Expert in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease to Lead Pediatrics

Shervin Rabizadeh, MD, MBA, a nationally recognized leader in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease, has been named chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Cedars-Sinai.

Rabizadeh has served as interim chair of Pediatrics since January 2020, demonstrating exemplary institutional leadership during this time. He stabilized the department through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic while making significant faculty recruitments and enriching pediatric research activities.

Rabizadeh also serves as director of the Pediatric Gastroenterology and Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program and is an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Cedars-Sinai. He previously served as medical director of the Children’s Health Center Clinic at Cedars-Sinai.

"I am thrilled to have this opportunity to lead our Department of Pediatrics through a period of unprecedented growth that will distinguish Cedars-Sinai as an international destination for children's healthcare," Rabizadeh said. "Together with a highly talented team, we will expand and deepen our specialized clinical services, research, teaching and training that are hallmarks of children's healthcare at Cedars-Sinai."

Rabizadeh oversees one of the nation's largest and most sophisticated pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) programs of its kind, offering leading-edge therapies for children with the disorder. As chair, he will assume broad responsibilities for clinical, administrative, teaching and research activities in the Department of Pediatrics, an integral component of the newly established Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children's—an ambitious new vision for children's healthcare that will fill a critical gap in care for young patients in the Los Angeles community and beyond.

"Dr. Rabizadeh will play a pivotal role in building the future of pediatrics and children's  health at Cedars-Sinai," said Ophir Klein, MD, PhD, incoming executive director of Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children's and vice dean for Children's Services. "He is widely respected by his peers and his staff as an inspiring and wise leader, qualities that will serve him well in his new position."

Rabizadeh received his BS in biochemistry and BA in economics from UCLA, followed by his MD and MBA in health management from Tufts University School of Medicine. He completed his residency in pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University, where he served as pediatric chief resident and completed a pediatric gastroenterology fellowship.

Rabizadeh has focused his clinical and translational research on the pathogenesis and treatment of IBD, particularly elucidating the interplay of inflammation, immunity and gastrointestinal microflora. He also studies phenotypic changes caused by genetic mutations in very early onset childhood IBD patients.

"Dr. Rabizadeh is an exemplary leader whose distinction and outstanding clinical and academic talents will help propel children's healthcare at Cedars-Sinai," said Shlomo Melmed, MB, ChB, executive vice president of Academic Affairs and dean of the Medical Faculty. "We look forward to the many thoughtful innovations he will bring to our patients and community as chair of the Pediatrics Department."