Pedram Salimpour

Pedram Salimpour is an Iranian-American physician, author, and business executive. He co-founded CareNex Health Services (later acquired by Anthem), Champion Health Enterprises, and Plymouth Health, which previously owned Alvarado Hospital in San Diego. He has served on various professional boards and, in 2014, became president of the Los Angeles County Medical Association.

He is also a two-time recipient of the American College of Physicians' Research Award. He delivered the commencement address to the 2008 graduating class of the University of California, Riverside,

Early life and education

Salimpour was born in Tehran, Iran, and immigrated to the United States with his family following the Iranian Revolution. He moved to Los Angeles at the age of 12, where his father later established a medical practice after working at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. and a master's degree in public health (Health Services Administration) from UCLA in 1992. He completed his residency at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. And in 2006, they co-founded Plymouth Health, which purchased Alvarado Hospital in San Diego from Tenet Healthcare. The sale occurred after Tenet agreed to resolve federal allegations involving physician kickbacks through a civil settlement that included the hospital’s divestiture and a $21 million payment. Plymouth Health acquired the hospital for approximately $36.5 million and later sold it to Prime Healthcare in 2010.thumb Dr. Pedram Salimpour (left) and brother Dr. Pejman Salimpour (right) with former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Salimpour co-founded Champion Health Enterprises (now Pierce Health Solutions), a company providing healthcare services for Native American tribes and other business entities. He served as the company's CEO and has partnered with the Morongo Band of Mission Indians since the inception of Champion Health. In addition to his clinical and entrepreneurial work, Salimpour has published articles in medical journals, co-authored a pediatric atlas, and served in academic appointments. He holds the position of adjunct professor at the Center on Human Aging at San Diego State University and is an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine.

Salimpour served as a commissioner on the Los Angeles Board of Fire and Police Pensions from 2013 to 2022. In 2021, the Los Angeles Police Protective League accused Salimpour of ethics violations in alleged lobbying for a contract to test unvaccinated city employees for COVID-19. Salimpour and the Los Angeles city personnel department denied the allegations.

Recognition

His research linking frequent bicycle riding and smoking with erectile dysfunction has been cited in various studies. He has been interviewed by media outlets such as The New York Times, the BBC, and CNN regarding this work. He served as the organization's executive vice president from 2001 to 2005.