Caitlin Stella, MPH is Chief Executive Officer of Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. She began her professional career as the start-up administrator of the multi-million dollar Center for Autism Research and Treatment at UCLA Health. Caitlin also co-managed a state-wide pilot study looking at the epidemiology of Autism in California, which was published in 2002. After completing her Master of Public Health (MPH) degree at UCLA, she joined PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) national healthcare consulting practice working with payer, provider and life science clients throughout the country including several children’s hospitals. She was a senior executive at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles before becoming Chief Administrative Officer for UCLA Health’s Mattel Children’s Hospital and Women’s Health Programs. She was a Board member of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles and is Past-President of the alumni association for the Fielding School of Public Health at UCLA. She is currently a Board member of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Florida and has been an executive/community leader for March of Dimes, the American Heart Association, United Way, Junior Achievement and Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She is an active member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the American Public Health Association, the Healthcare Financial Management Association and Women in Health Administration. She is the healthcare representative for the Broward Economic Council and also a member of YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization) and IWF (International Women’s Forum).

Favorite quote:

“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”
— Pablo Picasso

Fun fact: I am the second oldest of 7 children and am a trained speed reader!

How do you unwind after a long day of work? Watch reruns of The Office, Seinfeld or 30 Rock.

What challenges have you faced in your career, and how did you overcome them? I have learned to build strong and talented teams and lean on their support and expertise to help innovate and overcome challenges. I am rarely the expert in anything. My best skill is finding out who is the expert and enlisting them for their ideas and support!!

What has been the most monumental moment of your career thus far? Leading the 4-story expansion of Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and watching us bring exceptional pediatric care to more children in our community!

Who are your role models? Too many to name!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten? “Don’t look back. Only look to the future!” – my Mom

What advice would you give a young woman at the start of her career? Do what you love and the rest will follow!

How does being a woman has impacted your career? Everyone’s journey has challenges. We are imperfect and the human experience is a series of ups and downs. I am grateful for the people/mentors along the way who saw how passionate I am about the work I do and had faith in me. So many people — my family, my teachers, various leaders — gave me encouragement and opportunities which have made me who I am today.