DUARTE, Calif., September 9, 2009 — Experienced nurse and health-care executive Patricia "Tricia" Kassab, R.N., B.S.N., M.S., has joined City of Hope as vice president of quality and patient safety. She provides executive leadership for the Department of Quality, Risk and Regulatory Management and directs improvements aimed at providing the highest level of safety, speed and efficiency for patient care.

Additionally, Kassab is responsible for maintaining standards consistent with accreditation by The Joint Commission and other regulatory and accrediting bodies.

"We are continuously evaluating and improving the patient experience at City of Hope," said Liz Dunne, executive officer, City of Hope. "Tricia's efforts are a vital part of those ongoing efforts."

Kassab previously worked at St. Joseph Health System in Orange County, Calif., where she served as assistant vice president of clinical quality and patient safety. Prior to St. Joseph, she was manager of quality management and performance improvement at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach, Calif., and she held several positions of increasing responsibility in the Sharp HealthCare system in San Diego.

Kassab recently completed a term as president of the California Association for Healthcare Quality, and she is a California Baldrige examiner for the California Awards for Performance Excellence.