Dr. Sebo Amirkhanian Namagerdy, an anesthesiologist at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Downey, California, was the highest-paid employee in Los Angeles County in 2023, earning $1.26 million. This marked the fifth consecutive year he topped the county’s payroll, which includes over 100,000 employees. Namagerdy's salary is largely attributable to an extreme workload amidst a shortage of medical professionals. He reportedly worked an average of 94 hours per week in 2023, and over 101 hours per week in the preceding two years.
Namagerdy's additional employment includes part-time work at UCI-Health Fountain Valley, where he was working six 12-hour shifts monthly. Despite concerns over safety and workload limits, the L.A. County Department of Health Services claimed there were no patient safety issues.
Rancho Los Amigos has struggled with physician staffing, leading to extraordinary hours for those willing to work. A lawsuit filed against Namagerdy in 2022 by nurse Edna Yarashevich, citing inappropriate workplace behavior, adds another layer of complexity to his profile.
The county's use of the "physician registry," which allows doctors to work extra hours, contributed to Namagerdy’s high earnings. However, this practice appears to violate county policies limiting additional hours. As a result, Namagerdy’s status as a relief physician is currently under review by the county health department.