Dr. Dipen J. Parekh has been appointed as the chief executive officer of UHealth and the executive vice president for Health Affairs at the University of Miami as of June 25, 2025.
With a distinguished career in urology and healthcare innovation, Dr. Parekh has been with UHealth since 2012, contributing significantly to its growth into one of the leading academic medical centers in the United States.
Previously serving as the chief operating officer of UHealth since January 2020, Dr. Parekh has been instrumental in the organization’s turnaround in partnership with University of Miami President Joseph J. Echevarria.
His leadership during the past five years has been crucial in enhancing clinical efficiency and improving patient outcomes, making him a recognized figure within the academic health system landscape.
Dr. Parekh’s expertise doesn’t stop at administration; he is also a notable urologic oncologist and an NCI-funded scientist. He intends to utilize his skills to foster innovation in patient care and strengthen partnerships within the community, particularly with the Jackson Health System.
In 2021, while continuing to serve as COO, he was named executive dean for Clinical Affairs at the Miller School of Medicine, where he worked on harmonizing the academic and clinical missions of the University of Miami.
His earlier roles include serving as the chair of the department of urology and as an endowed professor of urology at UHealth. Dr. Parekh is the founding director of the Desai Sethi Urology Institute, which has garnered attention for its groundbreaking work in robotic-assisted surgery.
He is one of the most experienced practitioners in robotic urologic cancer surgeries, having performed over 6,000 such operations, and has contributed significantly to advancing surgical techniques and patient care standards in urology.
In addition to his clinical achievements, Dr. Parekh’s research includes leading a pivotal trial published in The Lancet in 2018, which demonstrated the efficacy of robotic-assisted surgery for bladder cancer.
He holds membership in several esteemed organizations, including the Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine of Florida and the American Association of Genitourinary Surgeons, emphasizing his standing in the medical community.
Dr. Parekh is committed to continuing patient care despite his elevated role, demonstrating his dedication to both leadership and hands-on healthcare.
“I am laser-focused on ensuring UHealth becomes a leader in developing and deploying emerging and effective treatments to improve wellbeing in Miami and beyond,” Dr. Parekh stated.
He expressed his intentions to uphold the highest standards of care, innovation, and education in the healthcare field.
“I am driven by curiosity, and as an institution, our goal is to set the highest standards in terms of everything that we do, whether it is taking care of our patients, or innovating or educating our next generation of workforce,” he remarked.
Dr. Parekh is eager to work closely with UHealth’s exceptional faculty and staff, as well as key partners, to navigate the future of academic medicine.
Under his visionary leadership, Dr. Parekh emphasizes a collaborative and compassionate approach, forging ahead into a new chapter in the evolution of UHealth.
His accomplishments have not gone unnoticed; in 2024, Becker’s Hospital Review recognized him as one of the top 60 academic health system COOs.
Following his transition into his new role, Dr. Parekh will continue to shape the healthcare landscape in South Florida.
For more insights into Dr. Parekh’s vision and a broader discussion on leadership in healthcare, readers can check out the full interview by journalist Abraham Galvan in this week’s print or digital edition of Miami Today, available exclusively to subscribers.
The upcoming edition will contribute to next year’s Book of Leaders, a compilation highlighting influential figures in Greater Miami’s development, making this profile a valuable addition for those interested in regional advancements.
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