Spisso, who has a nursing background, is a nationally recognized leader in academic healthcare. She oversees operations at UCLA’s four hospitals and 250 clinics, a role she has held since 2016, as well as the health system’s regional outreach strategy. She continues to expand the system’s efforts to provide more access to care in Southern California, especially at the community level, logging 3.1 million outpatient visits from more than 710,000 patients in 2021. To help combat COVID-19, UCLA Health has conducted more than 150 research studies and more than 45 clinical trials. And to advance the organization’s work on equity, internally and in its communities, she led creation of the Office of Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Before joining UCLA, Spisso held several leadership roles at UW Medicine in Seattle.