Dr. Peter L. Slavin, formerly president of Massachusetts General, will lead Cedars-Sinai Medical
Center. (photo courtesy of Dr. Peter L. Slavin)

Following an extensive national search, Cedars-Sinai has named Dr. Peter L. Slavin as the next president and CEO of the medical center and president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Health System, effective Oct. 1.

Slavin, one of the nation’s premier leaders in academic medicine, succeeds Thomas M. Priselac, who is retiring after 30 years as president and CEO and 45 total years of service to Cedars-Sinai.

“We express our profound gratitude to Tom Priselac for his remarkable leadership in building CedarsSinai into an internationally recognized name in health care, and we warmly welcome Dr. Slavin to the Cedars-Sinai family,” said David Kaplan, chair of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center board of directors. “We wish Dr. Slavin every success in strengthening Cedars-Sinai’s mission to serve as a beacon of healing for our patients and community.”

Slavin served as president of Massachusetts General, one of the largest hospitals in the U.S., from 2003-21. During his tenure, he successfully led major growth in the hospital’s clinical care mission, research funding, scientific impact, workforce development and fundraising. He said his proudest moments at Massachusetts General often came from the most difficult circumstances, including the COVID-19 pandemic when physicians, nurses and other staff met the unknown with resilience and resolve. He points with equal pride to the hospital earning the highest national awards for community health and equity, particularly the American Hospital Association’s inaugural Equity of Care Award in 2014.

“I am humbled to follow in Tom Priselac’s footsteps,” Slavin said. “He has been one of my heroes as I’ve watched Cedars-Sinai’s progress over the years from 2,700 miles away. It is an incredible honor to join Cedars-Sinai and to do my part to build on the organization’s growth and success.”

Slavin also has been an influential voice for hospitals on the national level, chairing the board of the Association of American Medical Colleges and becoming an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

“With his deep experience in academic medicine, Dr. Slavin is perfectly suited to lead Cedars-Sinai’s ongoing effort to serve the Los Angeles region,” said Lawrence B. Platt, chair of the Cedars-Sinai Health System board of directors. “We truly appreciate a leader of his caliber.”

In joining Cedars-Sinai, Slavin said he is returning to his true calling – serving patients and the community.

“Dr. Slavin is the ideal individual to lead Cedars-Sinai,” Priselac said. “He is guided by conscience, heart, vision and ingenuity, and he understands the challenges of complex organizations like Cedars-Sinai. We are in excellent hands with him.”

For information, visit cedarssinai.org.