Antelope Valley Hospital chief executive officer Les Wong announced June 15 he will be step down as CEO. The Antelope Valley Healthcare District Board of Directors and Wong mutually agreed on the decision. AVH did not elaborate on the reason. The board has named its chief operating officer, Edward Mirzabegian, as the acting CEO, pending contract negotiations. Mirzabegian has more than 20 years of health care and hospital operations experience. He began working for AVH in July 2005. During his career with the hospital, Mirzabegian spearheaded expansion plans to offer more services to patients and residents, according to AVH Marketing Manager Karen Shea. “As COO, Mr. Mirzabegian has been a strong and committed leader of the hospital’s daily operations, financial performance, improved patient satisfaction and strategic planning,” said AVH Board Chairman Dr. John Manning. Prior to joining AVH, Mirzabegian was the COO for Mercy Health System in Arkansas.
