28
February
2006
|
01:00 AM
America/Los_Angeles

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Physicians Elect Paul A. Silka, M.D., As New Chief of Staff

Los Angeles - Feb. 28, 2006 - The medical staff at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has elected Paul A. Silka, M.D., F.A.C.E.P., as its Chief of Staff for 2006.  Silka, associate director of the department of emergency medicine since 1998, brings strong leadership and administrative experience to the position.   

As Chief of Staff, Dr. Silka’s main focus will be to ensure that Cedars-Sinai continues to excel in providing quality medical care.   In doing so, he will oversee the 2000-person medical staff in their efforts to meet all quality and safety measures in compliance with all national and state health agencies, develop systems to further reduce medical errors, improve the efficiency of the medical staff committee structure and establish an updated and comprehensive emergency preparedness plan for the medical staff.  He will also oversee the opening and transition to the Saperstein Critical Care Tower, Cedars-Sinai’s new 150-bed critical care facility scheduled to open in late January 2006.    

“Paul Silka is an excellent choice for Chief of Staff, said Thomas C. Priselac, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.  “Since his arrival here more than 10 years ago, he has focused on advancing the health and well-being of patients, particularly in the areas of critical care and emergency medicine.”

Dr. Silka, who joined the medical staff at Cedars-Sinai in 1992, attended medical school at The University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School and did his internship and residency in Emergency Medicine at Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center.  He also completed a Healthcare Management Program at the UCLA Anderson School of Business.  

He previously held roles at Cedars-Sinai as Vice Chief of Staff, medical staff treasurer and medical staff secretary.    

An outstanding physician, Dr. Silka was named Faculty of the Year in 1994 in the Emergency Department at Cedars-Sinai, and was Visiting Faculty of the Year in 2001 in the Emergency Department of LAC/USC Medical Center.  He is board certified in Emergency Medicine, and has been an Assistant Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine at LA County-Keck/University of Southern California Medical Center since 1998.  Dr. Silka also was an Urban Search and Rescue Team Physician for the Los Angeles County Task Force from 1995 - 2002.  

Dr. Silka has published dozens of academic papers and abstracts in a wide range of Emergency Medicine topics, including reviews of emergency medical systems in Los Angeles County, the use of analgesics in trauma patients, and the use of acupuncture in the emergency room

An accomplished athlete, Dr. Silka was named an All-American Triathlete for his age group in 2003.  He lives with his wife and daughters in Pacific Palisades.