SEATTLE, March 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Seattle
Children's announced that after an extensive nation-wide search,
the Board of Trustees named Dr. Jeff
Sperring the new chief executive officer, effective early
May. Sperring, who currently serves as president and CEO of Riley
Hospital for Children at Indiana
University Health, will continue to implement Seattle
Children's 2012-2016 Strategic Plan, with the goal of carrying out
the hospital's mission to prevent, treat and eliminate pediatric
disease.
Sperring has worked at Riley, one of the largest and highest
acuity children's hospitals in the U.S., since 2002. In his role as
CEO, he provided pediatric strategic and policy oversight within
the 18-hospital Indiana University
Health system and developed the framework to transform Riley from a
children's hospital to a statewide children's health system. He
also managed the completion of the 750,000 square foot,
$500 million Simon Family Tower and
implemented LEAN-based process improvement programs, among other
accomplishments. Prior to taking the role of president and CEO, he
served as Riley's chief medical officer, associate chief medical
officer and director of pediatric hospital medicine.
"We are thrilled that Dr. Sperring is assuming the role of CEO,"
said Judy Holder, Chair, Board of
Trustees. "He brings tremendous experience leading a highly ranked,
complex healthcare organization, and he exudes a clear passion and
dedication to our mission at Seattle Children's. It's also evident
that he leads from the heart and will be effective in helping
Seattle Children's reach an even higher level of achievement in
further improving the health of the communities we serve."
"I am honored to have the opportunity to lead one of the best
children's hospitals in the country," said Sperring. "Seattle
Children's already has a tremendous track record and I look forward
to carrying the torch to help bolster its ability to develop cures
for pediatric disease and provide the highest level of care to
every child in need."
Sperring obtained his bachelor of science in biology from
Emory University, his doctor of
medicine from Vanderbilt University
School of Medicine, and was a pediatric resident at the Naval
Medical Center San Diego. After residency, he served as a United
States Navy Medical Corps officer in Twentynine Palms, Calif., for three years.
Sperring will replace current CEO Dr. Thomas N. Hansen, who will retire in May after
10 years of service. During his leadership, Hansen is credited with
growing Seattle Children's Research Institute, opening a major
outpatient and ambulatory surgery center in Bellevue, and overseeing the completion of the
Building Hope expansion at the hospital, among other achievements.
Research to help improve outcomes for premature babies with lung
disease has always been a passion for Hansen. After stepping down
as CEO, Hansen plans to remain an investigator at Seattle
Children's Research Institute, focusing on the development of low
cost ventilators for premature infants born in low and middle
income countries.
Sperring will report to the hospital's Board of Trustees and
will oversee Seattle Children's Hospital, Research Institute,
Hospital and Research Foundation and Guild Association.
About Seattle Children's
Three simple words define
Seattle Children's Hospital, Foundation and Research Institute –
Hope. Care. Cure. Together, the three deliver superior patient
care, advance new discoveries and treatments through pediatric
research, and serve as the pediatric and adolescent academic
medical referral center for Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho – the largest region of any children's
hospital in the country.
Consistently ranked as one of the best children's hospitals in
the country by U.S. News & World Report, Seattle Children's
Hospital specializes in meeting the unique physical, emotional and
developmental needs of children from infancy through young
adulthood. For more than 100 years, the hospital has been dedicated
to providing top-quality care to every child in who needs it,
regardless of the family's ability to pay.
Seattle Children's Hospital and Research Foundation gathers
community support and raises funds for Seattle Children's Hospital
and Seattle Children's Research Institute.
Located in downtown Seattle's
biotech corridor, Seattle Children's Research Institute is pushing
the boundaries of medical research to find cures for pediatric
diseases and improve outcomes for children all over the world.
Internationally recognized investigators and staff at the research
institute are advancing new discoveries in cancer, genetics,
immunology, pathology, infectious disease, injury prevention and
bioethics, among others. For more information, visit
http://www.seattlechildrens.org/research.
For more information, visit seattlechildrens.org or follow us on
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SOURCE Seattle Children's