PIH - Downey names chief nursing officer

DOWNEY -- Judy Pugach, RN MPH, has been named the Chief Nursing Officer at PIH Health Hospital - Downey, effective Nov. 9.

Pugach brings more than 30 years of nursing experience to the team. She joined PIH Health Hospital - Whittier in 1996 as the nurse manager of the telemetry and respiratory units.

Prior to PIH Health, she spent 20 years caring for patients – first as a staff nurse in a surgical intensive care unit (ICU), and later as the head nurse at a surgical ICU/trauma unit in New York.

She has also worked as a clinical nurse instructor teaching the next generation of nurses.

In addition to her position on PIH Health’s leadership team, Pugach has served as chair of the Hospital Association of Southern California’s Accreditation and Licensing Committee since 2010. She is a current member of the National Association for Healthcare Quality, and is certified in professional healthcare quality and professional healthcare risk management. Pugach also is a member of The Joint Commission Advisory Council representing the VHA West Coast region. 

Pugach obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Long Island University in New York and holds a Master of Public Health degree from Cal State Long Beach.