Meet Our Leaders

With nearly 35 years of experience, Richard is a results-driven leader who has held senior management positions in diverse settings from large academic health care organizations to community hospitals. Most recently, he served as chief operating officer and site administrator at Dignity Health-owned Saint John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital, a 155-bed facility and sub-acute unit in Camarillo, CA. Before that, Richard was assistant vice president of musculoskeletal services for six years at Wentworth-Douglass Health System in Dover, NH where he led double digit growth of the service line. Earlier in his career, Richard was with University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill and UNC Healthcare serving as director of faculty clinics and assistant professor of UNC’s School of Physical Therapy. He also co-founded and owned a multi-site outpatient private practice in Connecticut, treating patients throughout the greater New England region.

Richard holds a PhD in Kinesiology from the University of Connecticut, a master’s in special education from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s of science in physical education from Central Connecticut State University. In addition, Richard completed the Harvard Business School General Management Program. He sits on several boards including Ventura County MediCal Management Care Commission, Camarillo Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

California Rehabilitation Institute’s Chief of Staff and Medical Director Dr. Christopher Boudakian provides clinical leadership and guidance to the hospital’s medical staff. He also collaborates and communicates with the management team and governing board on overall planning. Additionally, he oversees quality and effectiveness of medical care and provides medical leadership on hospital committees and policy development.

Dr. Boudakian is also program director of the spinal cord injury/disorders program supporting and developing new programming for rehabilitation services for people living with a spinal cord injury. He has a subspecialty certification in spinal cord injury medicine. 

Outside of his hospital duties, Dr. Boudakian serves on the board of the Triumph Foundation, an organization providing resources, hope and assistance to people living with paralysis. He is an author, national speaker and a member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Boudakian is board-certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.  

A graduate of UCLA with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Science. Dr. Boudakian completed his medical degree at Western University of Health Sciences. His residency training was conducted at Rusk Rehabilitation at New York University Langone Health and fellowship training in spinal cord injury medicine at Stanford University. He also has a keen interest in the care of patients with multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, spasticity and limb loss.

Dr. Michael Su is the associate medical director at California Rehabilitation Institute and director of the hospital’s stroke rehabilitation program. He is involved in the daily operations of the hospital and serves on multiple committees focused on improving patient care, program development and research at Cal Rehab. An assistant clinical professor of neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Dr. Su guides the education and training of medical students, residents and fellows, and has been honored with various teaching awards during his career.

Dr. Su earned a bachelor’s degree in neural science and psychology as well as his medical doctorate from New York University. He went on to complete a residency in neurology at UCLA and fellowships in neurocritical care and neurorehabilitation at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and UCLA respectively. He is board certified in neurology and neurocritical care. His academic interests include stroke rehabilitation and early rehabilitation of critically ill patients.  

Dr. Tim Cushing is the associate medical director of the California Rehabilitation Medical Group (CRMG) at California Rehabilitation Institute. He oversees the outpatient Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) physician practice, and is the site director of the PM&R residency training program. His primary areas of clinical interest include the rehabilitation of patients with orthopedic disorders and amputations. 

Dr. Cushing is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara where he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. He completed his medical degree at Albany Medical College in New York. His residency training was conducted at the UCLA/VA Greater Los Angeles Health System program. He is board-certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He has been with California Rehab Institute since the hospital opened in July 2016.  

Dr. Cramer is medical director of rehabilitation research at California Rehabilitation Institute and a professor of neurology at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is also co-principal investigator of the NIH StrokeNet clinical trials network where he chairs the Recovery & Rehabilitation Group.

In his California Rehabilitation Institute role, Dr. Cramer oversees the implementation of rehabilitation research, helming his lab as well as helping investigators offer patients the option to participate in cutting edge medical research.

Research in Dr. Cramer’s lab focuses on neural repair after central nervous system injury in humans, with an emphasis on stroke and recovery of movement. Treatments examined include robotic, stem cell, monoclonal antibody, brain stimulation, drug, and most recently use of telehealth methods to improve patient outcomes. A major emphasis is on translating new drugs and devices to reduce disability after stroke, and on individualizing therapy for each person’s needs.

Dr. Cramer graduated with highest honors from University of California, Berkeley, received his medical degree from University of Southern California and completed residencies in internal medicine at UCLA and neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), respectively. He also completed a fellowship in cerebrovascular disease at MGH. In addition, Dr. Cramer received a master’s degree in clinical investigation from Harvard Medical School.

Alex Jawharjian is the chief operating officer at California Rehabilitation Institute overseeing operational leadership and hospital management. Since joining Cal Rehab in 2015, he has helped build a successful culture of patient advocacy and employee satisfaction.

Prior to joining Cal Rehab, Alex held administrative roles at tertiary and long-term acute care hospitals including Ventura County Medical Center and Barlow Respiratory Hospital. He is a member of the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, the recognized accrediting agency for occupational therapy education and the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Alex earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from UCLA, a Master of Public Health from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and a Doctor of Pharmacy from USC. Most recently, Alex was awarded a Master of Business Administration from California State University, Los Angeles. He is currently an adjunct professor for the USC School of Pharmacy.

Dr. Roberts is Senior Director of Quality Outcomes and Research for California Rehabilitation Institute.  In this role, she monitors and analyzes outcome data to help improve patient outcomes.  Dr. Roberts’ professional career spans the continuum of care as a clinician, administrator, educator and researcher. Currently, she teaches at the University of Southern California (USC), and lectures at other Los Angeles area universities. She is a surveyor for the Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), and is involved with the National Quality Forum Membership Partnership for Post-Acute Care and Long-Term Care, and the All-Cause Admission and Readmission Steering Committee.

Dr. Roberts is a member of the Administrative Directors Council of the Association of Academic Physiatrists, and is a past chair of the California Hospital Association Center for Medical Rehabilitation Services. She is chair-elect of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) Stroke Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group and chair of the ACRM Program Committee.

In addition, Dr. Roberts has served as principal and co-investigator on a variety of research projects. She participates in workshops and consults on research topics including rehabilitation, informatics and health service regionally, nationally and internationally.