PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Trustees of The
 Children's Hospital of Philadelphia today appointed Steven M. Altschuler,
 M.D., 46, to president and chief executive officer.  Dr. Altschuler, appointed
 following an extensive national search of candidates, currently serves as
 physician-in-chief and chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at The
 Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
     Dr. Altschuler will begin his new duties on April 3, 2000, replacing
 Edmond F. Notebaert, who is relinquishing his role as president and CEO of
 Children's Hospital after serving in that capacity for the past 13 years.
 Mr. Notebaert will remain on as a consultant to Dr. Altschuler.
 Dr. Altschuler has asked Mr. Notebaert to continue to lead institutional
 efforts to develop a mutually beneficial working relationship with
 Independence Blue Cross.
     "Steven Altschuler brings in insider's knowledge of our organization and a
 broad background and impressive credentials as an executive, physician and
 scientific investigator.  These qualities make him the most qualified to lead
 an internationally renowned academic institution," says Richard Armstrong,
 chairman of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Board of Trustees.
 "Dr. Altschuler clearly stood out among an impressive list of candidates as
 our unanimous choice to lead The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to new
 levels of growth and success."
     In addition to his duties at Children's Hospital, Dr. Altschuler also
 serves as professor and chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the
 University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, positions he will relinquish as
 he assumes his new responsibilities.
     Dr. Altschuler's immediate priority will be to continue to implement key
 institutional objectives, including the expansion of the research program and
 the continued development of Children's Hospital's pediatric healthcare
 network.  "Ed Notebaert made this institution one of the finest children's
 hospitals in the world," says Dr. Altschuler.  I plan to continue to expand
 upon his accomplishments, with a primary focus on continuing to provide the
 most advanced medical care for children.  We will continue to expand our
 internationally renowned research program and expand our pediatric healthcare
 network, so that we can bring our medical expertise to children and families
 in the communities where they live."
     Dr. Altschuler is a board-certified pediatrician and gastroenterologist,
 and has been a member of the Hospital's medical staff since 1985.  He holds
 the Leonard and Madlyn Abramson Endowed Chair in Pediatric Medicine at
 Children's Hospital.  He is an internationally renowned pediatric
 gastroenterologist and an accomplished scientific researcher.  He is a proven
 executive leader, and as a member of Children's Hospital's management team, he
 has made significant contributions to the growth, development and strategic
 direction of the institution.
     Dr. Altschuler received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Case
 Western University.  He received his pediatric residency training at
 Children's Hospital, Boston, and subspecialty training in pediatric
 gastroenterology and nutrition at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
 Dr. Altschuler has held faculty appointments in pediatrics at Harvard Medical
 School and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
     The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the nation's first children's
 hospital, is a world-renowned leader in patient care, education and research.
 This 373-bed multi-specialty hospital provides comprehensive diagnostic,
 medical, surgical, psychiatric, rehabilitation and home care services to
 children from before birth through age 19.  The Hospital admits more than
 17,000 patients, and provides care in more than 50,000 emergency and 600,000
 outpatient visits annually.  The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia operates
 a pediatric healthcare network that also includes The Joseph Stokes, Jr.
 Research Institute, nine outpatient specialty care centers, four primary care
 centers, inpatient units at four community hospitals, a poison control center,
 home care and 27 Kids First pediatric and adolescent practices in
 Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.
     CONTACT:  Karen Muldoon Geus of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia,
 215-590-4100.
 
 

SOURCE  Children's Hospital of Philadelphia