Children's Mercy Executive and Leadership Team

Alejandro Quiroga, the President & Chief Executive Officer at Children's Mercy, directs the overarching strategic vision for this non-profit pediatric health system. Overseeing the integration of clinical care with the Children's Mercy Research Institute, the President & Chief Executive Officer ensures that evidence-based medicine remains the cornerstone of all patient services. This leadership role involves managing complex relationships with the Board and external stakeholders to expand pediatric healthcare access across Missouri and Kansas. By prioritizing translational research and innovation, Alejandro Quiroga directly impacts the quality of care provided to infants, children, and adolescents. The President & Chief Executive Officer maintains a focus on long-term sustainability and community outreach, ensuring that the organization continues to improve child health outcomes through advanced medical education and specialized clinical programs.

Jim Simaras, the Chief Financial Officer & Senior VP at Children's Mercy, directs the financial strategy and fiscal health of the pediatric system. Overseeing the budgeting process and capital investments, the Chief Financial Officer & Senior VP ensures that resources support the expansion of clinical services and research initiatives. This leadership role involves managing financial risk and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the non-profit organization. By optimizing revenue cycles and cost structures, Jim Simaras directly impacts the ability of the health system to provide compassionate care to all patients. The Chief Financial Officer & Senior VP collaborates with the Board to align financial goals with the mission of improving child health outcomes. Through prudent fiscal management and strategic planning, Simaras secures the necessary funding for advanced medical education and the ongoing operations of hospitals and specialty clinics.

Jo Stueve, the Chief Operating Officer at Children's Mercy, manages the daily operational efficiency of hospitals and specialty clinics. Overseeing the logistical coordination of patient services, the Chief Operating Officer ensures that clinical departments maintain high standards of family-focused care. This leadership role involves optimizing resource allocation to support the diverse needs of infants, children, and adolescents across Missouri and Kansas. By streamlining administrative processes, Jo Stueve directly impacts the operational capacity of the health system. The Chief Operating Officer collaborates with medical directors to align facility performance with the organization's mission of compassionate, evidence-based medicine. Through the management of complex clinical workflows and facility expansion projects, Stueve ensures that the health system remains a leader in pediatric care, providing consistent, high-quality outcomes for every patient served within the regional network.

Amy Fallon, the President, Regional Operations at Children's Mercy, directs the expansion and management of specialty clinics across Missouri and Kansas. Overseeing the delivery of pediatric services in diverse communities, the President, Regional Operations ensures that the organization's mission of compassionate care reaches a broad patient population. This leadership role involves coordinating regional resources to maintain consistent standards of medical excellence outside the main hospital campus. By optimizing regional service delivery, Amy Fallon directly impacts the accessibility of specialized pediatric care. The President, Regional Operations collaborates with local stakeholders to integrate community outreach programs with the broader health system strategy. Through the effective management of regional facilities and the promotion of evidence-based medicine, Fallon ensures that the health system provides high-quality, family-focused care to children throughout the entire regional network.

Richard Hammond, the Chief Information Officer at Children's Mercy, manages the digital infrastructure supporting pediatric clinical operations. Overseeing the secure integration of electronic health records and data analytics, the Chief Information Officer ensures that medical teams possess real-time access to critical patient information. This leadership role involves architecting scalable systems that support the research initiatives of the Children's Mercy Research Institute. By optimizing digital workflows, Richard Hammond directly impacts the efficiency of care delivery across all specialty clinics. The Chief Information Officer collaborates with other C-suite leaders to implement robust cybersecurity measures, protecting sensitive health data while facilitating seamless communication between regional facilities. Through the deployment of advanced health information technology, Hammond secures the digital foundation necessary for delivering high-quality, evidence-based pediatric care throughout the organization's expansive network.

Shohab Baig, the Chief Technology Officer at Children's Mercy, drives the adoption of emerging medical technologies to enhance pediatric diagnostic and treatment capabilities. Overseeing the implementation of innovative software solutions and research-focused hardware, the Chief Technology Officer ensures that clinical staff utilize cutting-edge tools for patient care. This leadership role involves evaluating new technological investments that align with the mission of the Children's Mercy Research Institute. By fostering a culture of digital innovation, Shohab Baig directly impacts the speed and accuracy of medical interventions. The Chief Technology Officer coordinates with clinical leadership to integrate specialized research platforms into daily hospital operations. Through the continuous modernization of technical assets, Baig supports the organization's goal of improving child health outcomes via advanced medical education and state-of-the-art clinical practice across the regional network.

Dawn Strickler, the Executive Secretary To Chief Information Officer at Children's Mercy, coordinates the administrative functions and strategic scheduling for the information technology department. Overseeing the flow of communication between the Chief Information Officer and other executive leaders, the Executive Secretary To Chief Information Officer ensures that critical projects receive timely attention. This leadership role involves managing departmental documentation and facilitating meetings that support the digital transformation of pediatric healthcare services. By organizing complex workflows, Dawn Strickler directly impacts the productivity of the IT team. The Executive Secretary To Chief Information Officer maintains alignment with the broader organizational goals, ensuring that administrative support remains focused on the mission of improving child health outcomes. Through meticulous oversight of departmental operations, Strickler enables the IT leadership to focus on architecting secure and efficient systems for the entire health system.

Fred Burry, the Medical Director and Chief of Staff at Children's Mercy, oversees the professional standards and clinical performance of the medical staff. Directing the implementation of evidence-based protocols, the Medical Director and Chief of Staff ensures that all pediatric specialties adhere to the highest quality of care. This leadership role involves managing physician relations and fostering a collaborative environment for medical education and research. By maintaining rigorous clinical oversight, Fred Burry directly impacts the safety and efficacy of patient treatments. The Medical Director and Chief of Staff works closely with the executive team to align clinical practices with the organization's mission of compassionate, family-focused care. Through the continuous evaluation of medical outcomes and the promotion of professional development, Burry ensures that the health system remains at the forefront of pediatric medicine across the regional network.

Kristin Littrell, the Chief of Staff & Vice President at Children's Mercy, manages the strategic alignment of executive initiatives and organizational priorities. Overseeing the coordination of cross-functional projects, the Chief of Staff & Vice President ensures that leadership decisions translate into effective clinical and operational outcomes. This leadership role involves facilitating communication between the executive team and various departments to support the mission of family-focused pediatric care. By streamlining internal processes, Kristin Littrell directly impacts the agility of the health system. The Chief of Staff & Vice President works to integrate research goals with daily hospital operations, ensuring that the organization remains focused on evidence-based medicine. Through the management of key strategic partnerships and internal governance, Littrell supports the overall growth and mission-driven success of the health system across the regional network.

Thomas Wright, the Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer at Children's Mercy, directs the talent acquisition and workforce development strategies for the pediatric health system. Overseeing the recruitment of specialized medical professionals and research staff, the Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer ensures that the organization maintains a high-performing team dedicated to compassionate care. This leadership role involves fostering an inclusive culture that supports the professional growth of future pediatric healthcare professionals. By implementing effective human capital strategies, Thomas Wright directly impacts the quality of patient interactions and clinical outcomes. The Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer collaborates with other leaders to align workforce capabilities with the mission of evidence-based medicine. Through the management of employee engagement and organizational development, Wright secures the human resources necessary for the health system's continued success.