Harbor-UCLA COO Judith Millsap discusses care, leadership and expansion on podcast

Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Chief Operating Officer Judith Millsap appeared on the hospital’s “Called to Care” podcast to discuss operations, patient-centered service and the campus expansion underway in Torrance, California. The interview comes as the hospital marks its 80th anniversary and looks to shape the next phase of care delivery.

Why it matters: - Harbor-UCLA Medical Center is expanding while it tries to keep services responsive to county residents. - Millsap framed the work as both a facilities challenge and a patient-care issue, with staffing, technology and building design all affecting outcomes. - The hospital’s 80th anniversary adds urgency to the question of how Harbor-UCLA serves the next generation of patients.

What happened: - Judith J. Millsap, chief operating officer at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, appeared on the hospital’s official podcast, “Called to Care,” hosted by John Flynn. - The episode focused on healthcare leadership, operations and the hospital’s future patient-care strategy. - Millsap discussed her role overseeing facility management, environmental safety, security, radiology and rehabilitation. - The interview also covered Harbor-UCLA’s upcoming campus expansion and the hospital’s broader service philosophy.

The details: - Millsap said her job centers on supporting the teams working outside the immediate clinical spotlight. - Her priority is making sure the physical infrastructure and work environments are ready for medical staff to do their jobs. - Harbor-UCLA is rolling out new healthcare facilities. - Millsap said the expansion requires staffing models that fit the new spaces and technology that is integrated into those spaces from the start. - She pointed to large-scale administrative experience from her time in the systemwide office of the California State University system, where she supported 23 campuses. - Millsap said managing large organizations requires advocacy, clear accountability and operational change when gaps appear. - She said every employee at the medical center, including staff in the paint shop or IT department, affects the patient experience. - Millsap linked that service mindset to her upbringing in Los Angeles, where her parents were active in community service. - She said her mother, an elementary school special education teacher and administrator, individualized learning for students. - She said her father organized community support efforts locally and internationally. - Millsap described early career work managing operations for a global medical organization that deployed doctors and nurses to regions with severe medical shortages. - She said she briefly considered a career in entertainment before deciding her professional goals were focused on helping people. - As Harbor-UCLA marks its 80th anniversary, Millsap said she sees the milestone as a starting point for the next eight decades of service. - She said the hospital should raise community awareness of its resources and move toward more proactive care through health education and well-being. - Millsap tells new employees during orientation to recognize the value of their expertise and the chance to build a lasting healthcare legacy. - She said a successful day means meeting professional duties and returning home fully present for her husband and children. - More information about Judith J. Millsap is available here. - The podcast episode is available on YouTube.

Between the lines: - The interview positions operations as a core part of patient care, not just back-office administration. - Millsap’s comments suggest Harbor-UCLA is treating expansion as an organizational redesign, not just a construction project. - Her focus on proactive care points to a broader effort to shift community perception from episodic treatment to long-term health management.

What's next: - Harbor-UCLA’s expansion is expected to continue as the hospital aligns staffing, technology and facility planning. - Millsap said the hospital will need to keep building community awareness as it moves into its next chapter. - The leadership team, including CEO Andrea Turner, CNO Jason Black and CMO Griselda Gutierrez, will continue guiding the hospital’s long-term strategy.