HONOREES PROFILE
Karla J. Perez - Vice President, Acute Division
Group Vice President
The Valley Health System
Karla Perez was most recently promoted from CEO and Managing Director of Spring Valley Hospital to Group Vice President of The Valley Health System as a result of her dedication and continued success in leadership during her 25 year career with Universal Health Services. In her new role, Karla will manage and oversee the operations of Spring Valley, Summerlin, Desert Springs, Valley, and Centennial Hills Hospital Medical Centers.
Karla has worked in the Las Vegas community for over 25 years, beginning her career in 1983 as a medical record clerk at Valley Hospital. Through the years, she assumed a wide variety of duties ranging from business development to overall hospital operations. These responsibilities have generously allowed her to advance her career with numerous promotions over the 25 years to her previous positions as CEO of Desert Springs Hospital and Spring Valley Hospital. In those roles, she was named to the 2002 UHS Chairman’s Council, a recognition reserved for the top CEOs in the company. She repeated that recognition again in 2006 and in 2007. She was also the recipient of the Eagle Award from Universal Health Services, an award given to CEOs who receive three Chairman's Circle Awards, an achievement of excellence and commitment.
Karla currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Nevada Hospital Association. She has also served as President of the Southern Nevada Healthcare Executive Forum, an affiliation of the American College of Healthcare Executives. In addition, she served as President of the Nevada Health Information Management Association. During that tenure, she was honored by the American Health Information Management Association, receiving the “Outstanding Young Professional” Award.
In addition to her healthcare provider responsibilities, she serves as an adjunct professor for the University of St. Francis Master Degree Program for Healthcare Services. She also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for WestCare and serves on the Board of Directors for the American Heart Association, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, where she received the “Outstanding Team Player of the Year” award in 2004, and the Trauma Intervention Program (TIP), where she received the “Heroes with Heart” award in 2005. She was formerly the Chairman of the Board of Directors for MASH Village, a homeless shelter, and was a member of the Board of Directors for the American Diabetes Association. She was honored by the American Diabetes Association with the “Women of Valor” Award in 2002. She was also selected by In Business Las Vegas Magazine as one of Southern Nevada’s Most Influential Business Women and received the Chamber of Commerce’s “Community Achievement” Award for Medical and Health Services. She was also honored by the March of Dimes in 2002 with the “Nurses Choice” Award. Karla received the 2007 Woman of Distinction Award, from the National Association of Women Business Owners in the Medical, Professional Services Category.
Karla graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a B.S. degree in Health Records Administration. In 1992, she was honored by the University with the “Graduate of the Decade” Award. In 1992, she also received her Masters Degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of St. Francis.
Karla is married to husband Julian, who is a Mortgage Banker. They have two children, Anthony and Aundrea.