We launched six Empowerment Resource Groups (ERGs), enabling team members to support creating the culture in which they wish to work and thrive, aligning with organizational goals and with leadership sponsorship and support. ERGs are voluntary, staff-led groups focused on supporting individuals with shared and intersectional identities. Membership is not exclusive to a standard dimension of identity; all are welcome. These groups can play a critical role in improving work experiences and supporting staff retention and may lead to better health equity outcomes.
A strong focus on continually improving the patient and family experience resulted in Lurie Children’s being honored with an Epic MyChart 5 Diamonds Patient Experience Rating – the highest level of recognition. We have the distinction of being the first and only pediatric organization to have achieved this rating from Epic, our electronic health record vendor. We are one of only three organizations out of 582 to receive the top rating. Lurie Children’s was recognized for leveraging technology and driving digital transformation through MyChart functionalities that improve patient and family experience.
Alex Miller joined Lurie Children’s this year as Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer. Coming from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center where he served as Vice President of Finance and Treasury and Assistant Treasurer, Alex has focused his career on the strategy and financial planning and analytic functions of finance. He has championed changes in process and technology to facilitate better real estate master planning and incorporated capital, operational budgets, and financial modeling.
Cardiothoracic surgical innovator David Winlaw, MBBS, MD, FRACS, was welcomed as Division Head of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgery and Surgical Co-Executive Director of the Heart Center. Renowned for his research in the field of congenital heart disease, Dr. Winlaw has over 220 publications in peer-reviewed journals focusing on clinical outcomes and insights into the underlying causes of complex congenital heart conditions.
Juan Espinoza Salomon, MD, a thought leader in the field of informatics, the science of how to use data, information and knowledge to improve human health and the delivery of health care services, joined us as Chief Research Informatics Officer at the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute and Associate Director, Center for Biomedical Informatics and Data Science of Northwestern University. In this new role, he provides expertise and oversight of research informatics and analytics as applied to basic, translational, clinical, and population health sciences.
With over 20 years developing, directing and leading data and analytics transformation and operational initiatives that deliver high value and advancement at many healthcare industry organizations, Rajiv Kolagani was recruited for the position of Vice President of Data Analytics and Reporting. His focus is on harnessing the power of our data to achieve the best outcomes for our patients, drive innovation, manage our performance across every pillar of our mission and inform our decisions.
Robert Liem, MD, was named the Division Head of Hematology/Oncology, Neuro-Oncology & Stem Cell Transplant and assumes the title of the Meryl Suzanne Weiss Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics. He continues to direct the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program.
Reema Habiby, MD, has been named Division Head of Endocrinology. She is also the director of the Turner Syndrome Multidisciplinary Clinic and director of the Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship Program.
Larry Kociolek, MD, MSCI, was promoted to Vice President, System Preparedness, Prevention, and Response. He will continue his role as Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Control.
Mary Kate Daly was named to the role of Senior Vice President and Chief of Community Health Partnerships and Transformation. She will assume executive responsibility for the Patrick M. Magoon Institute for Healthy Communities, the hub for Lurie Children’s community health programs and initiatives.
Dana Schinasi, MD, MSHI, was named Chief Medical Informatics Officer and will continue her role as Digital Health Medical Director.