Madeline Bell, BSN, plans to retire Oct. 1 as CEO of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia after nearly 40 years with the organization.
Joseph Mitchell, MD, CHOP’s president, will succeed Ms. Bell as president and CEO, according to a June 23 hospital news release.
Dr. Mitchell joined CHOP in April 2025 and brings more than 20 years of healthcare leadership experience to the role. Before joining CHOP, he served as executive vice president at Boston Children’s Hospital and president of Brighton, Mass.-based Franciscan Children’s.
In that role, Dr. Mitchell helped secure approval for Franciscan Children’s 10-year institutional master plan, including a new hospital facility scheduled to open in 2029. Earlier in his career, he worked at McKinsey & Co. for 14 years, including seven years as a partner.
Ms. Bell began her career as a pediatric nurse at CHOP in 1983. After working in hospital administration elsewhere, she returned to the organization in 1995 and held leadership roles including executive vice president, COO and president. She has served as CEO since 2015.
The transition follows a succession planning process that began after Ms. Bell informed CHOP’s board of trustees of her plans to retire in 2024, the release said.
“Serving CHOP has been the honor of a lifetime,” Ms. Bell said in the release. “I am incredibly proud of how far this organization has come — and even more confident in where it is headed. Joe is a mission-driven leader with a deep commitment to children and families, and I know CHOP will continue to thrive under his leadership.”
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