Indian-American physician and scientist Dr. Ravi Thadhani, whose research has helped transform the diagnosis of pregnancy complications and life-threatening kidney disease, has been appointed to one of the highest leadership positions at Cedars-Sinai, one of America’s leading academic medical centers.From September 1, Dr. Thadhani will serve as the institution’s first executive vice president, chief medical officer and dean of the School of Medicine. The newly created role will see him oversee Cedars-Sinai’s clinical operations, academic programs and research initiatives, while leading its medical research and education ecosystem.
A career spanning the major medical institutions of the United States
Dr. Thadhani’s career has taken him through some of the most respected names in American healthcare and academia. Before returning to Cedars-Sinai, he served as Executive Vice President for Health Affairs at Emory University, where he also held leadership roles on the Board of Emory Healthcare and the Woodruff Health Sciences Center.Previously, he held senior academic and clinical leadership positions at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Mass General Brigham. He first joined Cedars-Sinai in 2017 as vice dean for Research and Education before returning to Harvard, where he served as chief academic officer and dean of faculty affairs at Mass General Brigham.Announcing the appointment, Cedars-Sinai President and CEO Dr. Peter L. Slavin described him as a leader who brings “a rare combination of academic excellence, clinical leadership and scientific innovation.”
The doctor behind a breakthrough in pregnancy care
Although Dr. Thadhani has held several leadership roles, he is perhaps best known for his work as a physician-scientist. A nephrologist specializing in kidney diseases, he has spent decades investigating preeclampsia, a serious complication of pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure that can endanger both mother and baby if not detected early.His research, conducted with scientific colleagues, led to the development of the first US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved test to predict preeclampsia, giving doctors an important tool to identify high-risk pregnancies earlier and improve patient care.Beyond preeclampsia, his research has focused on kidney disease and translational medicine, helping to bridge scientific discovery with real-world clinical practice.
More than 300 research papers and national recognition
Throughout his career, Dr. Thadhani has authored or co-authored more than 300 scientific articles, with his work published in some of the world’s most influential medical journals, including The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, and the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).His contributions have earned him some of the highest honors in medicine and science. In 2025 he was elected a member of the National Academy of Medicine, one of the highest recognitions in American health care, and earlier this year he was named a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).As he prepares to assume the newly created leadership role, Dr. Thadhani will guide one of America’s leading medical institutions as he continues to advance research, medical education and patient care, a career built on scientific discovery, innovation and clinical excellence.