Becker’s Healthcare -- Pediatric Leadership Podcast

In this episode, Alda Mizaku, Chief AI Officer at Children’s National Hospital, joins the podcast to discuss expanding ambient documentation across the clinical environment and how AI education serves as the foundation for successful adoption. She also shares how these technologies can improve the patient experience while helping clinicians reduce administrative burden and focus more on care.

In this episode, Matthew Wolthoff, President of Driscoll Children’s Hospital Rio Grande Valley, joins the podcast to discuss leading with patient experience in pediatric care. He shares how his team is accommodating rising demand, while advancing Driscoll Children’s mission to expand access and deliver high-quality care to more children and families.

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.

In this episode, Nathaniel Beers, CEO of Blythedale Children’s Hospital, joins the podcast to discuss caring for children with complex disabilities and the importance of meeting patients where they are. He shares how partnerships with school systems help improve quality of life, why bringing patients home is a critical goal, and how healthcare teams can support children in doing what matters most—being kids.

Dr. Amy Thompson, Chief Executive of Covenant Children's Hospital, highlights her focus on improving outpatient care, including advancements in intensive outpatient services. She discusses efforts to break the stigma surrounding mental health care, as well as initiatives to strengthen and streamline transfer care for patients.

In this episode, Dr. Lisa Howley, Director of the Fetal Cardiology Program at Children’s Minnesota, discusses the biggest challenges and innovations shaping fetal and pediatric cardiology, including disparities in prenatal detection, the growing adult congenital population, and the promise of AI and telehealth in expanding access to care.

This episode features Dr. Wayne J. Franklin, Senior Vice President of the Children’s National Heart Center, as he discusses the top challenges shaping cardiology today, including workforce shortages, the evolving role of AI, and the impact of private equity on healthcare. Dr. Franklin also shares his optimism for technology-driven innovation and the importance of humanism in modern medicine.

In this episode, Sean Lally, President and CEO of St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children, shares his career journey, the organization’s mission to care for medically complex children, and the role of Medicaid policy, technology, and parent partnerships in shaping the future of pediatric care.

In this episode, Dr. Robert Insoft, Neonatologist and Chief Operating Officer at Franciscan Children’s Campus, Boston Children’s Hospital System, shares his perspective on guiding teams through healthcare integrations, prioritizing staff engagement, and evolving as a leader to ensure high quality patient care.

In this episode, Dr. Miriam Parsa, Chief Pediatric Medical Officer at Cottage Children’s Medical Center, shares how her team is collaborating with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to expand specialty care, strengthen training, and improve access for families along California’s central coast.

In this episode, Dr. Goutham Rao, Chair of Family Medicine and Community Health at University Hospitals of Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University, shares insights on the global challenges of recruiting primary care physicians. He discusses strategies for making the work more engaging, the role of innovation and AI, and how to inspire future physicians through meaningful connections with patients.

In this episode, Dr. Douglas Graham, Chief of the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, shares progress in pediatric leukemia and sickle cell disease treatments, the impact of a 30-year partnership with Aflac, and breakthroughs in precision medicine, CAR T-cell therapy, and gene therapy that are reshaping outcomes for children and families.

In this episode, Dr. Shannon Hayes and Dr. Beverly Lee share their journey from mentor-mentee to colleagues at Texas Children’s Pediatrics, reflecting on the importance of mentorship, balancing medicine with life, and the joy of caring for children and families.

In this episode, Marc Welsh of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Dr. Jean Sumner of Mercer University School of Medicine share how their Kids Alliance for Better Care (KidsABC) program is addressing pediatric care gaps in rural Georgia. They discuss the program’s impact, including workforce development, hospital support, mental health initiatives, and the power of long-term community trust and collaboration.

This episode features Dr. Hossain Marandi, President of SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital & SVP of Pediatric Services. Here, he shares how SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital is advancing pediatric care through system integration, workforce innovation, and a new 14-story hospital designed with families and caregivers in mind. He also discusses the importance of advocacy, technology, and empathy in leading through change.

In this episode, Renee Rafferty and Sabrina Schalley of Children’s Nebraska discuss their innovative Caring Contacts program, a handwritten card initiative that has supported over 1,200 pediatric patients and achieved zero deaths by suicide. They share insights into its origins, emotional impact, and expansion across behavioral health services, along with a preview of their upcoming Behavioral Health and Wellness Center opening in 2026.

In this episode, Dr. Katherine A. Hinderer, Senior Nurse Scientist at Connecticut Children’s, shares insights into the development of the Emergency Behavioral Health Assessment Tool and its impact on pediatric mental health care. She discusses how evidence-based nursing practices are improving outcomes, reducing restraint use, and supporting frontline teams in addressing the growing mental health needs of children.

This episode features Lou Fragoso, President and CEO of Manning Family Children’s in New Orleans, as he shares how his journey to complete the Leadville Trail 100 ultramarathon has become a powerful tribute to the resilience of his patients. Lou dedicates each mile of the 100-mile race to a child treated at the hospital, using their stories of perseverance as inspiration to never give up.

This episode features Dr. K. Sarah Hoehn, Chief Medical Officer, and Christina Linboom, Program Director of Care Coordination and Social Work at La Rabida Children’s Hospital. They share how their team is addressing food insecurity through innovative pantry programs, community partnerships, and a long-term vision for accessible, healthy food for patients, families, and staff.

In this episode, Linda Matzigkeit, Chief Administrative Officer at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, shares the remarkable journey behind the planning, design, and launch of the new Arthur M. Blank Hospital. She highlights how staff and families helped shape the facility, the complex move from the old hospital, and how the state-of-the-art campus is transforming pediatric care in Georgia.

In this episode, Eric Gantwerker, MD, MMSc(MedEd), FACS, AFAMEE - Pediatric Otolaryngology, Cohen Children’s Medical Center at Northwell Health; Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, shares his insights on transforming surgical education through technology, virtual reality, and AI.

In this episode, David Biggerstaff, President and CEO of Riley Children's Health, shares insights on his journey into pediatric healthcare, his vision for the organization, and the strategies to expand access, enhance leadership, and drive innovation in children's health across Indiana.

Dan Larson, Principal/Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer at HealthBridge Children's Hospital - Orange, discusses the innovation of coordinated care models and nurse navigation in healthcare. He also explores how AI-driven risk analysis is being used to support at-home caregivers, improving overall patient care.

Bryan Carey, CEO at Benevis, and Dr. Jane Whang, DDS, Regional Director of Clinical at Benevis, discuss the adoption of new technology in dentistry and the ongoing challenge of a shortage of qualified healthcare professionals. They highlight how Medicaid benefits Americans and the role of Dental Support Organizations (DSOs) in increasing access to care. Additionally, they explore strategies for offering greater work incentives to encourage more professionals to serve in rural areas, helping to address staffing shortages.

This episode features Denise Harman, Director of Medical/Surgical/Pediatrics at Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles, WA. Denise shares strategies for overcoming challenges in rural healthcare, including staff training, pediatric care preparedness, and fostering collaboration between departments and hospital systems to improve patient outcomes and staff confidence.

In this episode, Matt Cook, CEO of the Children's Hospital Association, discusses the vital role children's hospitals play as safety nets and hubs for innovation. He highlights priorities like addressing workforce challenges, supporting Medicaid, and tackling the youth mental health crisis while navigating a shifting policy landscape.

In this episode of Becker's Healthcare Podcast, Dr. Stewart Goldman, Chair of the Department of Child Health and Senior Vice President of Research at Phoenix Children’s and the University of Arizona College of Medicine–Phoenix, discusses his extensive career in pediatric oncology and the critical role of pediatric research. He highlights groundbreaking advancements at Phoenix Children's Research Institute and shares his vision for the future of precision medicine and individualized care for children.

In this episode, Dr. Abby Meyer, Medical Director of ENT and Facial Plastic Surgery, and Chelsea Kimlinger, Audiologist at Children's Minnesota, discuss the transformative Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program. They explore advancements in technology, expanding candidacy, and the collaborative approach that helps children thrive with this life-changing intervention.

In this episode, Chris Sosa talks with Dr. James "Trey" Eubanks, President and Surgeon-in-Chief of Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis. Dr. Eubanks shares insights on the hospital’s mission-driven care, cutting-edge innovations, and community outreach efforts, as well as his vision for addressing mental health challenges and advancing pediatric healthcare for the future.

Angelo Giardino, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Utah, shares how his role is evolving, especially in addressing pediatric mental health and other pressing healthcare areas. He discusses the transformative impact of AI in alleviating the documentation workload for healthcare providers, allowing for more focus on patient care. Angelo also emphasizes the critical role Medicaid plays in supporting underserved children, serving as an essential foundation for ensuring their access to health services.

In this episode, Dr. Scott Krugman, Vice Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at LifeBridge Health, discusses the growing challenges facing pediatric inpatient units. He explores the reasons behind hospital closures, the ripple effects on communities, and the steps healthcare leaders must take to ensure children receive timely and adequate care.