Arthur J. Ochoa, JD, Named Board Chair of Major Philanthropy Group

Arthur J. Ochoa, JD, senior vice president of Advancement and chief advancement officer for Cedars-Sinai, has been named board chair of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), the world’s largest group of healthcare fundraising professionals.

Ochoa has served on the board since 2019, most recently as vice chair. He succeeds former board chair and CommonSpirit Health executive vice president Fred Najjar for a two-year term as board chair.

“With our very capable board and management team, AHP is well positioned to lead our field through a challenging time for healthcare and healthcare philanthropy,” Ochoa said. “Many thanks to our retiring directors, and especially to our outgoing board chair, Fred Najjar, for extraordinary leadership during unprecedented times.”

Najjar said that Ochoa’s more than two decades of involvement with AHP, and his more than 30 years of leadership in philanthropic outreach, community engagement and health equity, will serve the organization well.

“Under Art’s leadership as the incoming board chair, and with the board of directors, our membership … and the terrific staff, AHP is in great hands,” Najjar said.

Ochoa began his career as a tax attorney, representing major corporations and nonprofit organizations. He transitioned to Cedars-Sinai—and to healthcare—21 years ago. At Cedars-Sinai, he has overseen all aspects of the organization’s fundraising, leading campaigns that have raised $1.8 billion to support Cedars-Sinai’s burgeoning academic research enterprise. Fundraising efforts under his guidance resulted most recently in the establishment of Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s, dedicated to the highest level of pediatric care and research.

Ochoa brings deep knowledge of civic and public interest issues in healthcare to his new board post. He has served as board chair of both the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science and Planned Parenthood Los Angeles. He has also served on the board of the Pacific Council on International Policy.

AHP President and CEO Alice Ayres said that Ochoa’s broad business, legal and philanthropic background will inform his leadership of AHP, the international authority in healthcare philanthropy, with 7,500 members who raise more than $11 billion each year for health services in communities across the U.S.

“We are excited for Art’s term as chair, working alongside our new and returning board members,” Ayres said. “This is a critical time to welcome new board leadership, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take a toll on healthcare resources and staffing.”

Read more about Guerin Children's on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: Generations Ahead