Vice President, Perioperative Services, Office of the COO, UCSF Health

Here is what Deborah's nominator had to say about her:

Deb Ebert brings a rare mix of calm, clarity, and people-centered leadership that makes a real difference. Her ability to navigate complex challenges, build trust, and bring others along has had a powerful impact, not just on outcomes, but on the culture and teams she leads. With over two decades of experience and national recognition for her leadership, Deb continues to set the bar for what thoughtful, strategic healthcare leadership can look like.

 Nominated by The Women of UCSF Health Committee

Deborah's Bio:

Deborah Marie Ebert is an innovative healthcare executive and mentor with 20+ years of experience in leadership, strategic operations, perioperative, perianesthesia, and critical care. She has successfully led teams in complex, heavily matrixed health systems including Level 1 trauma, academic, community, and free-standing outpatient facilities, influencing strategic and operational issues for the largest revenue generating service in the health system. Deb specializes in process improvement initiatives and large-scale projects. She continues to deliver on strategic goals by implementing evidence-based practices to align quality, regulatory, and system initiatives.

Deb has worked in perioperative Vice-Presidential roles at large healthcare facilities, developing strategic goals with outstanding success. Her leadership has led to increased surgical volumes, improved on-time starts, establishment of collaborative physician and staff working relationships, and significant cost reductions. She continues to share her knowledge through multiple presentations and publications.

Deb has served on the AORN national Board of Directors, AORN Journal Board, Chapter President; she has chaired numerous ASPAN national committees and task forces. She currently facilitates the Leadership Insights column for the AORN Journal. Deb is a national speaker on Leadership, Healthcare Excellence, Perioperative Nursing, and Professionalism. She is multi-specialty certified by ANCC, AORN and ASPAN.

Deb was awarded the National Outstanding Achievement Nurse Executive Award in April at the AORN National Conference. Reflecting on her career, she attributes her success to the influence of mentors who shared their experience in leadership over the years. Her most cherished hope is to leave a legacy of exemplary health care leadership for our future.

What advice would you give yourself early on in your career? To a woman entering your field today?

Continuous learning and strategic planning are keys to success. To women entering the health care arena today, I stress there are no limits to what they can achieve.

What has been an important success in your career? Have you had a key breakthrough moment?

Building high-performing teams and the development of exemplary leaders have filled my cup. My leadership epiphany is described by author Peter Lencioni, “The most important job of a leader is to build other leaders.”

What do you like to do outside of work? 

Travel is my passion. Morocco, France, Bora Bora, and Bali are a few of my favorite destinations. My hobbies include tennis, golf, scuba, skydiving and skiing.

Do you have a favorite song? If you had to choose an anthem, what would it be? 

My power song is “Unstoppable” by Sia

Meet other outstanding women of UCSF through Our Spotlight.