Becker’s Healthcare -- Pediatric Leadership Podcast

In this episode, Janel Allen, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, Children’s Nebraska, shares how a people first promise and retention focused strategy have strengthened culture, reduced turnover, and improved patient experience. She also discusses workforce development, leadership evolution, and the role of AI in creating a more human centered healthcare environment.

In this episode, Carla P. Cangemi, MD, FAAP, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children’s, shares how the organization reimagined its palliative care program as Compassionate Care to better support children and families throughout every stage of the care journey. She discusses the multidisciplinary, holistic model, the importance of early trust-building conversations, and how family centered services improve quality of life and emotional support.

In this episode, William Sharp, PhD, Director of the Multidisciplinary Feeding Program at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, discusses the launch of the National Center for Feeding Ethics and the urgent need for standardized, compassionate care for children with feeding disorders. He shares insights on ARFID, multidisciplinary treatment approaches, and how the new initiative aims to improve access, guidance, and outcomes nationwide.

In this episode, Melissa Chase, PharmD, BCSCP, CPEL, Director of Pharmacy at Valley Children’s Healthcare, joins the podcast to discuss investing in new technologies, including robotics, to enhance pharmacy operations. She shares how these innovations support patient and staff safety, and emphasizes the critical role frontline team members play in delivering high-quality, reliable care.

In this episode, James E. Moore, President of Connecticut Children's Specialty Group and System Chief Medical Officer at Connecticut Children's, discusses boosting clinic and OR efficiency to grow volume, strengthening culture to retain workforce talent, and expanding regional centers of excellence including advanced cellular and gene therapy and fetal care to ensure long term sustainability.

In this episode, Gina Cronin, FACHE, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer at Children's National Hospital, discusses aligning leaders around a new five year strategy, redesigning roles amid major ERP and EHR transformations, and building resilient workforce capabilities and well being initiatives to support growth in world class pediatric care.

In this episode, Eric Hamon, President and CEO of Driscoll Children's Hospital, discusses how Driscoll Children's is increasing access to pediatric care through new facilities, specialist recruitment, and an innovative fleet of planes that brings care directly to children across South Texas. He shares insights on the importance of early investments in children's health and strategies to address pediatric specialist shortages.

In this episode, Jamie Wiggins, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Arkansas Children's, discusses record patient growth driven by streamlined access, a multi year expansion including the National Center for Opioid Research and Clinical Effectiveness, and a five year strategy to strengthen rural pediatric care and chronic disease management across the state.

In this episode, Anjalee Galion, MD, President of the Medical Staff and Chief Physician Wellness Officer at Rady Children’s Health of Orange County, shares how clinician led wellness initiatives, leadership development, and culture building are reducing burnout, strengthening alignment, and positioning the organization for growth amid industry uncertainty.

In this episode, Hillery Smith Shay, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer and Senior Vice President of Communications at Children's Minnesota, shares how the organization is embedding a systemwide total experience strategy, launching Epic to power a seamless digital front door, and positioning experience as a true strategic differentiator amid financial and care delivery challenges.

In this episode, Dr. Zafar Chaudry, Senior Vice President, Chief Digital Officer and Chief AI and Information Officer at Seattle Children's, shares how the organization is deploying agentic AI for clinical pathways, ambient documentation and translation tools, while strengthening cybersecurity, optimizing IT spend and expanding digital access for patients and families.

In this episode, Matt Timmons, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Manning Family Children’s, shares how the organization rebuilt its pediatric heart center through focused leadership, culture change, and physician recruitment. He also discusses 2026 priorities including campus expansion, a new NICU, growth in pediatric cancer and sickle cell care, and scaling school based health programs amid Medicaid funding uncertainty.

In this episode, Ben Goodstein, Vice President and Chief Ambulatory Officer at Dayton Children's Hospital, shares insights on the new $180 million behavioral health hospital, strategies for workforce recruitment and retention, and efforts to expand access to pediatric and primary care. He also discusses how a focus on provider engagement and integrated care supports the hospital’s growth and community impact heading into 2026.

In this episode, Dr. Michael Weiss, Vice President of Population Health at Rady Children's Health, shares how his team is shifting pediatric care from reactive treatment to proactive prevention. He discusses value-based care, advanced primary care models, and strategies to improve outcomes for children while addressing social drivers of health.

In this episode, Joseph Carr, Vice President of Supply Chain at Akron Children’s, discusses how his team is shifting supply chain decision-making back to a clinically integrated, strategic model. He shares lessons from driving standardization, freeing up clinician time for patient care, and balancing innovation, automation, and workforce well-being while supporting the mission of pediatric care.

In this episode, Meysam Kebriaei, MD, Medical Director of Neurosurgery at Children’s Minnesota, and Collin Torok, MD, Medical Director of Neurointerventional Surgery at Children’s Minnesota, discuss the launch of the region’s first dedicated pediatric neuroangiography suite. They share how multidisciplinary collaboration, long term planning, and creative partnerships made comprehensive on site neurovascular care possible for children and families.

In this episode, Dr. Tom Shanley, President and CEO of Lurie Children’s, discusses the organization’s evolution into a pediatric health system through suburban expansion, community investment, and academic research growth. He shares how Lurie Children’s is addressing access gaps, Medicaid pressures, and workforce challenges while staying anchored to its mission of improving child health and well being across Illinois.

In this episode, Giovanni Piedimonte, MD, FAAP, FCCP, Professor of Pediatrics, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology at Tulane University School of Medicine, discusses how artificial intelligence is transforming research, clinical care, and academic medicine. He also discusses the risks, ethical challenges, and workforce implications health systems must prepare for as AI adoption accelerates.

In this episode, Dr. Kelly Sandberg, Chief Medical Quality Officer and Pediatric Gastroenterologist at Dayton Children’s, and Dr. Katherine Winner, Division Chief of Psychiatry at Dayton Children’s, discuss the quality improvement initiatives driving lower mental health readmissions. They share how individualized programming, follow up calls, standardized processes, and collaboration are strengthening care across inpatient and crisis settings.

In this episode, Ryan Cameron, Chief Information and Innovation Officer at Children’s Nebraska, discusses how AI driven tools, digital therapeutics, and virtual care are expanding access, improving Medicaid navigation, and shaping the future of pediatric care across urban and rural communities.