Huntington Health Names Its First Endowed Chair in Surgery

For 134 years, Huntington Hospital has trained surgeons. Now, for the first time, it has an endowed chair to lead them.

Huntington Health announced June 8 that it has created the Boswell Chair, Department of Surgery — the Pasadena medical center’s first endowed physician chair — and named Gabriel Akopian, MD, MBA, as its inaugural holder, according to a press release distributed by the health system.

The position is funded by the James G. Boswell Foundation, a Pasadena-based philanthropy that has long supported graduate medical education at the hospital. The foundation shared in the press release: “We are proud to support Huntington Health in strengthening surgical excellence for the San Gabriel Valley.”

Endowed chairs provide stable, dedicated funding for clinical research, education, and physician leadership. They are standard at academic medical centers but uncommon at community hospitals, according to Huntington officials.

“Establishing the Boswell Chair of Surgery is a transformative milestone for Huntington,” said John M. Corman, MD, president and chief clinical officer of Huntington Health, in the press release. “Endowed chairs are rare in community hospitals, and we are deeply grateful to the Boswell Foundation for making this possible. We are proud to appoint Dr. Akopian to this distinguished role as we continue to advance surgical excellence and expand access to high-quality care in our community.”

Akopian’s career arc traces through the institution he now leads surgically. He completed his general surgery residency at Huntington Hospital after earning his medical degree from Boston University. He later pursued a Minimally Invasive Surgery fellowship at USC and an MBA at UCLA Anderson School of Management. He returned to Huntington, where he currently serves as program director of the hospital’s surgery residency program, according to the press release.

A board-certified general surgeon specializing in general and colorectal surgery, Akopian brings expertise in minimally invasive treatment of colon cancer, diverticulitis, anorectal disorders, hernias, and gallbladder disease. His leadership roles at Huntington have included service as a Physician Advisor in Utilization Management, chairing the Department of Surgery in 2022, serving as Designated Institutional Official, chairing the Section of General Surgery, and serving as a member of the Credentials Committee. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Southern California Chapter of the American College of Surgeons from 2017 to 2022, the press release stated.

“Endowed chairs are critical to advancing clinical excellence and attracting and retaining top physician leaders,” said Wafaa Alrashid, MD, chief of medical staff at Huntington Hospital, in the press release. “Dr. Akopian’s appointment reflects the strength of our surgical program and our commitment to shaping the future of medicine in the San Gabriel Valley.”

The Boswell Foundation, established in 1947, is headquartered in Pasadena and supports education, health, and agricultural initiatives. The foundation has previously supported Huntington’s graduate medical education program, according to the press release, and the Huntington Medical Research Institutes lists a Boswell Fellowship among its programs.

In the new role, Akopian will lead clinical, research, and professional education programs for residents and medical staff at Huntington, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai since 2021. The more-than-500-bed hospital at 100 West California Boulevard in Pasadena is the San Gabriel Valley’s only Level II Trauma Center.

“I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me and honored to be named the inaugural Boswell Chair of Surgery,” Akopian said in the press release. “I’m especially thankful to the Boswell Foundation and Huntington Health for their commitment to advancing surgical innovation, education, and patient care. I look forward to building on this legacy and working alongside my colleagues to continue delivering exceptional care to our community.”