Nation`s Leading Children`s Hospital Association Names New Chairman: Christopher Dawes, President & CEO, Lucile Packard Children`s Hospital at Stanford

ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(Business Wire)--
Christopher Dawes, president and CEO of Lucile Packard Children`s Hospital at
Stanford in Palo Alto, CA, has been elected chairman of the Board of Trustees
for the National Association of Children`s Hospitals and Related Institutions
(NACHRI) and the National Association of Children`s Hospitals (N.A.C.H.). As
chairman of NACHRI and N.A.C.H., Dawes takes the helm at a time when our
nation`s leaders are considering health reform that could alter the level of
benefits and access to care that children receive in the U.S.

"Chris Dawes brings years of experience in hospital operations and health
advocacy as well as dedication to the needs of children," said Lawrence A.
McAndrews, president and CEO of NACHRI and N.A.C.H. "I look forward to the
journey of working with him for the next two years to shape health care reform
to meet children`s needs."

Dawes, president and CEO of Packard Children`s Hospital since 1999, has been
with the hospital since it began in 1989 and had previously held the position of
chief operating officer. Under his leadership, the institution is consistently
ranked in national surveys as one of America`s best children`s hospitals and is
recognized for its full range of health care programs and services. The hospital
has recently opened several new patient care centers and continues to expand its
education and research programs.

"N.A.C.H. has done a superb job in advancing the needs of children to influence
public policy and support members state by state," said Dawes, "Right now, we
have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to focus nationally on health care reform
and frame a health care system that works both for adults and children. We have
a chance to build a system that ensures that access is cost effective and
affordable."

Dawes has served as a board member and executive committee member for NACHRI in
the past. He has also held board positions with the California Children`s
Hospital Association, the Santa Clara Family Health Plan, the Joint Venture
Board of Silicon Valley, and is currently on the board of the California
Hospital Association. Dawes earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration
from San Diego State University in 1974 and an MBA from McLaren School of
Business at the University of San Francisco in 1984.

Founded in 1968, NACHRI is an association of 220 children`s hospitals and
related institutions devoted to improving the health and well-being of children
and families through support of children`s hospitals` four-fold mission of
clinical care, pediatric training, research and child advocacy. All children
need children`s hospitals.

The National Association of Children's Hospitals (N.A.C.H.) is the public policy
affiliate of the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related
Institutions. Representing more than 139 freestanding acute care children's
hospitals, freestanding children's rehabilitation and specialty hospitals, and
children's hospitals organized within larger medical centers, N.A.C.H. addresses
public policy issues affecting children's hospitals' missions of service to the
children of their communities, including clinical care, education, research and
advocacy.

Lucile Packard Children`s Hospital

Ranked as one of the nation`s best pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World
Report, Lucile Packard Children`s Hospital at Stanford is a 312-bed hospital
devoted to the care of children and expectant mothers. Providing pediatric and
obstetric medical and surgical services and associated with the Stanford
University School of Medicine, Packard Children`s offers patients locally,
regionally and nationally the full range of health care programs and services,
from preventive and routine care to the diagnosis and treatment of serious
illness and injury. For more information, visit www.lpch.org.

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NACHRI
Norida Torriente, 703-797-6059
ntorriente@nachri.org
www.childrenshospitals.net
or
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital
Todd Kleinheinz, 650-725-9666
tkleinheinz@lpch.org

Copyright Business Wire 2009