A former top administrator at a Rhode Island hospital has been named president and chief executive officer at coHartford-based Connecticut Children’s.
Shannon Sullivan, who most recently held the post of president and chief operating officer at Women & Infants Hospital in Providence, RI, will assume her new position Jan. 12. Sullivan will succeed James Shmerling, who is retiring at the end of the year.
Sullivan’s appointment, announced Tuesday, comes as Connecticut Children’s near the opening of its new, $320 million clinical tower at its flagship campus in Hartford, which is expected in three months. The expansion is seen as increasing the breadth of care, integrating advanced technologies and strengthening the health care system’s stature, both regionally and nationally.
“This is a transformational moment for Connecticut Children’s,” Jon Rubin, chair of the corporate board of directors, said. “Shannon’s experience, vision and values align with our mission, and her leadership will propel us forward as we continue to care for children and families in Connecticut and the region.”
Shannon Sullivan has been named the new president and chief executive officer of Connecticut Children’s. She succeeds James Shmerling, who is retiring. (Handout)
Connecticut Children’s now has 35 locations in Connecticut, New York and western Massachusetts.
According to a statement, Sullivan has two decades of leadership experience. She has been recognized for innovation and a patient-centered approach to health care, including overseeing the construction of a field hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Women & Infants Hospital is the major teaching affiliate of The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, according to its web site. The hospital also noted it the 9th largest stand-alone obstetrical service in the country about 8,500 deliveries per year.
The 195,000-square-foot expansion will double the size of Connecticut Children’s campus in Hartford and allow it to push into fetal care from its traditional pediatric care roots.
The eight-story expansion will have two floors with 50 private, neonatal intensive care rooms, giving parents privacy and a place to sleep and shower with their newborns nearby.
The new tower also will house a fetal care center — already launched by the hospital — that will provide care to expectant mothers whose babies may need surgery before they are born.
“It is an honor to join Connecticut Children’s at such an extraordinary time in its history,” Sullivan said, in a statement. “I am inspired by the organization’s commitment to children and families, and I look forward to working alongside the exceptional team here to advance, care, research, innovation and community impact.”
Tina Brown-Stevenson, chair of the hospital’s executive search committee, praised the work of Shmerling that has guided the hospital’s evolution, including planning for the new tower.
“Because of Jim’s dedication and vision, Shannon is now well positioned to continue the growth that Jim started and deliver innovative care that will ensure Connecticut Children’s remains a trusted leader in pediatric healthcare for generations to come,” Brown said, in a statement.
Kenneth R. Gosselin can be reached at kgosselin@courant.com.