Becker’s names Nathan Shinagawa an academic medical center COO to know
Leader oversees daily operations for one of state’s largest academic health systems
Orange, Calif. — UCI Health Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President Nathan Shinagawa has been recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of its Academic Medical Center COOs to Know.
His writeup reads:
Mr. Shinagawa is responsible for acute operations of UCI Health, the only academic health system in Orange County. In his role, he oversees operations for the 12,000-employee, $4 billion annual net revenue, five-hospital system.
Shinagawa has been instrumental in the expansion of UCI Health, including the upcoming opening of UCI Health – Irvine in December.
The UCI Health academic health system also includes UCI Health — Fountain Valley, UCI Health — Los Alamitos, UCI Health — Lakewood and UCI Health — Placentia Linda.
In summer 2026, the UCI Health Rehabilitation Hospital opens its doors. The 68,000-square-foot, two-story, 52-bed full-service facility will feature a specialized acquired brain injury unit, a dialysis suite, an imaging suite for onsite radiology, multidisciplinary therapy gymnasiums outfitted with the latest therapeutic technologies, outdoor courtyards and other spaces designed to help patients return to activities of daily living.
Shinagawa is also chair of the American College of Healthcare Executives Management series editorial board and chair of the Orange County Programs Council for the American College of Healthcare Executives of Southern California. He is also a board member for the Orange County Business Council.
He has served in hospital senior leadership roles such as chief operating officer and vice president roles at Banner Health and the Guthrie Clinic. For 10 years, Nate represented Ithaca, N.Y., as a county legislator where he championed policies to improve healthcare access and quality.
About UCI Health
UCI Health, one of California’s largest academic health systems, is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. The 1,317-bed system comprises its main campus UCI Medical Center, its flagship hospital in Orange, Calif., the UCI Health — Irvine medical campus, four hospitals and affiliated physicians of the UCI Health Community Network in Orange and Los Angeles counties and a network of ambulatory care centers across the region. UCI Medical Center provides tertiary and quaternary care and is home to the only Orange County-based National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).