La Rabida Children's Hospital Names Brenda Wolf CEO
Monday July 11th, 2011
New Role Caps Two Decades of Service
(CHICAGO) The La Rabida Children’s Hospital Board of Trustees today announced Brenda Wolf as President and CEO.
Wolf, the hospital’s chief operating officer since 2006, brings more than 20 years of corporate leadership, government relations and advocacy experience to her new role at the 49-bed pediatric specialty hospital on the South Side of Chicago.
“Brenda possesses the ideal skill set for the position,’’ said John Gyann, La Rabida Children’s Hospital board co-chair. “Her intimate knowledge of the hospital has helped us navigate uncharted waters in health care while providing sound financial stewardship.”
Board co-chair Peggy Gann agreed. “Brenda Wolf was the natural choice to ensure that La Rabida remains forward thinking and on solid financial ground.”
As CEO, Wolf is charged with leading the most Medicaid-dependent hospital in the state through the current economic storm in health care that threatens funding and quality of care to underserved patients.
Among the hospital’s recent accomplishments under Wolf’s leadership as COO were the launch of an electronic medical record system, a wireless patient monitoring system and the approval of a forthcoming new outpatient wing. In addition, last week, La Rabida announced it has been recognized by the prestigious National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for its medical home programs.
Wolf replaces Paula Kienberger Jaudes, MD, who is taking a yearlong sabbatical, part of which she will spend establishing a sickle cell anemia program in Nigeria. Jaudes had led the hospital since 1996.
Wolf began as marketing director at La Rabida Children’s Hospital in 1988 and in 1996 was promoted to vice president of marketing and government relations, advancing the hospital’s mission as an advocate for children with special health care needs.
In her subsequent roles of increasing responsibility, Wolf oversaw major building projects such as the design and construction of the award-winning nautical themed S.S. La Rabida inpatient unit.
Wolf serves on the Medicaid Reform Task Force of the Illinois Hospital Association and served on the Public Policy Council of the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI), which promotes the health and well-being of children and their families through support of 200 children's hospitals and health systems.
Wolf also works with the network management, contracts and payment reform subcommittee of the Medical Home Network, a group of healthcare providers striving to improve the healthcare of residents on the South Side of Chicago.
“We feel fortunate to have someone with Brenda’s knowledge and experience advocating for the care of children,’’ said NACHRI Chief Executive Officer Larry McAndrews. “She is passionate about her work and she fully understands the complexities of health care.”
Wolf, an honorary board member of the Jewish Child and Family Services (formerly the Jewish Children’s Bureau) served on the board for 12 years, including a two-year term as president.
In addition, she was a board member of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, one of the largest not-for-profit social welfare institutions in Illinois and central to Chicago's Jewish community. She also served on the board of the Chicago Children’s Museum.
Wolf said she looks forward to continuing the mission of the hospital, founded 115 years ago on the shores of Lake Michigan to serve Chicago’s children regardless of their family’s ability to pay. At that time, children in the area were often victims of disease due to poor living conditions. Later the hospital treated many rheumatic fever patients.
“Today, we primarily serve patients with chronic conditions and development disabilities. Yet we’re still here for those who need us most,” Wolf said.
Wolf earned a Master of Business Administration with concentrations in health administration and marketing from the University of Chicago. She has a Master of Arts in Special Education from West Virginia University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois.
About La Rabida
La Rabida Children’s Hospital is a pediatric acute care hospital, specializing in the treatment of chronic illnesses and developmental disabilities. La Rabida provides family-centered interdisciplinary care to 9,000 children with special health care needs each year at its lakeside location in Chicago.
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