Kevin Churchwell, M.D.
Churchwell named interim CEO of VCH
Kevin Churchwell, M.D., has been named the interim chief executive officer of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, effective Jan. 1, 2007.
He will succeed Jim Shmerling, who has accepted a position as president and chief executive officer of The Children's Hospital of Denver.
Churchwell is currently chief of staff/associate medical director for Children's Hospital, a post he has held since 2005.
“We are delighted that Dr. Churchwell is willing to assume this role,” said Martin Sandler, M.D., associate vice chancellor for Hospital Affairs. “Dr. Churchwell is an outstanding physician and has done a terrific job as chief of staff and associate medical director of Children's Hospital, and he is well-versed in leading a staff of pediatric physicians. During this period we will begin our national search for the most qualified CEO to run Children's Hospital.”
Churchwell, who has been on faculty since 1995, is a 1987 graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
“We are all saddened with Jim taking the position in Denver. One of my goals is to continue the efforts he has pushed for to make us one of the best children's hospitals in the country,” Churchwell said.
“I've gotten great support from the administrative team at Children's Hospital, as well as the physicians and staff, and also Dr. Harry Jacobson, Dr. Martin Sandler and Dr. Wright Pinson in working through this transition. I look forward to continuing to work with this outstanding team dedicated to the care of the children of our region.”
At Vanderbilt, Churchwell also serves as chairman of the Vanderbilt Home Care Advisory Board. He sits on the internal advisory board for the Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society, the VUMC Medical Board, Children's Hospital Board of Trust, the VUMC Quality Council and the VUMC Supply Chain Steering Committee.
He completed his pediatric residency and clinical fellowship at Children's Hospital Boston. He was also junior assistant resident and senior resident in medicine there.
He has been listed among the “Best Doctors in America” since 2004 and among “America's Top Pediatricians” since 2005.