During her tenure, Feldman created and led the hospital through two strategic plans, Destination 2020 and Reinventing the Path to Children’s Health, initiated a comprehensive plan to address the pediatric mental health crisis, and opened the Mathile Center for Mental Health and Wellness this year, among other achievements.
Under Feldman’s leadership, the hospital has seen more than $800 million in new and refreshed facilities including an eight-story patient tower; expansion to the south campus including specialty and primary care, pharmacy, and emergency department and surgery center; the Connor Child Health Pavilion; four new or expanded outpatient care centers, and four Kids Express locations.
“We’ve tripled the size of service in a region that’s not growing,” she said.
She said she’s most proud of watching the hospital become a top choice for families in the Dayton region, underlying her belief that families want excellent care close to home.
“Debbie embodies the trifecta of commitment to excellence, quest for innovation and heartfelt compassion,” said Mike McQuiston, chairman of Dayton Children’s Board of Trustees and a partner at the Connor Group. “Her first question is always ‘how will this impact the children of our community?’ Then once committed to a project, her last question is ‘how fast can we get it done to serve our kids?’ there is a reason Dayton Children’s moves at the ‘speed of Feldman.’”
The executive search firm Spencer Stuart last week began nationwide recruitment to find her replacement.
Their recommendations will go before an 8-member search committee comprised of a combination of Dayton Children’s Board of Trustees members and community leaders, said Todd Pleiman, incoming chairman and current vice chairman of the hospital board of trustees.
Pleiman said he is part of the search committee but did not release the names of the committee members.
He said the right candidate to succeed Feldman will have a balance of financial know-how, community engagement, culture and workforce relations.
Pleiman said the right person won’t necessarily come from the health care industry, but will need to focus on the biggest challenge facing the health care community for the foreseeable future.
“Mental health is No. 1 on the list by a mile,” Pleiman said.
The hospital Board of Trustees expects to make a decision by late spring, according to Dayton Children’s.
Feldman said she plans to stay active in the Dayton community where she’s been involved for more than 30 years.
She currently serves as a board member of the Children’s Hospital Association, Ohio Children’s Hospital Association and Ohio Hospital Association Board of Trustees. She is chairperson of the Preschool Promise Board, vice-chair of the Miami University Board of Trustees, and a member of the AES Ohio Advisory Board.
Her work has been recognized with numerous award including the YWCA Women of Influence Award, Dayton Daily News Top Ten Women Award, Dayton Daily News 2006 Person of the Year, and the National Conference of Community Justice’s Humanitarian Award.
Most recently, Feldman received the Dayton Development Coalition’s Maureen Patterson Regional Leader Award, which recognizes extraordinary leaders in the Dayton community who advocate for economic health and growth.
Feldman’s advice to her eventual successor is to keep the community first in mind.
“Stay focused on why we exist. Focus on our kids, our region,” Feldman said.
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