COLUMBUS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chairman, the Center for Family Safety and Healing
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- Member of the Physician Team
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- Member of the Leadership Team
- Vice President of Strategic Planning and Finance at the Research Institute
Amy J. Roscoe is the Vice President of Strategic Planning and Finance at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital.
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- Endowed Chair in Cardiology
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- Endowed Chair in Research Leadership
Catherine Krawczeski, MD, is physician-in-chief and chief of the Department of Pediatrics at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Dr. Krawczeski also serves as Chair of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.
Job Titles:
- Nationwide Endowed Chair in Surgical Research
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- Member of the Nurse Practitioner Team
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- DiMarco Family Endowed Chair in Cell Based Therapy / Established in 2018 by the DiMarco Family
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- Dean Jeffers Endowed Chair in Neonatology
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- Abigail Wexner Research Institute
- Director of the Center for Innovation
- Nationwide Foundation Endowed Chair of Health Equity Research
Deena J. Chisolm, PhD, is director of the Center for Innovation in Pediatric Practice and Vice President of Health Services Research in the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- President
- MSCE
- President of the Abigail Wexner Research Institute
Dennis R. Durbin, MD, MSCE, is president of the Abigail Wexner Research Institute (AWRI) at Nationwide Children's Hospital, a professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and vice chair for Research in the Department of Pediatrics. Prior to being named president, he was the research institute's first chief scientific officer.
As president, Dr. Durbin oversees AWRI's vision and strategic direction, including the further integration of research and clinical care at Nationwide Children's which is at the heart of the hospital's strategic priorities. Dr. Durbin represents the research institute in its ever-growing relationship with The Ohio State University, with the evolving biotechnology ecosystem developing in central Ohio, and our peer pediatric research institutions on a national level. Working with research center directors, he promotes the continued growth of the research institute through the recruitment of basic scientists; clinical investigators; and behavioral health and health equity researchers to expand and deepen our scientific expertise.
Since his arrival at Nationwide Children's, he has managed a broad portfolio of research initiatives, including the formation of the cell and gene therapy development and contract manufacturing organization Andelyn Biosciences; developing the hospital's first chief clinical research officer position; and creating the Office of Data Sciences and the role of chief data sciences officer. He has directed the recruitment of more than 40 new research-intensive faculty and the construction of a fourth research building on the Nationwide Children's campus, which opened in 2023 and expanded dedicated research space to over 800,000 square feet. In addition, he has overseen the creation of the Kidney and Urinary Tract Center and the Institute for Mental and Behavioral Health Research.
Dr. Durbin is an internationally recognized injury epidemiologist whose research has focused on the prevention of injuries to children in motor vehicle crashes and the prevention of teen driver crashes. He has published nearly 200 articles and editorials in peer-reviewed journals that established the evidence base for child and adolescent traffic safety interventions and he has extensive experience translating research findings into policy and practice. His research has been recognized by several organizations, including the Governor's Highway Safety Association, the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the University of Pennsylvania. In 2023, he was inducted into the Manufacturers Alliance for Child Passenger Safety (MACPS) Hall of Fame and received the C. Everett Koop Medal of Distinction from Safe Kids Worldwide.
Job Titles:
- Endowed Chair in Injury Research
Established in 2008 as part of Nationwide's transformational $50 million gift to Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for Nationwide Children 's Hospital
Donna Teach is Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for Nationwide Children's Hospital. Her role includes oversight of all marketing, communication and digital functions.
Dr. Earl H. Baxter, a practicing pediatrician, became the first chairman of The Ohio State University Department of Pediatrics, which was housed at Children's Hospital.
Job Titles:
- Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Endowed Chair in Genomic Medicine
Job Titles:
- Chairman, the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children 's Hospital
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- Endowed Chair in Cardiology
Established in 2008 as part of Nationwide's transformational $50 million gift to Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Job Titles:
- Gordon Teter Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cancer
Job Titles:
- Endowed Chair in Pediatric Research
This chair provides salary and program support in the Department of Pediatrics for a distinguished pediatrician who is nationally noted for leading research and patient care in the area of infectious diseases.
Job Titles:
- Nationwide Foundation Endowed Chair of Innovation in Behavioral Health Research
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- Member of the Leadership Team
- Senior Advisor in the Center for Gene Therapy
Jerry R. Mendell, MD, is a senior advisor in the Center for Gene Therapy in the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's. He is also an emeritus professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University.
Dr. Mendell was an attending neurologist, principal investigator, and the Dwight E. Peters and Juanita R. Curran Endowed Chair in Pediatric Research at Nationwide Children's and professor of Pediatrics and Neurology at The Ohio State University until his retirement in October 2023.
Dr. Mendell saw his first patient with DMD more than 50 years ago, igniting his passion to develop new treatments for patients with neuromuscular diseases. Learn more about his journey to developing a gene therapy for DMD, the most common form of muscular dystrophy affecting children. Of the first eight gene therapies approved by the FDA, two have come from his lab.
Job Titles:
- Endowed Chair in Pediatric Psychiatry
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- Chairman in Pediatric Research at Nationwide Children
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- Nationwide Foundation Endowed Chair in Pulmonary Medicine
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- Chlapaty / ADS Endowed Chair for Innovation in Pediatric Practice / Established in 2011 by the Chlapaty Family and Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc
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- Chairman, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Inc. / Nationwide Children 's Hospital
Lauren O. Bakaletz, PhD, is a principal investigator in and the director of the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Vice President of Basic Sciences Research at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
Lee Ann Wallace, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, is Chief Nursing Officer at Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Job Titles:
- Dean Jeffers Endowed Chair in Neonatology
Established in 2008 as part of Nationwide's transformational $50 million gift to Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Job Titles:
- Chairman, Nationwide Children 's Hospital Foundation
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- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
Lorina W. Wise, JD is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
Job Titles:
- Development Board Endowed Chair in Critical Care Medicine
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- Elizabeth and Richard Germain Chair in Pediatric Cancer
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- Member of the Leadership Team
- Vice President
Matthew McFarland is Vice President of Commercialization and Industry Relations at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Matthew McFarland, RPh, PhD joined Nationwide Children's Hospital as director of the Office of Technology Commercialization in 2012. He has a diverse background in drug discovery, business development, startup generation and funding, and strategic partnerships.
During his tenure, the OTC has experienced an increase in annual deal flow by 900%. Novel deal structures with licensing partners have also brought additional development resources to the institution. Dr. McFarland has been key to the recruitment and establishment of industrial partners in Columbus and brokering strategic partnerships for Nationwide Children's.
Prior to joining Nationwide Children's, Dr. McFarland was the associate director of commercialization in the Office of Technology Commercialization at the Purdue Research Foundation, where he oversaw the management of life science technologies including small molecule therapeutics, biological therapeutics, medical devices/implants and agricultural genetics. Dr. McFarland received his bachelor's degree from Ohio Northern University and his doctorate in Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology from Purdue University. He also completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in translational genetics of neuropsychiatric disorders at the Institute of Psychiatric Research at Indiana University Medical School.
Job Titles:
- Endowed Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery
Established in 2008 as part of Nationwide's transformational $50 million gift to Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Chief Financial Officer at Nationwide Children 's Hospital
Nelson Weichold serves as Chief Financial Officer at Nationwide Children's Hospital where he oversees treasury operations, budgeting and cost accounting, financial reporting, revenue cycle and payer relations.
O.N. Ray Bignall II, MD, FAAP, FASN, is Chief Diversity and Health Equity Officer at Nationwide Children's Hospital. He also serves as Director of Kidney Health Advocacy and Community Engagement for the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
In his role as Chief of Surgical Services, Oluyinka Olutoye, MD, leads one of the largest children's hospital surgery departments in the world.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Senior Vice President of Strategic and Facilities Planning for Nationwide Children 's Hospital
Patricia J. "Patty" McClimon is the Senior Vice President of Strategic and Facilities Planning for Nationwide Children's Hospital. She is responsible for the development and tracking of Nationwide Children's long range strategic plan and its related master facilities plan.
Job Titles:
- Battelle Chair in Quantitative and Computational Biology
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Senior Vice President of Legal Services for Nationwide Children 's Hospital
Rhonda Comer serves as Senior Vice President of Legal Services for Nationwide Children's Hospital. Rhonda's background includes both law and health care -she started her career as a nurse before becoming a lawyer.
Job Titles:
- Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Endowed Chair in Genomic Medicine
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- President and Chief Operating Officer at Nationwide Children 's Hospital
Rick Miller is President and Chief Operating Officer at Nationwide Children's Hospital, a position he has held since 2006. Rick has been employed by the hospital since 1985, and previously held several different administrative positions prior to being appointed COO.
Job Titles:
- Chairman in Clinical and Translational Research
Rustin Morse, MD, serves as chief medical officer at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Dr. Morse is a nationally recognized leader in pediatric quality and safety.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- President of the Nationwide Children 's Hospital Foundation
- Testa
Steve Testa was appointed President of the Nationwide Children's Hospital Foundation in January 2018. He joined the Nationwide Children's team in 2014 and served as Senior Vice President and Executive Director.
Job Titles:
- Endowed Chair in Pediatric Research
Job Titles:
- Gordon Teter Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cancer
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- an Experienced Leader for Nationwide Children 's Hospital
- Chief Executive Officer of Nationwide Children 's Hospital
Timothy Robinson is Chief Executive Officer of Nationwide Children's Hospital, which includes The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Nationwide Children's Hospital Foundation and The Center for Family Safety and Healing at Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Job Titles:
- Endowed Chair in Pediatric Research
Job Titles:
- Endowed Chair in Radiology
Created in 2018 by the Shiels Family to recognize the late William E. Shiels, II, DO and his contributions to the field of radiology.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Section of Nephrology
William Smoyer, MD, is a member of the Section of Nephrology and Hypertension at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Vice President and Director for the Center for Clinical and Translational Research at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital and a Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.