plays a big role in her work. She earned her MBA from the University of Montana and her Bachelor of Science in Allied Health Services from the University of North Florida. These degrees gave her powerful tools in business, health management, fiscal planning, and program development.
Her skills include health care programming, wellness education, public relations, legislative understanding, and strong personnel leadership. These skills help her guide large teams, build new programs, and stay steady even during political trouble. They also support her work in shaping fair laws and defending reproductive freedom for millions.
Why Her Work Matters Today
Stacy Cross’s leadership matters because the world of reproductive health is changing fast. Many rights and services are under attack. Many people live with low income and cannot get the care they need. Some do not have cars. Some have long work hours. Some cannot leave their children alone. And some face fear or stigma when trying to find help.
This is why the work of Stacy Cross is so important. She leads the largest Planned Parenthood affiliate in the country at a time when care must be flexible, safe, and fair. She works to reach people through clinics, mobile programs, telehealth, education, and strong public advocacy. Every part of her work is tied to justice, community, and the simple idea that healthcare is a basic right.
Final Thoughts
Stacy Cross shows us what steady and kind leadership looks like in a complicated world. She protects patients, builds programs, and speaks up for fairness even when the climate is difficult. She uses policy, education, and compassion to break down old barriers. And she helps thousands of people get the care they need every single day.
Her story reminds us that real change often comes from leaders who listen closely, care deeply, and act with purpose. And today, when so many rights are at risk, voices like hers matter more than ever.
