Ella Estrella Welcomed to Rady Children’s Hospital

July – Summit Talent Group, a leading healthcare executive search firm, is pleased to announce the successful placement of Lorena “Ella” Estrella as the new Director of the Cardiac and Thoracic Intensive Care Unit (CTICU) at Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego.

Ella brings an impressive background in nursing leadership, with 29 years of clinical experience and administrative roles in various clinical areas. Her expertise spans critical care, peri-operative nursing, intermediate care, telemetry, medical and surgical services, and women’s services. With a strong foundation in ICU, medical, surgical, and emergency room settings, as well as a solid background in renal transplant units, pre-op, post-op, and PACU services, Lorena is well-prepared to lead the CTICU at Rady Children’s Hospital.

In her most recent role as the Director of Main ICU and Neuro Trauma ICU at HCA Houston Clear Lake Medical Center, Ella oversaw a team of 117 FTEs and successfully expanded the neuro ICU capacity. She was responsible for ensuring that department and organizational objectives were met and aligned with the strategic goals and direction of the organization while also delivering quality patient care. Ella’s leadership skills, critical thinking, and patient-centered approach have consistently driven positive outcomes in the organizations she has served.

Previously, Ella served as the Nurse Manager of CVIMU at Houston Methodist Hospital, where she managed over 400 FTEs in the cardio and thoracic step-down units. She excelled in creating a culture of excellence, optimizing patient safety, and fostering customer satisfaction. Her leadership and administrative skills were further honed during her tenure at HCA North Cypress Medical Center, where she served as Interim ACNO (Associate Chief Nursing Officer) and Administrative Director. She effectively managed daily hospital operations, implemented plans for smooth operations and quality customer service, and led efforts in service excellence, quality, and safety. Ella’s earlier career spanned progressively more responsible nursing and leadership roles at Baylor Scott & White Hospital – Brenham.

Ella Estrella holds an MSN in Leadership and Management from Walden University and a BSN from Centro Escolar University in Manila, Philippines. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Healthcare Administration. She is a certified CNML and an active member of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL).

Summit Talent Group congratulates Lorena “Ella” Estrella on her appointment as the Director of CTICU at Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego. We have full confidence that her extensive experience, leadership acumen, and dedication to quality patient care will elevate the CTICU to new heights and positively impact the lives of young patients and their families.