Los Angeles area health care executive Smitha Ravipudi, MPH, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of USC Care and Ambulatory Care Services.

Smitha Ravipudi

Ravipudi will be responsible for all Keck Medicine of USC ambulatory operations, including hospital-based clinics, Keck School of Medicine of USC department clinics, and outpatient joint venture partnerships and community practices. She will report to Rod Hanners, COO of Keck Medicine of USC and CEO of Keck Medical Center of USC.

Ravipudi will work closely with system leaders, her USC Care peers and the clinical chairs, led by Rohit Varma, MD, MPH, interim Dean of the Keck School of Medicine and president of USC Care, to execute the ambulatory strategy with assured physician alignment.

“Smitha’s skills and leadership qualities make her the ideal choice for COO of USC Care,” Hanners said. “This role is critical for our health system to improve operations, expand our geographic footprint in  Southern California and advance our clinical expertise in surrounding markets.”

Ravipudi comes from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), where she held multiple leadership positions, most recently as vice president of access and ambulatory operations, overseeing the outpatient clinics, community ambulatory care centers, pre-service and access operations and patient relations and service excellence.

Under her leadership, CHLA developed and launched the ambulatory electronic medical record, the patient and physician portals, its meaningful use program, while opening five regional outpatient centers and the hospital’s first appointment center. Prior to assuming the vice president role, Ravipudi served as the administrative director for the Department of Surgery at CHLA.

“I am honored to join the Keck Medicine of USC team,” Ravipudi said. “I look forward to working closely with Keck faculty and hospital leaders to achieve and sustain operational fortitude in the ambulatory space. Together, we will secure growth, while ensuring ease of access, quality, and convenience for the many patients we serve.”

— Virginia Baca