Cincinnati Children's promotes Dr. Steve Davis to succeed Michael Fisher as CEO
The national search for a new leader of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center ended Monday with a board of trustees vote for Dr. Steve Davis, the chief operating officer, to succeed Michael Fisher as leader of the region’s largest health care system.
Mark Jahnke, board chairman and the leader of a national search to fill the job of chief executive officer, called Davis the clear choice as “a relentless advocate for children and families.”
A specialist in pediatric critical care and longtime hospital administrator, Davis has been COO at Cincinnati Children’s since 2015. He becomes CEO Nov. 22. He is the first physician to lead Cincinnati Children's since 1996, when Dr. Bill Schubert retired.
“Steve brings exceptional problem-solving skills and a collaborative nature to the position of chief executive,” Jahnke said. “He is 100% all-in – and inspires others with his work ethic, which ensures the best outcomes for the children in our care.”
In the past year, Davis led the push to complete the hospital’s new $600 million critical care building. The ribbon was cut a week ago, and the first patients will be admitted early next month. Davis also was among the leaders of the region’s response to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
In April, Fisher, 62, announced he would retire this year after 12 years leading the health care system. Fisher is the longest-serving among the region’s health care chief executives. Davis served as interim CEO for six months in 2018 while Fisher underwent treatment for lymphoma.
“I love Cincinnati Children’s, and so I’m extremely pleased that the board has selected an exceptional leader in Dr. Steve Davis as the next CEO,” Fisher said. “Having worked closely with Steve for the last six years, I can tell you that he has high integrity, an innovative spirit and a deep caring for patients and his fellow employees.”
In a statement when he announced he was stepping down, Fisher said he was looking forward to more life flexibility, including helping his family in entrepreneurial and investment endeavors. Fisher is a former president of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, leading it from 2001 to 2006.
In a statement, Davis said, “I came to Cincinnati Children’s because I want to change the world of health care – for children in Cincinnati and beyond. I envision a world where all children can reach their full potential – where racial and economic disparities have been eliminated, and where the ZIP code you were born in doesn’t shorten your life expectancy or quality of life.
"At Cincinnati Children’s, our people have the expertise, dedication, and heart to transform child health,” he said “Our clinical excellence, focus on safety and improvement and deep research experience is unmatched. Our collaborative spirit provides the space for each of us to learn, grow and thrive. It is a remarkable organization, and I am proud to work here.”
Liza Smitherman, a board vice chair and a member of the search committee, said, “We were looking for someone bold who could take us to the next level, and Steve Davis is that person. He is passionate about improving children’s health and the health care system. Because of the work he’s already done leading the Critical Care Building project and advocating for the team, he can hit the ground running – and that will have a tremendous impact.”
Cincinnati Children's is the region's largest hospital system and second-largest employer, a $2.6 billion nonprofit with a workforce of more than 16,500. The hospital is routinely in the top three in U.S. News & World Report’ magzine's annual report on best pediatric hospitals.
In 2020, Cincinnati Children's clocked 1.38 million patient encounters with children from the 50 states and 51 countries.
While leading the construction of the new hospital building, Davis also has served as the co-chairman of the Regional COVID-19 Steering Committee and co-chair of the Hamilton County Test and Protect COVID-19 Project.
Under Davis, Cincinnati Children’s accelerated its telemedicine program through the pandemic, and now many clinical areas now offer those appointments through the CincyKids Health Connect app.
Davis is married, the father of four and grandfather of two. Before joining Cincinnati Children’s, he was CEO of Hillcrest Hospital, a 500-bed facility with 2,500 employees that is part of the Cleveland Clinic system. He served the Cleveland Clinic in a variety of positions from 1996 to 2015, including program director for the pediatric critical care fellowship program; medical director of pediatric respiratory therapy; chairman of pediatric critical care medicine; vice chairman of pediatrics, and executive director of critical care across the system.
He earned a bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1984 then a medical degree in 1989 from the University of Vermont. In 2012, Davis received a master’s in medical management from the Heinz College of Business at Carnegie Mellon University, where he also serves on the faculty and teaches leadership development. He earned a master’s in strategic leadership from Michigan State University in 2020.
Davis was a resident at Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital 1989 to 1992 and chief resident 1992-93. He completed a fellowship in pediatric critical care medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1996.