Mission Hospital selects its new chief of staff

Dr. Christopher Nolan has been elected chief of staff of Mission Hospital Laguna Beach and Mission Viejo after being nominated by his peers and voted into office by the active medical staff. He previously served as chief of staff-elect and his term of service runs through December.

The position includes being chairman of the Medical Executive Committee and leader of the medical staff. As such, Nolan will direct policies and procedures generated by the executive committee and will be responsible for self governance of the medical staff at both the Mission Viejo and Laguna Beach campuses, according to a hospital press statement.

Nolan is a full-time plastic surgeon in solo private practice.

He has been a member of the active staff at Mission Hospital for 25 years and previously served as chief of surgery.

“Dr. Nolan has been with Mission Hospital for more than two decades and during this time he has held a number of leadership positions,” said Chief Operating Officer Markie Cowley.

“Interestingly enough, Dr. Nolan was educated by the Sisters of St. Joseph throughout his primary grades, and Loyola Marymount University, so he is well-versed in Catholic tradition, making him an astute co-minister of our hospital. He is quiet, insightful and well-respected by his colleagues as well as hospital staff. His approach and style in situations is to be inclusive, respectful and to listen to others. I look forward to working with him and know he will be a great partner and will represent Mission well in all venues.”

“I have had the great good fortune of seeing Mission Hospital grow from a small community hospital to a major medical center and I take pride in knowing that as chief of staff, I can continue to make a difference, always seeking ways to change good to better and better to best,” Nolan said.

Nolan joins three other elected officers of the medical staff, Chief of Staff-Elect Farzad Massoudi, Secretary-Treasurer Rudy Marquez, and 2009 Chief of Staff Richard Kozak.

The executive committee oversees the quality of medical care provided in the hospital, resolves issues related to medical care or its medical staff members, and works with hospital administration and the Board of Trustees to fulfill the hospital’s obligations to its patients.

Nolan is a diplomat of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons.

He is an active member of several professional organizations including the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the California Plastic Surgery Society, the American Medical Assn., the California Medical Assn., the Orange County Medical Assn. and the Orange County Society of Plastic Surgeons.

He received his doctorate of medicine in 1977 at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston and completed his residency at UCLA and the University of Florida.