As a tenured executive with Universal Health Services, Karla Perez currently serves as the Regional Vice President for the Western Region of Universal Health Services. In her current role, Karla provides oversight to the operations of Spring Valley, Summerlin, Desert Springs, Valley, and Centennial Hills Hospital Medical Centers in Las Vegas, Northern Nevada Medical Center in Sparks, Nevada and an additional acute care hospital currently under construction in Henderson, Nevada. Karla has multi-state experience having previously overseen hospitals in both Washington and California.
Karla has worked in the Las Vegas community for over 30 years, beginning her career in 1983 as a medical record clerk at Valley Hospital. Through the years, she assumed a wide variety of duties ranging from business development to overall hospital operations. These responsibilities have generously allowed her to advance her career with numerous promotions over the years to her previous positions as Group Vice President, CEO of Desert Springs Hospital and CEO of Spring Valley Hospital. Karla was named to the 2002 UHS Chairman’s Council, a recognition reserved for the top CEOs in the company. She repeated that recognition again in 2006 and in 2007. She was also the recipient of the Eagle Award from Universal Health Services, an award given to CEOs for achievement of excellence and commitment. Karla was recently appointed by Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, to serve on the Governor’s Council for Behavioral Health Services representing the acute care hospitals in the State of Nevada.
Karla graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee with a B.S. degree in Health Records Administration. In 1992, she was honored by the University with the “Graduate of the Decade” Award and in May, 2010, she received the Distinguished Alumni Award. In 1992, she also received her Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of St. Francis. In 2008, she was honored with the Professional Achievement Award from the University of St. Francis Alumni Association.
In addition to her healthcare provider responsibilities, she serves on Boards of Directors for the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce, Nevada Mutual Insurance Company, the Nevada Clinical Services and the Nevada State Bank Board of Directors. She was formerly on the Board of Directors for the Trauma Intervention Program (TIP), where she received the “Heroes with Heart” award in 2005, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Nevada Hospital Association and West Care and served on the Board of Directors for the American Heart Association, where she received the Crystal Heart Award.
She has also been a member of the Board of Directors for the United Way, American Red Cross and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, where she received the “Outstanding Team Player of the Year” award. She was formerly the Chairman of the Board of Directors for MASH Village, a homeless shelter, and was a member of the Board of Directors for the American Diabetes Association. She was honored by the American Diabetes Association with the “Women of Valor” Award.
Karla was also selected by In Business Las Vegas Magazine as one of Southern Nevada’s Most Influential Business Women and received the Chamber of Commerce’s “Community Achievement” Award for Medical and Health Services. She was also honored by the March of Dimes with the “Nurses Choice” Award. Karla received the Woman of Distinction Award, from the National Association of Women Business Owners in the Medical, Professional Services Category and was recently recognized as a “Healthcare Hero” for Southern Nevada.
