Los Angeles area hospital management expert Keith M. Hobbs, MBA, FACHE, has been named CEO of USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, effective Jan. 4, 2016. Hobbs has been at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), holding multiple leadership positions over more than 20 years.

“Keith Hobbs’ skills and experience make him the ideal choice for the position of CEO of USC Verdugo Hills Hospital,” said Thomas E. Jackiewicz, senior vice president and CEO of USC Health. “His long tenure at Children’s Hospital demonstrates a proven track record for strengthening and supporting all aspects of hospital operations — clinical, operational and financial.”

Hobbs most recently served as vice president of ancillary services, support services and supply chain. In that role, he was responsible for the operational and financial oversight of the departments of radiology, pathology and anesthesiology critical care medicine, along with supply chain, guest services, environmental services, environment health and safety, security, parking, and all other contracted services at CHLA.

“I’m proud to join the exceptional team at USC Verdugo Hills,” Hobbs said. “I look forward to helping extend their long tradition of delivering the highest level of patient care to the people of Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge and the surrounding Foothill communities.”

Previously, Hobbs served as CHLA’s associate vice president of finance, overseeing operating and capital budgeting and turnaround initiatives. He has also been administrative director of the department of surgery and manager of decision support.

“Keith is uniquely suited to help us achieve our mission of providing personalized, high-quality health care to our community,” said Rod Hanners, chief operating officer of Keck Medicine of USC and CEO of Keck Medical Center of USC. “I know from working with him at CHLA that he is a visionary leader and an effective steward of resources, a combination that will help us continue our pursuit of excellent clinical outcomes and superb customer service.”

Before entering health care, Hobbs was a compensation representative for Walt Disney Imagineering in Glendale and a senior compensation analyst for Security Pacific Corp. in Los Angeles.

“USC Verdugo Hills Hospital is fortunate to bring Keith on board, and we look forward to working collaboratively with him,” said Robert Develle, member of the Governing Board at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital. “Our patients, our organization and our community will benefit from his guidance.”

USC Verdugo Hills Hospital is part of Keck Medicine of USC. The hospital’s services include a 24-hour emergency room staffed by USC faculty physicians; a primary stroke center; bariatric and minimally invasive surgery; OB-GYN and infant services; orthopaedic surgery; occupational, physical and speech therapy; cardiac rehabilitation; and imaging and diagnostic services including mammograms, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT scans and angiograms.

— Meg Aldrich