Children's Hospital Association Welcomes New Chief Public Affairs Officer Leah Evangelista

WASHINGTON, DC — Children's Hospital Association (CHA) is pleased to announce the addition of Leah Evangelista, chief public affairs officer. This newly created role at CHA will oversee the federal affairs, policy analysis and external relations teams.

CHA's board and leadership recognize the increased challenges facing children's hospitals and children's health in the current health care system and the need to strengthen the advocacy voice of more than 220 children's hospitals.

"Leah brings deep experience in public affairs, a keen awareness of health care policy and a passion for child advocacy," said Mark Wietecha, CHA's chief executive officer. "We are delighted to have her on our team and look forward to the insights and ideas she will bring to our work with children's hospitals to improve the health of our nation's children."

Evangelista was most recently the senior vice president of external affairs at the Federation of American Hospitals, where she led all advocacy, political affairs and coalition strategy for more than 1,000 hospitals during her tenure.

Her past political advocacy experience includes roles at the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts and the National Association of Realtors. She also spent time working on Capitol Hill.

"I am excited to join the team at CHA to continue to build on the great advocacy work they do for both children's hospitals and child health," said Evangelista. "The pandemic has challenged our health system to its core, and I am proud to join an organization dedicated to bettering the health of all children."