Tory Starr has devoted his life to advancing community health and wellness through strategic healthcare leadership, innovation, and advocacy. Starr has spent more than 30 years building a legacy of service that reflects both professional excellence and a deep commitment to underserved populations.
Since 2020, Starr has served as president and CEO of Open Door Community Health Centers, leading one of the largest and most impactful health organizations in Humboldt and Del Norte counties. He stepped into this role just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic began and quickly guided the organization through immense challenges, ensuring continued access to critical healthcare services for thousands of rural Californians.
Before joining Open Door, Starr held executive leadership roles across California’s healthcare landscape. At Sutter Health, he served as vice president of Care Management for the Valley Area and earlier as regional care coordination executive for the Sacramento/Sierra region. He was also director of care management for Alameda Health System, where he oversaw complex care coordination services. For over two decades, he ran Starr and Associates, a healthcare consulting firm based in Arcata that helped organizations implement high-impact strategies in care transitions, population health, and program development.
With over three decades of experience in performance and quality improvement, Tory has worked in both community health and acute care environments. His professional focus centers on organizational development and change management, guiding healthcare organizations through periods of transition. He collaborates closely with organizational and medical staff leadership, as well as clinical service teams, to continuously enhance the quality and effectiveness of care delivered to the communities served by Open Door.
Tory’s nursing career spans community and home health, acute care, and academia. He is a former faculty member at Cal Poly Humboldt’s Department of Nursing, where he taught senior-level courses in healthcare policy and delivery system models.
He currently serves on the boards of the California Primary Care Association and the California Alliance of Community Health Centers for Patient Access. Nationally, he is a board member of Advocates for Community Health, a leading FQHC advocacy organization. Locally, he contributes to the community advisory boards of Cal Poly Humboldt and College of the Redwoods and serves on the board of We Are Up, a nonprofit organization developing an intergenerational community for individuals with developmental challenges.
As a student, Starr juggled a full-time nursing course load, served on the student council, and was awarded Man of the Year in 1982. His experiences at Humboldt shaped a lifelong commitment to education, equity, and service. Today, he continues to advocate for infrastructure improvements such as workforce housing, broadband access, and workforce expansion to meet regional health needs.
Starr is a transformational leader who understands the human side of medicine. His vision for accessible, community-based care and his unwavering dedication to the underserved embody the spirit of Cal Poly Humboldt and the mission of public service.
