Huntington Health President and CEO, Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, has made the difficult decision to leave the organization to focus on her family after eight years of leading the organization.
Dr. Morgan has been an unwavering force of leadership and compassion, guiding Huntington through pivotal moments since she arrived inSeptember of 2017. She worked closely with the Huntington board of directors to identify a long-term partner to ensure Huntington’s sustainability for generations to come. The affiliation with Cedars-Sinai has provided Huntington with greater stability and resources, including a new electronic health records system, a broader outpatient footprint for key specialty services and access to the expertise, research and innovations available through a world-class health system.
Dr. Morgan’s leadership was never more important than during the COVID-19 pandemic, which presented the hospital with unprecedented health and safety challenges. Her unshakable and reassuring presence provided the foundation for Huntington to swiftly adapt and protect our workforce and secure hospital resources so we could serve our community through a dire and unpredictable period.
Dr. Morgan’s leadership was evidenced again after the devastation of the Eaton Fire, which greatly affected Huntington Health staff and patients, including Dr. Morgan, who has been displaced from her own home. Under Dr. Morgan’s leadership, Huntington became a safe haven of care and support for many in need, prioritizing vulnerable patients and mobilizing resources for staff members who were impacted by the fires.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Morgan for her tireless efforts to elevate the care we provide to our patients and for Huntington’s cherished place in our community,” said Paul Johnson, chair of the Huntington board of directors. “We wish her much success.”
Dr. Morgan will be departing before the end of the calendar year. Huntington’s board of directors will commence a search for a new president and CEO to continue building on the organization’s longtime commitment to accessible healthcare.
“We support Dr. Morgan in this decision and remain forever grateful for her contributions,” said Peter L. Slavin, MD, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Health System. “We take comfort in knowing that Dr. Morgan is taking time to be with those she holds dearest.”
As part of its non-profit mission, Huntington Health, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai, provides significant benefits to the communities it serves. Guided by findings from the triennial Community Health Needs Assessment, often this support takes the form of health education, outreach, and low or no-cost hospital care for the uninsured and those with limited means. Every year, Huntington Health submits the Annual Report and Plan for Community Benefit to the Department of Health Care Assessment and Information. In 2024, Huntington Health provided an estimated total of $144,560,000 worth of health care services and support to residents of the San Gabriel Valley and beyond.
“Every one of these community benefit dollars translates to helping real people in real need,” says Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, president and CEO, Huntington Health. “The essential services shared in this report help fill the gap in care for all of our community members, from helping children work through their fears of healthcare through clinics, to vital programs designed to support seniors and older adults, this important work is at the heart of our mission as the leading nonprofit health care facility in the San Gabriel Valley.”
Dr. Morgan continues, “And now, in 2025, as we begin the recovery process after the devastating wildfires, Huntington remains a place for safe, compassionate care, just as we always have for the past 133 years. We are a proud member of the Pasadena and Altadena community.”
Huntington Health has met a wide range of community needs, covering the costs of charity care and unreimbursed medical care for those who are uninsured; the unreimbursed costs of Medicare and Medi-Cal services; and more.
In 2024, Huntington Health provided:
1360 free flu shots.
1500 health screenings.
Discounted or free prescription medications.
Low-income patients with financial assistance through free and discounted care and government health programs for health care services.
300 people with health education classes/information about access to care, preventive services, substance use and mental well-being.
The Senior Caring Fund assistance program, which gives small grants (up to $500) for specific gap-filling needs for San Gabriel Valley residents who are mentally, physically or economically frail.
Community members with various support groups, including lung cancer, diabetes, and mind-body programs.
A six-week diabetes education program for those experiencing prediabetes or Type I or II diabetes, and their family members and/or caregivers.
Huntington also supported current and future caregivers. It provided clinical education and training programs for its internal medicine and general surgery residents – 45 medical residents participated in the training program. Additionally, over 800 student nurses were precepted by Huntington nursing staff (in partnership with universities/colleges). Another 365 health professional students were also precepted, performing their clinical hours and/or internship rotations at the hospital. Huntington also partnered with Blair High School’s Health Careers Academy program, a local Pasadena public school, giving students 100+ hours of volunteer work related to health care.
Huntington Health, a Cedars-Sinai affiliate, recently partnered with the Hospital Association of Southern California to produce a special video about Huntington’s incredible response to the Eaton Fire during a time of extreme crisis – and for many employees – personal hardship.
“Within the first three days, about 50% of our staff were affected by the evacuation orders,” said Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, president and CEO, Huntington Health. “What is special about Huntington – that people still came to work – reflects how Huntington is by and of this community.”
Alexis Rieber, MD, Valerie Szopa, communications, and Jennifer Schweitzer, food and nutrition services, were among the Huntington Health staff members personally impacted by the fires, and they graciously shared their stories.
Jennifer shared, “I went straight up the mountain, and all I can see is fire…smoke.”
“We were home eating dinner, and we looked out the window, and we saw the hillside of Eaton Canyon starting to light up,” said Dr. Rieber. “There’s not much happiness in the fact that the neighborhoods I grew up in, that I lived in for the past eight years, had burned down.”
Despite this, Dr. Rieber saw a silver lining: “One of the most beautiful things about this fire was the fact that the Huntington community completely came together,” she shared.
“I’ve never been surrounded by a stronger group of people in my life…we are all looking out for each other, helping one another,” Valerie added.
Whether deploying nurses to the Pasadena Convention Center, evacuating vulnerable community members or converting a conference room into a food/personal care pantry for employees, Huntington showed up for each other and showed its compassionate heart.
For more details about the Hospital Association of Southern California, go to: Homepage – HASC
Huntington Health, a Cedars-Sinai affiliate, announced Kevin Streeter, MBA, MS, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, will serve as the new vice president of enterprise clinical services.
In his role, Kevin will provide strategic leadership and oversight of procedural areas, including the operating room, post-anesthesia care unit and Huntington Ambulatory Surgery Center. He will also play a critical part in meeting evolving service needs, driving patient growth and supporting Huntington’s mission to provide excellent, compassionate care to the community.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Kevin to the Huntington leadership team as vice president of enterprise clinical services,” said Jinhee J. Nguyen, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, senior vice president, chief nursing officer. “Kevin is an accomplished leader who excels at aligning cross-functional teams, developing innovative solutions and fostering an environment of trust and accountability. His disciplined, results-oriented approach will enhance clinical services and help drive improved patient outcomes across our organization. He will also play a key role in advancing our quality improvement efforts to ensure we deliver high-quality, compassionate care to every patient, every time, always.”
Kevin brings to Huntington over 30 years of clinical and business leadership, particularly in high-impact procedural areas, and proven success in driving sustainable efficiency improvements, financial performance and clinical outcomes. He most recently served as system executive director of clinical operations at Providence. He also served as chief nurse executive at Sutter Health and Emanate Health.
Kevin’s academic achievements are numerous. In addition to his clinical education as a registered nurse, he holds a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University in Malibu and a Master of Science in Clinical Service Operations from Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. Kevin is also a decorated veteran who served six years on active duty in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. He was born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley and currently lives in Monrovia with his wife and children.
Huntington Health has announced that Wafaa Alrashid, MD, chief of medical staff, Huntington Hospital; Janet Braun; James G. Ellis; Pete Kutzer; Margaret Mgrublian; Dan Murray; and Peter L. Slavin, MD, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai, have been elected as new board members to Huntington Health.
“I’m pleased to welcome Dr. Alrashid, Janet, Jim, Pete, Margaret, Dan and Dr. Slavin to the board of directors,” said Paul Johnson, Chair, Board of Directors, Huntington Health. “These new board members – from philanthropists and volunteers to business leaders and public service officers – each bring their skills, experiences and unique perspectives to the board – all in the name of strengthening the health and well-being of our community. I’m grateful for their commitment to Huntington Health.”
In addition to her recent board appointment, Dr. Alrashid became chief of medical staff at Huntington Hospital in 2025. She earned her medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine in 2004. After she completed her residency at Huntington Hospital in 2007, Dr. Alrashid became chief resident, then joined the Academic Hospitalist Medical Group (now Huntington Aligned Medical Group), specializing in internal medicine. She was a hospitalist for over eight years. Since 2015, she has provided care at Huntington’s Pasadena-Congress office and has been on the faculty of Huntington’s Internal Medicine Residency Program; in 2023, she became the program’s director. Dr. Alrashid has served on several committees, including the Medical Staff Executive Committee and Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Committee, which she chaired from 2020-2022. She also serves on the board at Utah State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in biology.
Janet Braun
Janet Braun comes to Huntington with over 25 years’ experience as a corporate lawyer, including serving as chief operating officer and General Counsel for HBT Labs, Inc. and Associate General Counsel for NeXstar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Santa Fe International Corporation. Since November 2022, Janet has been a councilmember on the South Pasadena City Council and currently serves as the Mayor of South Pasadena. Janet served as chair of the City of South Pasadena Planning Commission and the Public Safety Commission. She is a past president of Women Involved in South Pasadena Political Advocacy and is an executive board member of the Women in Leadership Vital Voices, which promotes public policy issues. Janet has served on the boards of many nonprofit organizations, including the Boy Scouts of America Greater Los Angeles Council, American Youth Soccer Organization, Pasadena Ronald McDonald House and Flintridge Preparatory School.
James G. Ellis, MBA
Also joining the board is Jim Ellis. Jim and his wife, Gail, are philanthropists, who have generously supported Huntington and the community for several years. Jim served as the Dean of the University of Southern California (USC) Marshall School of Business for over a decade. Prior to being appointed Dean, he was the vice provost, globalization, for USC. In July 2021, he retired as a professor of marketing, a position he held for 25 years. Before his academic career, Jim performed many business roles spanning 27 years, including president and CEO of Porsche Design, the CEO of Port O’Call Pasadena, and the owner/partner of six other companies. Jim currently serves on the board of seven corporations, the University of New Mexico Foundation and the Rose Hills Foundation. His past board memberships include Young Presidents’ Organization, Kidspace and the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce (Chair).
Pete Kutzer, MBA
Pete Kutzer joined the Huntington Hospital board in 2024. He has been a South Pasadena resident for over 30 years, and an active community member, joining the Huntington board in 2024. Pete is the co-founder and managing partner of Edgewood Realty Partners, and is the founder and president of The Kutzer Company, both of which specialize in innovative, design-driven real estate projects. Pete received a B.A. with Honors in Economics and Distinction in General Scholarship from the University of California at Berkeley. He also earned his MBA from Harvard Business School. Pete is a founding board member of Muse/Ique and Civitas. He has held leadership positions on numerous boards and charitable organizations, including the Armory Center for the Arts, Huntington Health Physicians, the Institutional Review Board of Huntington Hospital, Young & Healthy, the Old Pasadena Management District, and the South Pasadena Preservation Foundation. He has also served as the president of the board of Education of the South Pasadena Unified School District. Pete is also an officer serving in the California State Guard.
Margaret Mgrublian
Mechanical engineering professional, philanthropist and community volunteer Margaret Mgrublian, joins Huntington’s board this year. She and her husband, David, advocate for human rights through the Mgrublian Center at Claremont McKenna College. They have also focused on organizations that are dedicated to improving health and education in the greater Pasadena area along with those that serve the Armenian community. Margaret is the former Chair of the Pasadena Community Foundation. She is on the Los Angeles Mayor’s International Advisory Council and the Southern California Regional Council of the Armenian Assembly of America, and she’s the vice president of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Armenian International Women’s Association.
Daniel Murray, MBA
Dan Murray brings his unique perspective to the board from CreatorIQ, where he has served as president since April 2018. CreatorIQ is a software platform that helps brands discover, manage, measure and scale influencer marketing campaigns. Dan leads the company’s U.S. and global expansion efforts. Previously, Dan was the chief financial officer of Dollar Shave Club and he served in senior finance roles at Machinima, NBCUniversal Media, Comcast Interactive Media, Fandango, Academy123 and Overture Services. He has served on the Flintridge Preparatory School board of trustees since 2019. He has also been involved with the Flintridge Prep Father’s Club, TreePeople, Penn State and Northwestern University alumni organizations, and the Josephinum Academy of the Sacred Heart.
Peter L. Slavin, MD, President and CEO, Cedars-Sinai
Dr. Slavin is the president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Health System. For nearly two decades, he served as president of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), where he led major growth in the hospital’s clinical care mission, research funding, scientific impact, workforce development and fundraising. During his time there, Dr. Slavin also taught internal medicine at MGH and served as a professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School. He has chaired the board of the Association of American Medical Colleges and became an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, providing an influential voice for hospitals nationally. He stepped down as MGH president in 2021 to pursue his interests in health care investment, advising and consulting. In October 2024, Dr. Slavin became the new president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai.
Every year since 1953, the Flintridge Guild has hosted a fundraising event for Huntington Health during their horse show at the Flintridge Riding Club. Formally named the “Children’s Horse Show” (riders are 18 years old or younger), this three-day event in La Canada Flintridge is the oldest children’s horse show west of the Mississippi. The event on April 24-27 marked its 103rd year and nearly 75 years of support for Huntington.
Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, President and CEO, Huntington Health
“We are incredibly grateful to Flintridge Guild for its enduring support and the vital impact it continues to have on the hospital and community,” said Lori J. Morgan, MD MBA, president and CEO, Huntington Health. “The Guild has donated $2.4 million to Huntington Hospital since the early 1950’s. Thank you to the many members, volunteers and sponsors who make this a cherished event every year.”
Over the years, the fundraiser has enabled Huntington to make critical advancements for the hospital to benefit the community. Some of the first proceeds went towards a paramedic communication system, a nuclear imaging gamma camera system for radiology, and expanding the emergency department and trauma center.
In the past few years, the guild has raised funds to employ a lung cancer nurse navigator and welcome a new K-9 security dog (aptly named “Flint”) to the team. Recently proceeds supported an OmniBed Carestation for Huntington’s Level IIIb neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The OmniBed Carestation is an incubator and radiant warmer with a pressure-diffusing mattress, creating a controlled microenvironment that protects babies from heat loss when they are not able to fully regulate their body temperature.
With the money raised at this year’s show, Huntington has pledged to purchase CritiCool technology for the NICU. CritiCool is used to provide a medical treatment called therapeutic hypothermia (i.e., whole body cooling) for newborns experiencing oxygen deprivation or reduced blood flow to the brain and other organs. Studies have shown that therapeutic hypothermia can reduce mortality and brain injury, decrease the risk of long-term complications like cerebral palsy, learning disabilities and hearing/vision problems, and can improve neurodevelopmental outcomes.
This year’s event was especially poignant because the Flintridge Guild honored and recognized local first responders who served in the Eaton Fire. Live music and libations raised spirits as participants bid for items in a special silent auction. The proceeds went to the Huntington Hospital Caregiver Wellness – Wildfire Relief fund.
Wafaa Alrashid, MD, chief of medical staff, was recently featured in the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Women of Influence: Health Care 2025 edition. Dr. Alrashid was recognized for her extraordinary health industry stewardship in the LA region. The piece detailed her remarkable career, from her residency at Huntington Hospital in 2007 to her recent appointment to chief of medical staff, where she leads more than 1,000 physicians who serve the San Gabriel Valley.
“I am honored to be recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal and to be listed among so many incredible leaders,” said Dr. Alrashid. “I am grateful for the numerous opportunities and experiences that Huntington has offered over the past decades, and I look forward to continuing my work alongside physicians, medical staff leaders and the executive team.”
The Los Angeles Business Journal chose 28 health care leaders from a pool of nominees for the 2025 edition. Each leader was honored for outstanding stewardship, leadership, ethical standards and contributions to the well-being of the LA community.
To see the full list, visit the Los Angeles Business Journal webpage.
Howard S. Kaufman, MD, MBA, regional medical director of Huntington Cancer Center, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai Cancer, and medical director of surgery services growth, has joined the Trailblazers in Cancer Executive Leadership Committee for American Cancer Society. The committee works to support the Trailblazers in Cancer Summit, which drives essential funding to boost cancer research, treatment, and advocacy.
“I am honored to be a part of the Trailblazers in Cancer Executive Leadership Committee. The team’s efforts are crucial in raising funding to ensure cancer patients have access to vital treatments across the care continuum,” said Dr. Kaufman.
Representing Huntington Cancer Center and Cedars-Sinai Cancer, Dr. Kaufman brings decades of leadership, clinical insights, and pertinent research to the committee. Additionally, he’s an advocate for patient-centered cancer care with compassionate, holistic support.
“We are incredibly grateful for Dr. Kaufman’s leadership and the contributions he’s made to our cause. His commitment and connections have helped continue push our mission forward, and his support continues to inspire and strengthen our collective efforts to drive lasting change in cancer care,” said Arianna Inferrera, senior development manager, American Cancer Society.
Dr. Kaufman is board certified in general surgery with a specialty in colorectal surgery. He earned his medical degree at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md. Dr. Kaufman then fulfilled his colorectal surgery residency at The John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, England, in 1994, and his general surgery residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Md., the following year. He completed his Research Fellowship at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1992 and his Surgery and Alimentary Tract Surgery fellowships at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1995 and 1996.
Huntington Health recently led its first multi-facility infection prevention pathogens drill with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and external emergency services and public health partners.
The exercise centered on a potential scenario involving the Lassa Virus, a viral hemorrhagic fever endemic to West Africa. The drill featured multiple partners, including the L.A. County Emergency Medical Services, Pasadena and L.A. County public health departments and Cedars-Sinai’s Special Pathogens team.
The drill tested protocols for identifying, isolating, and safely transporting a high-risk patient from the Huntington Hospital Emergency Department to Cedars-Sinai, where the Special Pathogens Treatment Center team would receive the patient.
As one of only thirteen federally funded regional special pathogens treatment centers for Ebola and other infectious diseases, Cedars-Sinai is responsible for receiving patients who need care from California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii and U.S. territories in the Pacific. The drill strengthened the complex coordination required between facilities, emergency services and public health departments across the region, helping ensure readiness for real-world infectious disease emergencies.
“These drills are important because we have a responsibility to be prepared for high-risk scenarios,” said Katie Jones-Stathatos, director of infection prevention and control for Huntington Health. “Hands-on practice builds muscle memory and helps master the protocols that protect both our patients and staff.”
The drill follows a similar exercise completed last year with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital, underscoring how teams from across the healthcare system can leverage collective knowledge and resources to advance patient care throughout the region.
Jones-Stathatos added: “The process we now have in place with Cedars-Sinai and our emergency and public health partners, for this type of exposure, ensures our community has access to safe and immediate care when they need it the most.”
As part of our mission, Huntington Health is committed to providing access to quality healthcare for the community and treating all of our patients with dignity, compassion and respect. This includes providing services without charge, or at significantly discounted prices, to eligible patients who cannot afford to pay for care as provided by our financial assistance policy. We also offer our patients a variety of options to meet their financial needs, even if they do not qualify for assistance. For questions, please call Patient Services at (866) 803-1777.
Are You Eligible?
Charity Care, without charge is available to patients receiving medically necessary services and whose income is at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (“FPL”).
Patients whose income ranges between 401%‑600% of the FPL also qualify for a Discount Payment.
Discounts available to patients will be on a sliding scale based on family size, income level and insurance status.
Eligibility for financial help is determined without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, medical condition, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or educational background.
For more details on how to apply, the application process, services covered and other assistance programs, please go to our financial assistance program page or call (866) 803-1777.
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