HARTFORD, Conn., Oct. 5, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Connecticut Children's Medical Center Board of Directors, today, named James E. Shmerling, D.H.A. as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of Connecticut Children's Medical Center. Dr. Shmerling will assume his responsibilities as President and Chief Executive Officer on November 2, 2015.
For the past seven years, Dr. Shmerling served as the President and Chief Executive Officer at Children's Hospital, Colorado. During his time in this position, he directed successful efforts to renegotiate a joint operating agreement between Children's Hospital and The University of Colorado, implement an integrated health record system, relocate the hospital to a new campus and increase the hospital's endowment, which grew from $250m to $780m during his tenure.
Prior to joining Children's Hospital, Colorado, Dr. Shmerling served as Chief Executive Officer of Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt University Medical Center from 2002 to January 2007. He also served as the Senior Vice President of Methodist Healthcare and President of Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center from 1995 to 2002, and was Le Bonheur's Chief Operating Officer from 1991 to 1995.
"We are very excited to bring such a well-regarded administrative leader in pediatrics to Connecticut Children's and our region," said Robert M. Le Blanc, Connecticut Children's Board Member and chair of the search committee. "We look forward to having Jim's experience and expertise propel us further toward our vision to make Connecticut's children the healthiest in the country."
Dr. Shmerling replaces Martin J. Gavin, Connecticut Children's current President and Chief Executive Officer, who announced his retirement earlier this year.
"It goes without saying that we would not have been able to attract a leader of Dr. Shmerling's caliber without the prior leadership efforts of Marty Gavin," said E. Clayton Gengras III, Chair of Connecticut Children's Board of Directors. "Marty had the foresight to envision Connecticut Children's as a nationally-recognized leader in delivering pediatric health care and then made it happen; as a result, countless children and families in our area are better off today."
About Connecticut Children's
Connecticut Children's Medical Center is a nationally recognized, 187-bed not-for-profit children's hospital serving as the primary teaching hospital for the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. Named among the best in the nation in the annual U.S. News & World Report "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings, Connecticut Children's is the only free-standing children's hospital in Connecticut that offers comprehensive, world-class health care to children. Our pediatric services are available at Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford and at Saint Mary's Hospital in Waterbury, with neonatal intensive care units at Hartford Hospital and the University of Connecticut Health Center, along with a state-of-the art ambulatory surgery center, five specialty care centers and 11 other locations across the state. Connecticut Children's has a medical staff of nearly 1,100 practicing in more than 30 specialties.
For more information, visit WWW.CONNECTICUTCHILDRENS.ORG.