Trailblazing Women Within Children's Hospitals

There are countless women who, like Audrey Evans, MD, have made and continue to make a difference in the lives of children and families every day.

Dr. Evans was a pioneering pediatric oncologist, cofounder of the first Ronald McDonald House, and the subject of the newly released film, “Audrey’s Children.”

Children’s Hospital Association partnered with the Audrey’s Children project to highlight women who have advanced pediatric health care and whose impact will extend beyond their tenure.

The following leaders were nominated by their children’s hospital for their trailblazing work in pediatric health care:

Dr. Cynthia Cross, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital

Cynthia Cross, MD, FAAP, knows how powerful it is to really “see” someone. She was a nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit before a pair of physicians persuaded her to become a doctor.

As a special needs parent, she understands the importance of advocating for the most vulnerable populations. During her career, Dr. Cross has developed programs that improve access to care and foster innovation beyond the hospital walls.

Dr. Mary Fallat, Norton Children’s

Mary Fallat, MD, made it her mission to ensure children receive the best trauma and burn care, regardless of where they live or socioeconomic status.

She fought for legislation to develop a statewide trauma system in Kentucky, which established new standards and designations for trauma care. She’s also advocated for first responders to have the equipment they need and has helped secure funding to help them cope with death in the field.

Dr. Christine Finck, Connecticut Children’s

Christine Finck, MD, FACS, is one of just six female pediatric surgeon-in-chiefs in the U.S. She is a leader in pediatric surgery, specializing in some of the most complex and delicate procedures in the field.

Dr. Finck has launched her own company to find solutions for children with esophageal scarring. She is also a lead member of the Eastern Pediatric Surgical Network, a group that collaborates on pediatric surgical diseases and identifies best practices for treatment.

Mary Dee Hacker, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Mary Dee Hacker, NEA-BC, FAAN, MBA, dedicated 45 years to transforming and strengthening the pediatric nursing workforce at CHLA and children’s hospitals across the country.

In 1999, she created a 22-week residency program to reduce turnover among new nurses. The initiative helped reduce the 24-month turnover rate from 56% to 8.9% and launched the Versant RN Residency.

Dr. Holly Hedrick, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Holly Hedrick, MD, FACS, is one of the first female fetal surgeons in the world and has the most experience separating conjoined twins than any surgeon in North America.

Dr. Hedrick created a first-of-its-kind Pulmonary Hypoplasia Program, to help provide comprehensive and coordinated care for congenital diaphragmatic hernia patients well into school age. Today, more than 1,000 patients are participating in the program.

Dr. Janice D. Key, Medical University of South Carolina

Janice Key, MD, is focused on overcoming health disparities by providing accessible care and community wellness.

She opened the first school-based health center in South Carolina and established the MUSC Boeing Center for Children’s Wellness. This initiative has reached over 165,000 students in 20 school districts and has improved health and school performance outcomes.

Dr. Radhika Peddinti, La Rabida Children’s Hospital

Radhika Peddinti, MD, is passionate about quality improvement and clinical trials for sickle cell disease.

She helped establish a pediatric sickle cell disease program at La Rabida, which serves more than 400 patients and is one of the largest centers in Illinois. Dr. Peddinti has also developed a robust sickle cell registry, with nearly 390 patients in the database to assist with sickle cell disease research.

Dr. Brooke Redmond, Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital

Brooke Redmond, MD, is a distinguished neonatologist and has had a lasting impact on infant health.

Through her groundbreaking “24/7 Baby” program, she has helped develop continuous, comprehensive support for pre-hospital neonatal emergencies. The program has set a new standard of care for newborn deliveries and resuscitations occurring outside of the hospital.

Dr. Stacy Suskauer, Kennedy Krieger Institute

After Stacy Suskauer, MD, volunteered at a summer camp in middle school, she knew she wanted to work with children with disabilities.

Today, her dual role at Kennedy Krieger includes caring for children with brain injuries and conducting clinical research. Her research focuses on understanding and improving outcomes after childhood brain injuries.

Dr. Alissa Swota, Baptist Health and Wolfson Children’s Hospital

Alissa Swota, PhD, brings clarity when families, physicians, and staff grapple with difficult ethical issues such as withholding/withdrawing life-prolonging treatment, addressing the well-being of providers, and mitigating moral distress in the clinical setting.

Since 2020, she has been a core member of the Moral Distress Consultation Collaborative, which enables consultants to collaborate and impact ethical decisions in health care through best practices and engagement in clinical, professional, and organizational ethics research.

Meet all 21 honorees.