Meet Dr. Ramin Baschshi | CEO and President of Unlimited Possibilities

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Ramin Baschshi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Ramin, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
From a CEO perspective, many people may not know that a board of directors can make or break an organization. In the nonprofit sector, if the CEO and board do not work together to effectively resolve the current challenges, 9 out of 10 times, the nonprofit will fail. People may not realize the gravity of having a great board and how its members play a crucial role in the entire organization’s success, which can be a distinguishing factor of a successful nonprofit versus a volatile one.

From the position of the industry in general, people tend to think the amount of service being done should measure the success of your nonprofit. Every year, we feel we have to serve more families than the previous year. However, for those years when our numbers are stagnant, people will not acknowledge that our organization continues to impact and serve the same people as before. In addition, nonprofits are held under different scrutiny than other major corporations in terms of philanthropy. It has always been looked down upon when a nonprofit has too little or too many funds. It’s a double-edged sword when you’re applying for grants or asking for donations because donors are afraid that the nonprofit will shut down tomorrow or they’re not actually putting the funds towards the programs and people they serve.

These misconceptions weigh heavily on nonprofit leaders as the environment of each organization is constantly changing with the rotation of its board members, how stakeholders are affected, and being held accountable for carrying out the overall mission.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Unlimited Possibilities (UP) is an Orange County nonprofit providing disability services to over 5,000 children and families every year. Formerly known as UCP of Orange County, our organization has served as a beacon of hope for families since 1953 by providing disability services for families at every stage of life, from birth to adulthood. Today UP remains an advocate for those overcoming stereotypes, social stigma, and barriers through six comprehensive programs led by a dedicated staff of over 350 expert caregivers, specialists, and therapists.

After graduating from medical school, a recruiter contacted me about a director role at St. Mary’s Hospital in Long Beach. I met with the hospital’s CEO and executive team and was incredibly impressed by their work. Following my meeting, they offered me the position, knowing I didn’t have any experience in the position. Part of my job was to develop programs for current and incoming staff, which was so different from what I went to school for, but I loved it. I was very passionate about what I was doing, and I had many great leaders around me who showed me the ropes. While looking to bridge an opportunity with a well-known nonprofit, I stumbled upon Make-A-Wish Los Angeles and was offered the COO position after meeting with their CEO. Fast forward a decade, or so later, I was introduced to Unlimited Possibilities and was completely blown away by the mission and group of people who were dedicated to this cause. Over the course of my career, I’ve been dealt really great cards and have come to find out 20 years later that nonprofits have always been my calling.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Whether it’s my best friend or someone visiting from out of town, I always want to share my love for Southern California. The Huntington Library is a hidden gem and I just love its history and serenity. Another beautiful place to visit is Laguna Beach, which has a ton of hidden coves that many people, unless you’re a local, have never experienced before. There are also several great family-owned restaurants in Orange County that I frequent and want to share with out-of-town guests.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate this shoutout to my two long-time advocates and mentors Peter Bastion and Suzanne Chestnut. Peter was previously the CEO at Mission Hospital and took me under his wing when I said I wanted to quit medical school because it wasn’t really what I thought it would be. He told me if I wanted to help people and make a difference, having a credentialed medical degree would go a long way.

Additionally, I’ve always admired the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) CEO Kimberly Cripe. I recently had the chance to meet her in person and learned we have similar passions and backgrounds regarding how our careers started. Our meeting made me realize I have people right in my backyard whom I can learn from.

Website: https://uptheimpact.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uptheimpact/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uptheimpact/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ucpoc

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCPOC

Image Credits
Photo credit to Unlimited Possibilities (UP)