Susan Ropacki, PhD

Experience

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  Loma Linda University

  Sept 2005 - Oct 2011

  Associate Professor of Psychology

  Associate Professor of Psychology and Supervisor of Neuropsychological and Psychological Assessment Services at the Behanvioral Health Institute at Loma Linda University.

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  Palo Alto VA

  Oct 2011 - Sept 2018

  Program Director, Polytrauma Transitional Rehabilitation Program

  This Director position required oversight of a 12-bed subacute residential medical rehabilitation unit and a staff of 20 physicians, nurses and rehabilitation clinicians who provide intensive clinical services to individuals with traumatic or acquired brain injury and other major systems injury, such as limb loss or vision loss. This role also involved collaborative efforts with other executive leaders at the Department of Defense (DoD), Veterans Affairs Central Office (VACO), within the local VA system and with community stakeholders. As a member of the Polytrauma System of Care’s executive leadership team, the Program Director has extensive knowledge of national regulations and standards for best clinical practice and is thus able to maintain constant readiness for highly successful surveys and accreditation visits, most notably by the Office of Inspector General (OIG), JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations) and CARF (Committee on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities). The Director also drives the strategic planning process. Additional responsibilities of this position included developing and implementing innovative devices and strategies into the rehabilitation program in order to provide exceptional, empirically-based clinical care that yields maximum positive patient outcome. Show less

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  Stanford University School of Medicine

  Jun 2014 - Sept 2018

  Associate Clinical Professor (Affiliated), Neurosurgery
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  CARF, Committee on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facillities

  Aug 2018 - now

  Surveyor, Medical Rehabilitation

  Surveyor of medical rehabilitation programs, comprehensive inpatient medical services, as well as specialty rehabilitation programs including stroke, brain injury, and amputation.

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  Kindred Hospital Rehabilitation Services

  Sept 2018 - Oct 2021

  Program Director, Acute Rehabilitation

  Director of a 25-bed acute inpatient medical rehabilitation program for adolescents and adults with highly complex medical diagnoses including traumatic brain injury, stroke, amputation, major trauma, orthopedic injury and disabling medical conditions.

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  Palomar Health Rehabilitation Institute LLC

  Nov 2020 - Apr 2022

  Director Of Quality

  Director of Quality for a newly constructed 52-bed freestanding inpatient acute rehabilitation hospital. Responsible and accountable for the hospital-wide Continuous Quality and Performance Improvement program. Develop action plans and report outcomes to the Medical Executive Committee, Board of Managers and other committees as appropriate. Collaborate with the CEO, hospital leadership team, company Executive Directors and Medical Staff to establish priorities for performance improvement. Direct system-wide, collaborative strategic quality improvement initiatives to achieve and sustain the highest quality outcomes, superior patient satisfaction and efficient clinical care. Lead efforts to address escalated issues arising from operations and collaborate with other departments, leaders and medical staff to develop processes that improve operations and minimize risk and loss. Direct, facilitate, and report on risk management, corporate compliance, and utilization review to optimize functional effectiveness and fiscal efficiency. Act as a liaison to local health officials, coordinate inspections and accreditation reviews with federal, state and other regulatory agencies. Show less

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  UHS

  Apr 2022 - now

  Director of Research - UHS Southwest Healthcare Medical Education Consortium

  Director of Research for GME residency and fellowship program within the UHS system of acute care hospitals in the Southern California region. Responsible for the full scope of clinical research operations and compliance oversite for UHS SoCal MEC’s residency/fellowship programs. Oversee the fiscal management of research for UHS SoCal MEC’s residency and fellowship programs. Manage a clinical trials program. Operationalize and manage external research, program development and personnel administration. Collaborate with program directors, residents, fellows and with administration at the facilities where research is being conducted, with the physician practices and their specific administrators and a team of operations managers responsible for local and regional study conduct and coordination. Assist in developing and executing internal and external strategies. Show less