Nemours children’s hospital names new CEO

Dr. Kevin B. Churchwell, MD, has been named chief executive officer of Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington. In this new executive leadership position, Churchwell will serve as a Nemours senior vice president. He will join the organization Wednesday, Dec. 1, and he will have overall responsibility for Delaware Valley patient operations.

Churchwell offers a diverse clinical and leadership background, backed by an impressive list of accomplishments. Prior to joining Nemours, he was CEO and executive director for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital, part of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn. Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt was recently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the 25 best children’s hospitals in the country and ranked 15th by Parents magazine for children’s hospitals for 2008 and 2009.

Previously, Churchwell served in several other capacities at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital, including chief of staff, medical director for the Children’s Health and Injury Prevention Program, medical director for the Pediatric Critical Care Services, and transport director.

“Kevin has experience and proven success as a children’s hospital leader,” said Dr. Roy Proujansky, MD, executive vice president of health operations and chief operating officer for Nemours. “As both a physician and hospital CEO, he has made family-centered care paramount. Kevin embodies the leadership skills that will be of greatest importance to our staff as well as our patients and families. He is an excellent choice to succeed Tom Ferry’s 31 years of extraordinary leadership and accomplishments in this role.”

A graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Vanderbilt Medical School in Nashville, Churchwell completed his pediatric residency and a clinical fellowship in anesthesia and pediatric critical care at Children’s Hospital Boston. Since 1993, Churchwell has been a clinician and faculty member at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He is a diplomat for the National Board of Medical Examiners and is board certified with the American Board of Pediatrics.

During his tenure at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital, Churchwell drove efforts to achieve Leapfrog designation, developed and recruited for the hospital board, led fundraising for a capital campaign to support hospital expansion and promoted stronger collaboration among administration, clinicians, researchers and educators. Joining Nemours from an institution that practices family-centered care, Churchwell understands the need to stay connected with the families.

As an extension of his dedication to pediatric healthcare, Churchwell is active in the greater community. While in Nashville, he developed a public high school outreach program, helped build a safe playground and was inducted into the Nashville Public Schools Hall of Fame by the Nashville Alliance for Public Education in 2009. He was named one of the top-25 minority healthcare executives by Modern Healthcare magazine and recognized as one of Nashville Business Journal’s 2008 healthcare heroes.

“My family and I are incredibly enthusiastic to be joining the Nemours family. The Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children has a rich history and is well known across the nation for its dedication to the advancement of child healthcare. For me, to be part of such a dedicated, inspiring hospital and organization is very exciting. I look forward to meeting and working with everyone as we continue to build on the great work that goes on every day at duPont Hospital for Children,” said Churchwell.

How was new CEO chosen?

The CEO selection process involved a national search and several months of interviews. An advisory committee composed of Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children senior leaders, board members, the Family Advisory Council and Nemours associates participated in this thorough process.