Children's Hospital Association: What Happens When a CEO Gets Real

The soul of a children’s hospital can only be understood through its people. 

In his first year leading Children’s Mercy in Kansas City as President and CEO, Alejandro (Ale) Quiroga, MD, MBA, immersed himself in the people, purpose, and history of the 128-year-old institution.  

Quiroga set out to meet as many employees as possible in his first 90 days — a deliberate effort to connect with the 9,000 individuals who power Children’s Mercy across 16 locations and remote settings. 

He found himself moved by the depth of purpose. The tenure of staff, the steadfast culture, and the quiet, innovative programs. 

His observations, learnings, and reflections have established a weekly series of internal blogs and external LinkedIn posts. These posts are vulnerable and thoughtful and challenge traditional health care narratives to tell more human stories. 

CHA asked Quiroga about his first year as CEO and why he believes leaders should use their platforms with intention and courage. 

1. How was your first year at Children’s Mercy? 

It was amazing; one year felt like three to five CEO years. The process of transitioning to a new leader can be traumatic for an organization. Being intentional mattered. We made the commitment to meet everybody, and it gave me a three-dimensional view of our soul and culture — what we value, our challenges, and what makes us proud. That inward year shaped the progress that followed. 

Alejandro Quiroga, MD, MBA, meets with Children's Mercy staff.

2. How would you describe your leadership philosophy? 

Growing in my leadership, I’ve always struggled when people talk about servant leadership. Not because I don’t like the concept, but because it did not sound genuine.  

But leadership really is about serving people — the community and the people who care for them. Health care systems can be very corporate, but my job is to design systems that are sustainable and improve how we serve the community. 

See the full article via the Children's Hospital Association