Citing health concerns, Christoperh G. Dawes will step down immediately after nearly 30 years as leader of the nationally renowned pediatric health system.
Christopher G. Dawes, the long-serving CEO and president of Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford and Stanford Children's Health, said this week that "recent health developments" have prompted his immediate retirement.
CMO Dennis Lund, MD, will serve as interim CEO while a search is undertaken for Dawes' successor.
In a LinkedIn message to colleagues and friends this week, Dawes said he’d planned on announcing his retirement next week, but that his unspecified health concerns accelerated that plan and forced him to take an immediate medical leave.
Dawes joined Palo Alto, CA-based Children's Hospital at Stanford 29 years ago, and was named the first -- and only -- CEO of Lucile Packard Children's Hospital when it opened eight years later.
"This past December I had the great fortune to, once again, cut the ribbon on the opening of a brand new hospital building, setting the stage for unparalleled pediatric care for children and mothers," Dawes said.
Dawes said he is "particularly proud" of the high-quality clinical services created at Packard and Stanford Children’s Health, which is widely regarded as among the top pediatric health systems in the nation.
"After my 21 years at the helm overseeing milestones such as these, I believe it is now time to pass the baton to the next generation of executives," Dawes said.
John Commins is the news editor for HealthLeaders.