Since we announced plans to build a dedicated pediatric clinic with Mercy, the weeks have been full of excitement, activity and support. Big thanks go to our communities and teams! 💙 Recently, we hired our first pediatric specialist to work in Springfield. And now, we get to share that the O’Reilly family has pledged the lead donation for the new pediatric clinic and will serve as honorary co-chairs for the fundraising campaign. Thank you, O’Reilly family, for your generosity that will help transform pediatric care for generations to come. You play a big role to help bring even more specialized pediatric care closer to home. Here’s to all the growth and gratitude ahead.
About us
We are pioneers in pediatric health care, dedicated to transforming the lives of children through exceptional care, groundbreaking research and innovative education. Join us in our journey to make a lasting impact on children’s health and well-being. #BuiltForKids
- Website
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https://childrensmercy.org/imagine
External link for Children's Mercy
- Industry
- Hospitals and Health Care
- Company size
- 5,001-10,000 employees
- Headquarters
- Kansas City, MO
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Specialties
- pediatrics, pediatric research, pediatric subspecialties, academic medical center, Pediatric nephrology, Pediatric urology, Pediatric cardiology, Pediatric cancer, Pediatric orthopedics, Pediatric gastroenterology, Pediatric pulmonology, Pediatric diabetes, Pediatric endocrinology, Pediatric research, Pediatric transplants, Research, Hospital, Innovation, and Pediatric health care
Locations
Employees at Children's Mercy
Updates
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This week, our CEO Alejandro Quiroga MD MBA shares how his “outlaw years” — working outside rigid systems and silos to find real solutions — defined his approach to health care leadership. See how he’s aligning with the nimble work style of frontline workers to create a culture fluent in complexity at every level of the organization. https://lnkd.in/gpEMAJ_c
Notes from the outlaw years There was a period in my leadership journey that friends now call my “outlaw years.” And honestly, I can’t argue with them. Here’s what those years felt like: My boss Darryl Elmouchi was thrilled with the results and horrified by the methods. Frontline staff were thrilled with the methods and horrified by the idea of us stopping. And I was in the middle somehow partial hero and the problem, depending on who you asked. Moving length of stay from “not impressive” to top decile. Saving physicians nearly 3 hours a day, bending the burnout curve in the right direction. These are the kinds of results leaders celebrate. The kind that ends up in journals. And still I would not have wanted to manage me. Because none of these changes started the way health care organizations prefer to operate. There were no lengthy approval chains, no slow march through stage gates, we were asking: What’s the hypothesis? Where can we run the smallest, smartest experiment? And how will we know quickly and honestly if it works? That was it. That was the engine. To the people doing the work, these questions felt like oxygen — a chance to finally fix the things they had been asking to fix. Not everyone loved it. There were eye rolls and a few “here he goes again” comments. Fair enough. But for many, it felt like someone cracked a window in a room that had been sealed tight. To the guardians of process, it looked like I’d taken a red pen to the rulebook: “Who approved this?” “Where’s the workflow?” “This could cause chaos.” And in their defense, if I had been managing me, I might have said the same. But here’s the truth beneath all that tension: The real chaos wasn’t the experiments. The real chaos was pretending that complex problems would behave like complicated ones. Burnout, retention, digital transformation — these aren’t puzzles. They’re ecosystems. Ecosystems don’t improve because we tighten controls. They improve because we learn. Eventually, I found right the language for what we were doing: complexity. Suddenly, everything made sense. The “outlaw” behavior wasn’t rebellion. It was alignment — with how real progress happens, how clinicians already think, how adaptation actually works in the real world. That realization led me to write about this more formally with Thomas Lee, MD — a piece on why clinicians hold the key to navigating complexity, and why health care’s operating system needs to evolve. Here’s what the outlaw years taught me: Health care doesn’t need more outlaws. It needs systems where the instincts that make outlaws effective aren’t outlawed at all. Where small tests are normal. Where learning outruns bureaucracy. Where the people closest to the work help shape how the work is done. If we can build that — a culture fluent in complexity — then those outlaw years won’t look like trouble. Instead, they’ll look like the beginning of something better. https://lnkd.in/et337NEZ NEJM Catalyst
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We’d like to give a heartfelt thank you to DEMDACO for bringing the magic of the holidays to our hospital halls. Their generous gift donations made yesterday’s shopping event unforgettable—giving patients the chance to “shop” for something special for their parents and caregivers. Because those who hold it all together deserve to feel the love this season, too. 💙
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Today, we’re especially grateful for our friends at Charlie Hustle Clothing Co. They continue to share their time, talent and heart with Children’s Mercy — and this season is no different. Their exclusive Holiday Communi-TEE celebrates the hope, comfort and joy our team members bring to thousands of kids and families each year. With every shirt sold, a portion of proceeds supports the I Love CM Fund, helping fuel programs that uplift our patients and the people who care for them. Thank you, Charlie Hustle, for making a difference in style — and for standing with us to create a healthier future for all kids. 💙 Get your communi-tee here: https://cmkc.link/3KoUgQQ
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Getting kids healthy and offering the right access with shorter wait times go hand-in-hand. That’s why we’re proud to share that Infectious Diseases physician, Dr. Maria Deza Leon has received funding to develop innovative tools that accurately predict pediatric patient surges. This research aims to strengthen hospital preparedness and ensure timely, high-quality care for children during periods of increased demand. By leveraging data-driven insights, Dr. Deza-Leon’s work will help hospitals anticipate needs, allocate resources effectively and improve outcomes for pediatric patients. It’s another example of how Children’s Mercy is combining expertise with compassion to lead the way in pediatric health innovation. https://cmkc.link/3KFA5ho #PediatricResearch #HospitalPreparedness #ChildrensMercy
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We’re proud to partner with Mercy to welcome pediatric surgeon Dr. Troy Spilde to our Children’s Mercy team in Springfield. Dr. Spilde brings more than 20 years of experience in pediatric general surgery. This move brings him full circle as he returns to Children’s Mercy, where he completed his fellowship training. Dr. Spilde’s expertise and compassionate approach align with our shared mission to deliver exceptional, child-centered care. Dr. Spilde will work closely with both the Children’s Mercy and Mercy surgical teams, whose dedication has been instrumental in building a strong foundation for pediatric care in Springfield. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Spilde to Mercy Springfield and Children’s Mercy!
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When traditional treatments weren’t bringing relief for 5-year-old Dawson’s near-constant ear infections and pain, our Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) team decided to try a different approach. The team, led by Dr. Michael Puricelli, an ENT surgeon and Director of the Comprehensive Otology and Hearing Program, performed a tympanoplasty — a procedure that used a tiny flap of Dawson’s own skin to create a new, healthy surface for his eardrum. The procedure was a success, and now Dawson is back to school, sports, and reading every book he can get his hands on about Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Read Dawson’s full story here: https://cmkc.link/3KJQpO6
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We’re committed to transforming outcomes for sick infants through groundbreaking research. Dr. Venkatesh Sampath is leading innovative studies focused on improving care for premature and critically ill newborns like Hazel — work that bridges cutting-edge science with compassionate clinical practice. This research helps to deepen our understanding of neonatal health and drives evidence-based solutions that can change lives. By collaborating across disciplines, we’re working so that every discovery moves us closer to safer, more effective care for the tiniest patients who need us most. Learn more about how Dr. Sampath and our team are shaping the future of neonatal medicine: https://lnkd.in/gps_hR-h
“Hazel wouldn't be where she is without research. We were so lucky she was alive. So, we were like, ‘Yeah, if we can help, yes,’” said mom Nikki when given the option to participate in Dr. Sampath’s research. As a neonatologist and internationally recognized scientist, Dr. Venkatesh Sampath is keen to bridge the gap between scientific discoveries and clinical translation. Learn about his work in bronchopulmonary dysplasia #BPD and necrotizing enterocolitis #NEC, research he does for babies like Hazel. https://lnkd.in/gv3sCPTq
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Holiday spirit is in full swing around here. Last week, some of our team members briefly traded scrub caps for elf hats to deliver some holiday cheer to every inpatient room across the hospital. Business partners from the Kansas City community came together to create 300 amazingly decorated miniature trees. From Bluey to movies, Taylor to Travis, Wicked to Hot Wheels, the intricate trees held space for any child’s favorites, so families could choose what their child loves most. Then, Santa and Mrs. Claus (with a little help from our amazing volunteers) brought crafts, gifts and a chance for kids to tell the big guy himself what they want for Christmas this year. Thank you to all our team members, sponsors and volunteers who make the magic possible! 🌟
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Save the date! The Brendan Tripp Elam Transplant Center, in collaboration with Midwest Transplant Network, is proud to host the Transplant Symposium on July 17 at our Children’s Mercy Research Institute in Kansas City, Mo. Join colleagues and experts for a day of connection and learning featuring continuing education sessions on the transplant family perspective, the latest innovations, transition data, pharmaceutical updates, social inequities and more. We look forward to welcoming you to this important conversation and advancing care together. https://cmkc.link/3MqkanG
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