Children's Hospital Association Appointed Innovation Officer

The national organization named Dawn Wolff as its inaugural chief innovation and transformation officer.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Children’s Health

Isometric editorial illustration of a modern hospital wing with clean geometric lines and a serene courtyard. — The Children's Hospital Association has appointed Dawn Wolff as its inaugural chief innovation and transformation officer to oversee pediatric health strategy. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The Children's Hospital Association has appointed Dawn Wolff as its first chief innovation and transformation officer. She will lead enterprise strategy, innovation, and pediatric health intelligence for the network representing over 200 children's hospitals.

Why it matters

Wolff brings extensive experience in pediatric innovation to the role, having previously led strategic partnerships and founded research centers. Her leadership will shape how these specialized hospitals adapt to evolving health technologies and collaborative care models.

Wolff joins the association after a 20-year career at Children's Mercy, where she previously served as vice president of strategy and established the Center for Pediatric Innovation.

The players

Dawn Wolff

She is the inaugural chief innovation and transformation officer for the Children's Hospital Association with two decades of experience at Children's Mercy.

Children's Hospital Association

This national organization represents more than 200 children's hospitals across the United States.

The details

In her new role based in Lenexa, Kansas, Wolff will oversee strategic partnerships and pediatric health intelligence. She previously completed a four-year term as president of the International Society for Pediatric Innovation and co-created PedsMarket.

Dawn Wolff joined the Chief Strategy Officer Forum in 2018.
The Children's Hospital Association announced the appointment on September 24, 2026.

The Big Picture

The appointment follows her leadership within the International Society for Pediatric Innovation, reflecting a trend of placing research-focused executives into national oversight roles.

While the appointment is an organizational shift, it directly impacts the speed at which new pediatric health intelligence and medical innovations reach local hospitals. Parents and patients may eventually see improved care consistency across the network as these new strategies are implemented.

The takeaway

This leadership transition signals an increased focus on centralizing innovation within the nation's largest pediatric hospital network. Readers should watch for future collaborative projects that leverage this new strategic intelligence to improve specialized care nationwide.