New executives chosen to oversee hospitals

After a national search, the county health department appointed two new executives to run Harbor-UCLA Medical Center near Torrance and oversee the downsizing of Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center in Willowbrook, officials said.

Miguel Ortiz-Marroquin, chief operations officer at Harbor-UCLA who also heads county clinics, becomes acting chief executive. Outgoing chief Tecla Mickoseff retires today.

Overseeing King/Drew's transition to the renamed Martin Luther King Jr.-Harbor Hospital under Harbor-UCLA management is Sharon Grigsby. Grigsby, the former executive director of the county's bioterrorism preparedness program and a top administrator at other county hospitals, will manage the so-called Metrocare merger, replacing Mickoseff. The appointments are effective Saturday.