Pipeline Health Chief Operating Officer B. Joe Badalian has named Rick Rufino to the position of Chief Executive Officer for East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital, March 28.
In a memo to hospital employees, physicians and board members this week, Badalian described Rufino as “a results-driven executive with 20 years’ experience as a strategic leader and operations manager. He brings expertise in team management, talent development and sales leadership, among other core competencies.”
Badalian added that Rufino excels in building collaborative relationships with stakeholders to drive the execution of new initiatives. “He is an analytical leader who prioritizes the delivery of quality service to maximize patient satisfaction,” Badalian wrote.
Rufino comes to East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital from Kindred Healthcare, where he has served as Chief Executive Officer since 2019. Previously, he held Directorship positions with Kindred Healthcare in Business Development on a national and regional level, as well positions in the Hospital Division in Southern California since 2013. He also worked with Kaiser Healthcare Southern California Region and Tenet Healthcare in Fountain Valley.
Rufino has spearheaded several startups in the medical device industry and has experience in direct patient care as a respiratory therapist, which began in the year 2000.
His academic degrees include: a bachelor of science degree in healthcare administration
and a master of science degree in strategic marketing, both from Bellevue University, and an associate of science degree in respiratory therapy from California College of Health Science.