Los Angeles, California, United States, July 2025 – Shawn Kang has been appointed as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at UCLA Health, one of the nation’s top academic medical centers. In this capacity, Kang will lead enterprise-wide HR strategy, overseeing all human resources functions including talent acquisition, workforce planning, compensation, employee and labor relations, and organizational development. His role will focus on aligning people strategy with UCLA Health’s mission to deliver cutting-edge patient care, research, education, and community engagement.
Kang steps into the CHRO role after serving more than eight years at UCLA Health, most recently as Senior Director of Human Resources. In that role, he reported directly to the CHRO and drove large-scale change initiatives to improve organizational effectiveness. He led the implementation of the HR Business Partner model, guided post-integration strategy for West Valley Hospital, and oversaw the Compensation function to ensure equitable pay and strategic alignment with business needs.
Before his tenure at UCLA Health, Kang was Executive Director of Human Resources at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center, where he led workforce development, organizational restructuring, succession planning, and major change initiatives. He also served as Human Resources Director at the same institution, where he developed competitive compensation plans, enhanced HR technology, and supported leadership development and employee relations.
Earlier in his career, Kang held leadership positions at Huntington Health, including Human Resources Manager and Training and Development Specialist, where he oversaw recruitment operations, facilitated leadership and employee training, and implemented process improvements through Six Sigma methodologies. His early career emphasis on workforce optimization and leadership development set the stage for his long-term success in healthcare HR leadership.
Kang holds a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Organizational Management from Phillips Graduate University and a Master of Business Administration in Business Administration and Finance from California State University, Northridge.
About UCLA Health
UCLA Health is a globally recognized healthcare system comprising Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Medical Center Santa Monica, Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA, UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, UCLA West Valley Medical Center, and an extensive network of primary and specialty care offices. Consistently ranked among the top 10 hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, UCLA Health is a leader in patient care, medical research, and innovation, offering world-class expertise across a wide spectrum of disciplines.
Read Also : When HR “Produces Nothing”: A Response to Jennifer Sey’s Anti-HR Vision
The Fine Balance: Navigating Work, Life, and Mental Wellbeing
Mind the Leadership Gap – From Learning to Real-World Impact
How the Adecco Group is empowering its employees for the future of work