CHOC President and CEO Kimberly Chavalas Cripe was recently honored by LA Times B2B Publishing as one of the “2024 Orange County Inspirational Women.” Nine women were selected as this year’s honorees, among 175 nominations.
For more than 30 years, Cripe has passionately advanced CHOC’s mission. She has helped increase access to safe, high-quality care; expanded pediatric research and innovation; developed centers of excellence that provide highly specialized pediatric services and treatments; and launched a pediatric mental health system of care that includes inpatient, outpatient, intensive and emergency settings.
Over the last year under Cripe’s direction, CHOC has seen the addition of prominent new leadership, as well as several new facilities and programs that will continue to enhance the community for decades to come. Her passion for caring for the whole child has spurred a number of community health and wellness initiatives, including WellSpaces and Wellness on Wheels.
The healthcare landscape has underscored the importance of strong, visionary and inspirational leadership. Cripe has volunteered her time and expertise to various organizations that advance children’s health and wellbeing. She is a past chair of the Children’s Hospital Association board of trustees. She is also a member of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals board of trustees, for which she chairs the strategy committee and is chair-elect. Cripe is a member of the UC Irvine Chancellor’s CEO Roundtable and a member of the CEO Leadership Alliance of Orange County. She chairs the California Children’s Hospital Association’s Board. Her work has contributed to the successful passing of several bond measures that provided billions of dollars in funding for critical capital improvement projects.
