Arkansas Children’s names Chacón as new chief operating officer

Arkansas Children’s Hospital hired Chanda Cashen Chacón as its new chief operating officer and executive vice president after an national search, hospital officials announced Wednesday (Sept. 7).

Chacón will report to ACH President and CEO Marcy Doderer and assume executive responsibility for operational leadership and accountability for the Little Rock and new Springdale campus slated to open in January 2018.

She will also work with Trisha Montague on the new Springdale facility which remains under construction. Her duties will include creating and maintaining positive relationships with members of the medical staff and boards as well as assist Doderer with building a stronger partnership with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Chacón comes to Arkansas Children’s from Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, where she is president of Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in West Houston. She worked for more than 14 years in leadership roles at Texas Children’s Hospital including ambulatory operations, pharmacy, the Heart Center, the Fetal Center and women’s services.

In the past nine years she has served as a court-appointed child advocate representing 11 children in child protective custody in the Houston area.

“Chanda understands how important it is for all children to have access to expert pediatric care close to home. Her extensive experience in leading teams through significant change will be invaluable to us as we advance our work within the hospitals, research institute and regional clinics. I look forward to working with Chanda as Arkansas Children’s builds a statewide network of pediatric care,” Doderer said in the statement.

At Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, Cashen Chacón directed the operations of the first pediatric community hospital in West Houston with more than 900 employees. She holds a master’s degree of public health from Yale University School of Public Health and Yale School of Management, and received her bachelor’s degree (cum laude) from Vanderbilt University with dual majors in biology and Spanish.

“Arkansas Children’s has an exciting growth strategy, and we share the same commitment to the importance of physician collaboration and putting people first in the equation to ensure high quality and safe care. I look forward to serving the patients and families of Arkansas Children’s and using my skills in strategic planning, project management, and process improvement with a singular focus on championing children by making them better today and healthier tomorrow.” Chacón said in the statement.