UCLA’s Johnese Spisso named one of top women leaders by Modern Healthcare magazine

Johnese Spisso

Johnese Spisso, President of UCLA Health and CEO of UCLA Hospital System, was honored by Modern Healthcare as one of 2019's Top 25 Women Leaders. The program recognizes leading female health care executives who are influencing policy and care delivery models across the country.

"This is a remarkable honor, one I am pleased to share with so many inspiring women," said Spisso, who is also associate vice chancellor of UCLA Health Sciences. "Closing the leadership gap, whether in health care or any area, is gaining momentum for women across our nation."

A nationally recognized academic health care leader with more than 30 years of experience, Spisso oversees UCLA’s four hospitals, the faculty practice group and more than 170 clinics in Southern California, as well as the UCLA Health system's regional outreach strategy. She has published numerous articles and book chapters on health care leadership.

Before joining UCLA, Spisso spent 22 years at UW Medicine in Seattle, where she was chief health system officer and vice president of medical affairs for the University of Washington.

Trained as a registered nurse, Spisso rose through the ranks at UC Davis Medical Center where she worked for 12 years and directed critical care, emergency and trauma services, and the Life Flight Air-Medical program. Before that, she began her career as a critical-care nurse at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian.

"At UCLA Health we continuously work to improve opportunities for excellent leaders, and we are encouraged by our progress," Spisso said. "I want to thank Modern Healthcare for being selected for this inspiring recognition, which is accepted with sincere gratitude."

Profiles of the winners are featured in the Feb. 18, 2019, print issue of Modern Healthcare.