KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--After a comprehensive nation-wide search, Children’s Mercy Kansas City announced today the appointment of Alejandro Quiroga (pronunciation A-lee Kee-row-ga), MD, MBA, as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 2, 2025. Dr. Quiroga comes to Children’s Mercy from Corewell Health, the largest health care system in Michigan, where he served as President of Corewell Health West.
“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Quiroga, a pediatric nephrologist and inspiring leader with a strong research mindset, as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Mercy. We knew Dr. Quiroga was the ideal choice for Children’s Mercy. He stood out for his impressive experience leading a successful, growing hospital system with a spirit of humility, optimism, innovation and a deep passion for caring for children.” said Diane Gallagher, Board Chair Children’s Mercy. “We are energized by the next chapter under Dr. Quiroga’s leadership.”
Dr. Quiroga oversaw Corewell Health West, a $4.2 B integrated health system which includes: the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital and 9 other hospitals, over 120 ambulatory sites, the largest teaching hospital for Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, a combined medical staff of 4,000 providers with a 2,000-provider employed medical group, 38 medical residencies and fellowship programs, and an acclaimed $128+ M research and quaternary program that includes adult heart and lung transplants, pediatric kidney transplants and bone marrow transplants.
Under his leadership, Dr. Quiroga was praised for enhancing the patient experience, strengthening employee retention, building a strong culture of trust and inclusion, and establishing deep community partnerships.
“For more than 127 years, Children’s Mercy has been at the heart of our community, providing world-class pediatric care. Dr. Quiroga’s training as a pediatrician and his focus on research innovation, coupled with his demonstrated excellence as a health system leader, make him uniquely qualified to lead Children’s Mercy into the future,” said Donald Hall, Jr., Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors at Hallmark Cards and a member of the search committee. “Kansas City’s focus on healthcare and research is making this region a national leader in proving great health outcomes for our community as well as creating high value jobs. I’m thrilled that Dr. Quiroga will be at the helm of Children’s Mercy at this exciting time for our region.”
Prior to his role as President, Dr. Quiroga held numerous leadership positions at Corewell Health, including Chief Medical Officer, Ambulatory & Population Health. Dr. Quiroga received his Doctor of Medicine at Universidad Del Rosario in Bogota, Colombia. At Johns Hopkins Hospital, he completed a clinical clerkship in neurology and pediatric neurology, as well as a research clerkship in pediatric oncology. He completed his residency at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and pediatric nephrology fellowship at Montefiore Children’s Hospital in New York City.
“This is a dream come true! I am truly honored to join this amazing team at Children’s Mercy,” said Dr. Quiroga. “I have watched Children’s Mercy from afar and have been inspired by the excellence in pediatric clinical care and groundbreaking research. I have long admired Children’s Mercy and the impressive, caring and committed talent that makes this hospital system world-class. Joining a team that is brimming with excellence, as well as a community that is so deeply supportive of the research and care delivered to children, is truly energizing. Together, we will continue to live out the purpose of Children’s Mercy – to create a world of well-being for every child we serve. My family and I cannot wait to make the move to such a compassionate, forward-thinking community.”
Paul Kempinski, MS, FACHE, current President and CEO of Children’s Mercy will stay on through January 2025 to ensure a seamless transition.
“It has been an honor to serve as President & CEO of one of the finest children’s health systems in the country. Dr. Quiroga is the right leader to take Children’s Mercy into its next chapter of growth,” said Paul Kempinski. “I applaud the search committee and the Board of Directors for this excellent decision and look forward to cheering on the continued growth and success of Children’s Mercy.”
Please watch here for a message from Dr. Quiroga and Children’s Mercy leaders.
