Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) has appointed Desiree Ritter, MHA, BSN, RN, NE-BC, as Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) after a comprehensive national search. She has been serving in an interim CNO role since July 2026. Ritter will help develop initiatives to enhance and optimize patient care and nursing services; address the developing needs of the community; recruit, retain, and optimize CHLA’s world-class nursing and patient care workforce; and respond to the changing trends in healthcare, all in alignment with the organization’s mission, goals, and vision.
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Desiree Ritter, MHA, BSN, RN, NE-BC, named Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
“Desiree has been part of the CHLA team for more than 37 years and has a deep well of experience and institutional knowledge throughout the organization,” says Children’s Hospital Los Angeles President and CEO Paul S. Viviano. “Her leadership is grounded in collaboration, accountability, innovation, professional development, and an unwavering commitment to exceptional patient- and family-centered care.”
Ritter holds a Master of Health Administration from the University of La Verne and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Mount Saint Mary’s University and is a board-certified Nurse Executive. She began her career at CHLA as a clinical nurse, caring for cardiothoracic, pulmonary, renal, gastrointestinal, hematology, and step-down bone marrow transplant populations. Prior to serving as Interim CNO, Ritter served as Executive Director and Associate Chief Nursing Officer – Acute Care and Operations. When the COVID-19 pandemic started, Ritter developed and operationalized CHLA’s COVID-19 screening process for team members, patients, families, and visitors. She is a strong advocate for healthy work environments as published in the Journal of Nursing Management.
About Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is at the forefront of pediatric medicine and is the largest provider of hospital care for children in California. In the 125 years since its founding in 1901, CHLA has delivered a level of pediatric care that is among the best in the world. Ranked among the top 10 children’s hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles provides comprehensive and compassionate care to one of the largest and most diverse pediatric patient populations in the country. The hospital is ranked No. 1 in California and among the top-ranked children’s hospitals in the Pacific U.S. region for 2026-27. CHLA is also ranked No. 5 globally in Newsweek’s World’s Best Specialized Hospitals 2027 – Pediatrics. A leader in pediatric research, CHLA is among the top 10 children’s hospitals for research funding from the National Institutes of Health. The Saban Research Institute of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles supports the full continuum of research, translating scientific discoveries into life-changing treatments for patients around the globe. As a pediatric academic medical center, CHLA is also home to the Chuck Lorre Pediatric Health Education Institute, which encompasses education programs throughout the institution. The hospital’s commitment to building stronger, healthier communities is evident in CHLA’s efforts to enhance health education and literacy, introduce more people to careers in healthcare, and fight food insecurity. To learn more, follow CHLA on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and X, and visit CHLA.org.
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