Women Leading Change at Cedars-Sinai

As a leader in healthcare, striving for excellence in specialized care for the community in Southern California, we are proud to employ some of the brightest and most inspiring female leaders in the industry. From strategic planning for the future of our organization to working one on one with patients, we owe them a debt of gratitude and are humbled by their tireless efforts to strengthen our impact in healthcare. Get to know some of the women who have helped bring Cedars-Sinai to the forefront of research and treatment in healthcare practices.

Rekha Murthy, MD

Recognized nationally for her expertise in hospital epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance and infectious diseases, Rekha works with medical staff leaders to ensure our physicians are utilizing the latest quality and safety practices. Her main concern is the safety of our patients and, through instituting risk-management efforts, she’s kept our staff, caregivers and patients healthy and protected.

“Working with the staff and leaders at Cedars-Sinai has been a source of inspiration to me. I’m reminded of our success with making hand hygiene a routine behavior when I observe caregivers automatically disinfect their hands when entering and exiting patient rooms – much like people wearing seat belts in vehicles without prompting.

Jill Martin - Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Cedars-Sinai Medical Network

For over two decades, Jill has been overseeing physician practices within our network that covers primary care and specialty medical groups in the Greater Los Angeles area. With a background in finance and operations, she holds a role more focused on project management and business development, but she strives to make an impact on our patients and employees in any way she can.

“Although I’m not a clinical person, I find it very rewarding to see that my work can improve the experiences of patients. I also love working with my team, and it’s especially rewarding when we can help each other through the day’s challenges.”

Peggy Miles, MD

The first and only female chief of staff at Cedars-Sinai, Peggy’s responsibilities include directing Employee Health Services, supervising staff and chairing the Board of Directors committee on quality improvement, plus the staff’s code-of-conduct committee. With a passion for learning and an unwavering ambition, Peggy will continue to break down the barriers for women in the industry.

“What I really love is teaching and mentoring interns, residents, medical students and junior faculty. I also love learning something new every day and that my job gives me the opportunity to continue growing and gaining knowledge.”

Nicole Mitchell, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

Nicole Mitchell joined Cedars-Sinai in 2019 as the first Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. She is focused on creating programs that promote belonging for patients, visitors, and staff. In her time at Cedars-Sinai, Nicole has made a significant impact by establishing safe spaces for open conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion. Throughout her career, she has overcome challenges, including feelings of isolation.

"Oftentimes in my career, I've looked around the room and I'm the only one—the only woman, the only woman of color, the youngest person at the table or the only parent," she says. "As I've gotten older, I've learned to lean into those things and own each of those dimensions because they make me who I am."

Nicole Anderson, VP and Associate Dean of Research

Nicole Anderson is a seasoned research administrator focused on reducing administrative burdens for investigators, allowing them to prioritize innovation. One of her key contributions is creating career development opportunities for research administration professionals, helping them grow within the field.

"Until very recently, there was no obvious path toward this profession, so it was often hard to recruit talent," she says. "To ensure that there would be a robust pipeline of talent, I helped develop a two-year tech transfer internship program and then a two-year research administration training program."