The University of Miami Board of Trustees has unanimously appointed Dr. Dipen J. Parekh as the Chief Executive Officer of UHealth, the University of Miami Health System, and Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, effective immediately.
This leadership elevation recognizes Dr. Parekh’s pivotal role in transforming UHealth into one of the nation’s premier academic medical centers.
Dr. Parekh, an award-winning surgeon-scientist and healthcare innovator, has served as UHealth’s Chief Operating Officer since 2020.
Alongside University President and CEO Joseph J. Echevarria, he has been instrumental in UHealth’s remarkable turnaround, combining operational excellence with academic rigor and patient-focused care.
“Dipen has played a pivotal role each step of the way as the University of Miami Health System has grown into one of the top academic medical centers in the country,” said President Echevarria.
“He understands the mission, from the operating room to the classroom to the boardroom, and embodies the excellence we strive to deliver for our patients, students, and community.”
Stuart Miller, Chair of the UHealth Board of Directors, highlighted Dr. Parekh’s “considerable skills and credibility as a surgeon, clinical leader, and National Cancer Institute-funded scientist with more than 200 peer-reviewed publications.”
He emphasized that Dr. Parekh’s leadership will further advance UHealth’s faculty and clinical excellence, as well as its critical partnership with Jackson Health System, South Florida’s largest public hospital.
Dr. Parekh’s tenure at the University of Miami began in 2012 when he joined as Chair of the Department of Urology.
He has held key leadership positions, including Chief Clinical Officer (2017–2020), Chief Operating Officer (2020–2025), and Executive Dean for Clinical Affairs at the Miller School of Medicine.
He is also the founding director of the Desai Sethi Urology Institute and holds an endowed professorship in Urology.
A globally recognized urologic oncologist, Dr. Parekh is one of the most experienced robotic surgeons worldwide, having performed more than 6,000 robotic urologic cancer surgeries.
He led a landmark clinical trial published in The Lancet in 2018, establishing the efficacy of robotic-assisted surgery for bladder cancer, a major advancement in minimally invasive cancer treatment.
His professional affiliations include membership in the Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine of Florida (ASEMFL), the American Association of Genitourinary Surgeons, and the Clinical Society of Genitourinary Surgeons.
Becker’s Hospital Review named him among the top 60 academic health system COOs to know in 2024, recognizing his outstanding leadership in health system management.
Reflecting on his new role, Dr. Parekh expressed gratitude and enthusiasm:
“I am profoundly grateful for the trust placed in me and energized by the opportunity to advance our shared mission of delivering world-class care, pioneering research, and transformative education. I look forward to working with our exceptional faculty, staff, and our key partner, Jackson Health System, to lead us into this next chapter, one grounded in collaboration, compassion, and a bold vision for the future of academic medicine.”
Manny Kadre, Chair of the University of Miami Board of Trustees, underscored Dr. Parekh’s strategic vision:
“Dipen has excelled not only in managing day-to-day operations at UHealth, but in setting forward-looking strategy and embracing continuous improvement as our talented clinicians and faculty navigate an increasingly dynamic environment. Dr. Parekh and President Echevarria are a proven, winning combination for our health system and community, who have the board’s full support.”
With Dr. Parekh’s appointment, UHealth is poised to continue its trajectory of clinical innovation, research excellence, and community engagement, solidifying its status as South Florida’s only academic health system and a beacon of healthcare innovation and education.
