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Name: Sunny Bhatia
Previous title: Corporate chief medical officer and CEO of Region I, Prime Healthcare
New title: President, Prime Healthcare
Courtesy of Prime Healthcare/Business Wire
Bhatia has been named the first system-wide president of California-based hospital operator Prime Healthcare, and will oversee its 44 hospitals and more than 300 outpatient clinics across 14 states, according to a Tuesday press release.
The executive joined Prime in 2011 as chief medical officer of Sherman Oaks Hospital and Encino Hospital Medical Center, both acute-care hospitals in Los Angeles.
Bhatia still holds those roles. He’ll also remain as corporate chief medical officer and CEO of Prime’s Region 1, which includes 16 hospitals in California and Nevada.
The appointment comes weeks after Prime inked a deal with large nonprofit health system Ascension to buy up nine hospitals and other care sites in Illinois. Bhatia is leading the acquisition process, which is expected to close early next year, according to a Prime spokesperson.
Prime also recently purchased five hospitals in New Jersey and California from Medical Properties Trust, one of the biggest U.S. hospital landlords, for $350 million.
Paul Schmeltzer 
Rebecca Pifer