Keck Medicine Appointed Steven Shapiro CEO
The Los Angeles health system announced a leadership overhaul that consolidated oversight of its clinical and academic divisions.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in People
On Sept. 24, 2026, Steven Shapiro was named the new chief executive of Keck Medicine of USC following the departure of Rod Hanners. The university also appointed Vassilios Papadopoulos as the interim dean of the Keck School of Medicine.
Why it matters
The university combined operational responsibility for Keck Medicine with oversight of the Keck School of Medicine to increase innovation speed. This integration aims to bridge the gap between clinical care and medical research.
Rod Hanners stepped down after a 6-year tenure as chief executive. The health system currently operates across 100 clinic locations.
The players
Steven Shapiro
He is the new chief executive of Keck Medicine and serves as the senior vice president for health affairs at USC.
Rod Hanners
He is the former chief executive of Keck Medicine who concluded his six-year tenure on Sept. 24, 2026.
Carolyn Meltzer
She is the former dean of the Keck School of Medicine of USC and will serve as president of the Radiological Society of North America.
Marty Sargeant
He serves as the chief operating officer for Keck Medicine and as the chief executive of Keck Medical Center of USC.
Vassilios Papadopoulos
He is the interim dean of the Keck School of Medicine and serves as dean of the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
The details
Steven Shapiro continues to serve as the senior vice president for health affairs at USC, a position he has held since 2021. Meanwhile, Marty Sargeant has taken on the role of chief operating officer for Keck Medicine while remaining the chief executive of the Keck Medical Center of USC.
Timeline
Steven Shapiro joined USC as senior vice president in 2021.
Rod Hanners stepped down as CEO of Keck Medicine on Sept. 24, 2026.
Market Landscape
This reorganization follows the established industry pattern of merging clinical and academic leadership to accelerate translational research. By unifying these departments, the institution moves to better compete against regional health systems in the Los Angeles and Southern California markets.
Patients across the 100 clinics should see no immediate changes to their routine care or appointment availability. The leadership transition focuses on internal operational structure rather than external service changes.
The takeaway
Consolidating health system leadership is a strategic move designed to streamline the translation of medical research into clinical practice. Stakeholders should monitor whether this alignment results in faster deployment of new treatments within the clinic network.
Further reading
For more information on organizational shifts, visit People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Los Angeles Business Journal.
