As president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai for three decades, Thomas M. Priselac blazed a visionary path to transformative change in healthcare. His tenure spanned the devastating 1994 Northridge earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic—and, in between, he built Cedars-Sinai into an international destination for breakthrough scientific discovery and leading-edge patient care. Priselac’s remarkable professionalism, talent and drive helped propel Cedars-Sinai to the forefront of academic medical centers worldwide, and his retirement in October 2024 occasioned an outpouring of admiration, respect and appreciation.

Tributes to Priselac included the announcement of the Thomas M. Priselac Center for Innovation Performance Improvement, established to advance his steadfast commitment to setting new standards of excellence in healthcare. The initiative will bring diverse experts together to cultivate and develop audacious and innovative ideas—tailoring meaningful AI solutions to expand the frontiers of medical research, increasing organizational efficiency and, most importantly, improving quality, safety and care for patients and families. Cedars-Sinai has also created the Thomas M. Priselac Administrative Fellowship in his honor to help foster the next generation of healthcare leaders. In addition, signage planned for the medical center’s Healing Gardens will recognize Priselac for his enduring dedication to the health system.

"I am tremendously moved to be celebrated in these ways," Priselac said. "The Thomas M. Priselac Center for Innovation Performance Improvement and the Thomas M. Priselac Administrative Fellowship will enable Cedars-Sinai to continue sustaining the highest levels of medical care for patients and families in our community."