Pacific College Taps Physician and Healthcare Leader Dr. Ramin Baschshi to Guide Its Next Chapter

New President Pairs 25+ Years in Medicine and Nonprofit Leadership With a People-First Approach to Preparing California’s Next Generation of Nurses

COSTA MESA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pacific College, a Southern California nursing school that has prepared healthcare professionals since 1993, today announced that its Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Ramin Baschshi as president. With her appointment, a physician who has seen healthcare from the bedside, the boardroom and the heart of the community now leads the college into a new era. For more than 25 years, Dr. Baschshi has cared for patients, led a nonprofit serving children with disabilities and their families and helped govern Westcliff University, Pacific College’s new parent institution. She arrives with an approach defined by listening, open communication, collaboration and service.

That rare breadth is what makes Dr. Baschshi the right fit for this moment. Her path includes serving as Vice President of physician and strategic operations at St. Mary Medical Center and Chief Operating Officer of Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles. As President and CEO of Unlimited Possibilities from 2018 to 2025, she ran an Orange County nonprofit serving thousands of children with developmental disabilities and their families each year, growing its finances by about 65%, doubling its service capacity and opening a state-of-the-art pediatric therapy center. Following the organization’s 2025 integration into Rady Children’s Health of Orange County, she became Vice President of Restorative Care and Community Support Services. She also knows Westcliff well from her service on its Board of Trustees and from years of partnership between the university and Unlimited Possibilities on initiatives like the annual iCan Bike Camp. As Pacific College begins its first year as part of Westcliff, few leaders are better prepared to guide the path forward.

“Pacific College’s mission of service and education immediately resonated with me because those values have guided my entire career,” said Dr. Baschshi. “What I have found here is a community of people who care deeply about one another and truly want to see each other succeed. My first priority is to listen, to get to know our faculty and staff, understand the institutional culture and learn what motivates the people who have dedicated themselves to this school.”

Dr. Baschshi takes the helm at a pivotal moment for California’s healthcare workforce. The state will need more than 61,000 additional registered nurses by 2033 to meet demand, according to the California Department of Health Care Access and Information. For 33 years, Pacific College has helped answer that call. Its experienced faculty and staff, longstanding healthcare partnerships and established alumni community position it to do even more with her leading the way.

During her first several months, Dr. Baschshi plans to deepen relationships across the school, strengthen Pacific College’s foundation and look for ways to improve the student experience through the growing partnership between Pacific College and Westcliff University. That includes drawing on Westcliff University’s well-established employer connections, career-aligned academic programs and institutional expertise in student success and educational innovation where they can make the greatest impact. Longer term, she will lead development of a broader strategic plan exploring new programs, research opportunities and ways to extend the college’s reach while remaining thoughtful about timing and capacity.

“The Pacific College Board of Trustees could not have made a better choice than Dr. Baschshi to lead the college forward,” said Dr. Anthony Lee, President and CEO of Westcliff University. “She understands healthcare as a physician, an executive, a nonprofit leader and a former Westcliff trustee, and very few people bring such a comprehensive view of what it takes to care for others. Dr. Baschshi leads with curiosity, warmth and deep respect for the people around her, and she will help Pacific College open new doors for students while staying closely connected to the needs of today’s healthcare workforce.”

As Pacific College grows within the Westcliff University family, the school will remain centered on its students, faculty, healthcare mission and 33-year legacy while drawing on broader university resources to support its goals. Dr. Baschshi’s firsthand knowledge with both institutions positions her to build upon those connections while honoring the culture and strengths that make Pacific College what it is.

About Pacific College: Pacific College is a Costa Mesa, Calif.-based college specializing in nursing and healthcare education. Founded in 1993, it prepares students for careers in patient care and health services through vocational, associate, bachelor’s and master’s level programs. The college holds institutional accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), and its baccalaureate and master’s nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). In August 2026, Pacific College became part of Westcliff University, an Irvine-based institution with more than 10,000 students from over 130 countries across nine campuses worldwide. As a member of the Westcliff family, Pacific College benefits from the university’s career-focused, technology-driven approach to education, along with its academic programs, employer relationships and institutional expertise. Westcliff is ranked on the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges list, holds a No. 2 ranking for MBA programs from the Los Angeles Times and is designated a Military Friendly institution. Learn more at www.pacific-college.edu and www.westcliff.edu.