New York hospital association selects next CEO, and more | MED MOVES

Thomas J. Quatroche Jr. has been named the next president and chief executive officer of The Healthcare Association of New York State.

Quatroche currently serves as CEO of the Erie County Medical Center Corporation, a role he has held for more than 10 years. He succeeds Bea Grause, who has led the association for a decade. Grause announced her plans to retire last year.

Quatroche will join the association in June.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to step into this role, and to do so at such a pivotal time for all of HANYS’ members and the communities they serve,” Quatroche said in a statement. “As president and CEO, I will be committed to maintaining HANYS’ reputation as a strong advocate for our member healthcare providers and the millions of patients they serve every day.”

Quatroche has served on the association’s board of trustees since 2016 and held the position of board chairman in 2020.

Patrick O'Shaughnessy, president and CEO of Catholic Health in Long Island, and chairman of HANYS’ board of trustees, called Quatroche a “compassionate, committed and highly-effective healthcare leader.”

“He knows firsthand the needs of our patients, healthcare workers and provider organizations and the challenges they face, and he’s proven himself time and again to be an effective advocate and spokesperson. Tom has our board of trustees’ utmost confidence and support,” O'Shaughnessy said in a statement.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta CEO is retiring, successor named

After leading Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta as its CEO for 18 years, Donna Hyland has announced her plans to retire, and her successor has been named.

Patrick Frias, MD, co-president and CEO of Rady Children’s Health in southern California, has been named the next CEO of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. He will take the post in the coming months.

Hyland has spent four decades with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and began serving as CEO in 2008. The system has grown significantly since she joined the organization.

“I am so lucky to have joined a small children’s hospital 40 years ago and to have been given the opportunity to help grow this powerful mission,” Hyland said in a statement. “Every role that I have held, every challenge faced, every milestone reached has been grounded in our team’s shared commitment to do our best for the children and families we serve,” she said. “There is nothing more rewarding than meeting a family that experiences the life-changing impact of our work.”

In 2024, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta opened Arthur M. Blank Hospital. The system points to improved cancer care survival rates under Hyland’s leadership.

Paul Brown, chairman of the system’s board of trustees, said Hyland’s “visionary leadership has transformed pediatric healthcare across Georgia.”

The pediatric system’s new leader is a familiar face. A cardiologist, Frias previously served Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for 18 years, eventually becoming chief operating officer.

“Dr. Patrick Frias is the clear choice to lead Children’s into the future. He is a highly experienced leader with a clear strategic vision who is passionate about people,” Brown said.

Nemours Children’s Health names Delaware Valley president

After serving in an interim capacity for several months, Laura Kowal has been named president of Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware Valley.

Kowal has served as the interim president since July, and she has more than a decade of leadership experience with the pediatric care system. She has served as the organization’s executive vice president, general Counsel, and corporate secretary since 2020.

“Nemours Children’s carries 90 years of distinguished history in Delaware, built on a foundation of excellence and strengthened by our commitment to the health of children beyond our walls,” Kowal said in a statement. “I am honored to build on our legacy and continue advancing our nationally recognized care, elevating our academic preeminence, and driving optimal outcomes for children and their futures.”

Before joining Nemours in 2014, Kowal practiced health law at Ballard Spahr LLP.

Mark Mumford, executive vice president & chief operating officer for Nemours, touted her credentials and knowledge of the Delaware Valley.

“Laura offers a distinctive combination of clinical experience, business acumen, and legal expertise that will have a tangible impact on pediatric health care in the Delaware Valley and beyond,” Mumford said in a statement. “Drawing on her significant leadership experience with Nemours and deep understanding of the region, Laura will drive growth and best-in-class care for generations of children.”

New Lifepoint hospital CEO appointed

Lindy White recently became chief executive officer of Frye Regional Medical Center, a Duke LifePoint hospital.

The move is a bit of a homecoming for White. She previously served as chief operating officer of Frye Regional. Most recently, she served as interim CEO at another Duke LifePoint hospital in eastern North Carolina.

She began serving as CEO of Frye Regional on Feb. 26.

“I am honored to return to Frye Regional Medical Center,” White said in a news release. “This organization has a proud history of serving the Hickory community, and I believe strongly in the strength of our physicians, employees and leadership team. Together, we will continue advancing quality, expanding access to care and investing in the programs that matter most to our patients.”

White succeeds Dr. Philip Greene, who recently announced his decision to step down as CEO.

Elmer Polite, eastern division president for Lifepoint Health, called White “a steady, experienced leader who understands Frye Regional, the medical staff and the Hickory community.”

“She knows this hospital well and brings a practical, collaborative approach to leadership that supports both our team members and our patients,” Polite said.