![\"Dayton](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IZXDNNW4RRAK5EHSBMUAW7X7MM.JPG\")
During her tenure, Feldman created and led the hospital through two strategic plans, Destination 2020 and Reinventing the Path to Children\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Under Feldman\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve tripled the size of service in a region that\u2019s not growing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
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She said she\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cDebbie embodies the trifecta of commitment to excellence, quest for innovation and heartfelt compassion,\u201d said Mike McQuiston, chairman of Dayton Children\u2019s Board of Trustees and a partner at the Connor Group. \u201cHer first question is always \u2018how will this impact the children of our community?\u2019 Then once committed to a project, her last question is \u2018how fast can we get it done to serve our kids?\u2019 there is a reason Dayton Children\u2019s moves at the \u2018speed of Feldman.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
The executive search firm Spencer Stuart last week began nationwide recruitment to find her replacement.<\/p>\n
Their recommendations will go before an 8-member search committee comprised of a combination of Dayton Children\u2019s Board of Trustees members and community leaders, said Todd Pleiman, incoming chairman and current vice chairman of the hospital board of trustees.<\/p>\n
Pleiman said he is part of the search committee but did not release the names of the committee members. <\/p>\n
He said the right candidate to succeed Feldman will have a balance of financial know-how, community engagement, culture and workforce relations.<\/p>\n
Pleiman said the right person won\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cMental health is No. 1 on the list by a mile,\u201d Pleiman said.<\/p>\n
The hospital Board of Trustees expects to make a decision by late spring, according to Dayton Children\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Feldman said she plans to stay active in the Dayton community where she\u2019s been involved for more than 30 years.<\/p>\n