Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta announced that Chief Executive Officer Donna Hyland will retire later this year. Patrick Frias, M.D., currently Co-President and CEO of Rady Children’s Health in Southern California, has been named as her successor. Frias previously spent 18 years at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, serving in several roles including cardiologist, Chief Physician Officer, and Chief Operating Officer.
Hyland began her career at Children’s in 1986 and became CEO in 2008. During her tenure, she led the organization to national recognition and expanded its patient volume to 1.2 million annually, with more than 3,000 patients served daily.
“Over four decades, Donna’s visionary leadership has transformed pediatric healthcare across Georgia,” said Paul Brown, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. “Her unwavering pursuit of excellence has strengthened this vital organization and fueled its ability to grow, innovate, and serve countless children and families, creating lasting impact where it matters most.”
Among Hyland’s major achievements are overseeing the merger of Scottish Rite and Egleston hospitals to form Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta; integrating Hughes Spalding Children’s Hospital into the system; bringing Marcus Autism Center into the network to advance autism care and research; developing the North Druid Hills campus; and opening Arthur M. Blank Hospital.
“I am so lucky to have joined a small children’s hospital 40 years ago and to have been given the opportunity to help grow this powerful mission,” said Hyland. “Every role that I have held, every challenge faced, every milestone reached has been grounded in our team’s shared commitment to do our best for the children and families we serve. There is nothing more rewarding than meeting a family that experiences the life-changing impact of our work.”
During Hyland’s leadership, cancer survival rates at Children’s increased from about 60% to over 85%, with some cancers now having survival rates above 90%. The hospital also built what it describes as the largest sickle cell disease program in the country, improving outcomes for affected children through advanced treatments such as cord blood transplants and cell therapy. The institution has performed 460 heart transplants in its history.
“On behalf of the board of trustees, physicians, nurses, staff and, most importantly, the millions of patients and families positively impacted by her work, we are deeply grateful for Donna’s dedicated service to the mission and for her vision which has fueled Children’s extraordinary growth; expanding hope, possibility, and healing for generations of children,” Brown said.
Hyland also formalized an academic partnership between Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory School of Medicine. This collaboration improved their national ranking for pediatric NIH research funding from 49th in 2004 into the top five for ten consecutive years. Outcomes from this partnership include new treatments for Cystic Fibrosis—raising life expectancy from age 18 to around age 50—and advances toward curing peanut allergies in children. Training programs created through this relationship have produced nearly 800 residents and fellows; more than half remain practicing in Georgia.
Frias is expected to take over as CEO within months. He will work with Hyland during a transition period.
“Dr. Patrick Frias is the clear choice to lead Children’s into the future. He is a highly experienced leader with a clear strategic vision who is passionate about people,” Brown said. “With Dr. Frias at the helm, we are poised to continue accelerating transformation and redefine what’s possible in pediatric healthcare in Georgia and beyond.”
