Mark Wietecha to Lead National Children's Hospitals Organization

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Board of Governors of the combined National Association of Children's Hospitals (N.A.C.H.), National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI) and Child Health Corporation of America (CHCA) announced that Mark Wietecha has been named president and chief executive officer, effective Sept. 22, 2011. Wietecha is a respected business leader and nationally known health care strategist and thought leader on the future of children's health care.  

A Board-appointed search committee launched a national search following the merger of the organizations in April of this year. After an extensive search and interview process, the Board selected Wietecha as the president and CEO.

"Mark is an insightful, charismatic and seasoned leader, and guided by his leadership, we will make immediate and significant progress towards our shared vision – to be the catalyst for improving child health and children's health care through assessment, advocacy and action," said Jim Mandell, M.D., Board chair of the combined organization and CEO of Children's Hospital Boston.  

Wietecha has been the executive chairman of Kurt Salmon, a leading management consulting firm comprising more than 1,500 consultants around the world in several industry specializations. He began his career with Kurt Salmon in 1985 and in his tenures as executive chairman, chairman, and managing director of the health care practice, has led the firm through a period of significant transformation including multiple acquisitions and mergers, as well as innovation in services and delivery. Wietecha was also selected as one of the top five health care industry leaders to know by Becker's Hospital Review and among the most influential consultants in the country by Consulting Magazine (2004).

"Mark has served as the person children's hospitals and health care organizations have turned to for strategic advice throughout his career. To have him in this leadership role will have a significant impact on child health locally, nationally and internationally. This is a critical time for the entire health care system and we need a leader who knows us as well as we know ourselves, and we have found that in Mark," said Amy Mansue, Board member, co-chair of the search committee and president and CEO of Specialized Children's Hospital in Mountainside, NJ.

Commenting on his new role, Wietecha said, "I am thrilled to be taking the helm at such an exciting point for children's hospitals. Our children are our future, and as the primary voice for children's hospitals across the country and throughout the world, we will make a substantial impact on how we deliver health care to children – now and going forward."

A Michigan native, Wietecha holds master's degrees in Business and Pharmacology from Ohio State University and Indiana University, respectively. He will be based in Washington, D.C.

Download photograph of Mark Wietecha.

About NACHRI
The National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions is an organization of children's hospitals with 220 members in the United States and Canada. NACHRI promotes the health and well-being of all children and their families through support of children's hospitals and health systems that are committed to excellence in providing health care to children. NACHRI works to ensure all children's access to health care and children's hospitals' continuing ability to provide services needed by children. Children's hospitals work to ensure the health of all children through clinical care, research, education and advocacy.

About N.A.C.H.
The National Association of Children's Hospitals – N.A.C.H. – is the public policy affiliate of NACHRI. N.A.C.H. is a trade organization of 140 children's hospitals and addresses public policy issues that affect children's hospitals' ability to fulfill their missions to serve children and their families. N.A.C.H. fulfills its mission and vision through federal advocacy, collaboration and communication designed to strengthen the ability of children's hospitals and health systems to influence public policy makers, understand federal and state policy issues, advance access and quality of health care for all children, and sustain financially their missions of clinical care, education, research and advocacy.

About CHCA
Child Health Corporation of America (CHCA) is an alliance of 43 children's hospitals in North America. Established in 1985 and headquartered in Shawnee Mission, KS, CHCA is owned and operated by the nation's non-competing, freestanding children's hospitals, which together represent more than 20,000 physicians, 135,000 employees, $25 billion in revenue and $2.1 billion in overall medical, surgical and pharmaceutical products. CHCA Owner executive and clinical leaders share data, knowledge and buying power to reduce costs and improve clinical and operational performance in children's hospitals. CHCA Owner Hospitals perform better together, ultimately advancing the quality of care available to America's children.

Contact: Gillian Ray, NACHRI, 703-797-6027
Angie Leondedis, CHCA, 913-981-4473

SOURCE National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions; Child Health Corporation of America