Robert A. Cherry

Dr. Cherry was named Chief Medical and Quality Officer for the UCLA Health System in January 2014. Reporting to the President of UCLA Health, the Chief Medical and Quality Officer (CMO/CQO) is responsible for system-wide quality improvement efforts, with the goal of achieving world class clinical and patient-centered outcomes that will set the standard in healthcare delivery and innovation. Dr. Cherry develops collaborative approaches to quality and value based care for populations across the continuum of care; coordinates innovative methods in the use of analytics, informatics, and advanced computational techniques that are designed to raise clinical quality, improve patient experience and provide value to the patients.

Prior to joining UCLA Health, Dr. Cherry was the Director for Clinical & Operational Effectiveness at Navigant Consulting in Chicago. In that role, he was responsible for the strategic development and operational implementation of a diverse portfolio of client-based health care initiatives, including early adoption of accountable care organization models; physician alignment strategies; and subject matter expertise in quality and safety systems. Dr. Cherry also served as the Chief Medical Officer, Vice President of Clinical Effectiveness, and Professor of Surgery for Loyola University Medical Center. He worked collaboratively with medical staff leadership to establish and achieve strategic goals for clinical quality and safety.

Dr. Cherry previously served as Associate Chief Quality Officer at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. During his eight years at Penn State, he was the Section Chief of Trauma and Critical Care and the Trauma Program Medical Director. Dr. Cherry received his medical degree from Columbia University in New York and his master’s degree in Health Care Management from the Harvard University School of Public Health. He completed his residency at North Shore University Hospital-New York University Medical School and a fellowship in Trauma and Surgical Critical Care at the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland. Dr. Cherry has a robust clinical investigator record. He also is an active member of many professional organizations, and has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles on a variety of trauma, critical care, and quality improvement topics.