Connecticut Children's Medical Center CEO and leadership

James E. Shmerling was named President and Chief Executive Officer at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center on October 1, 2015. For over three decades, Dr. Shmerling has served in management roles in children’s hospitals and is nationally recognized as a leader in issues concerning children’s health and wellness.

Prior to joining Connecticut Children’s, Dr. Shmerling spent the last eight years as the Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Hospital Colorado, one of the top ranked children’s hospitals in the nation. Before that, he was the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt from 2002 to 2007. He was the Senior Vice President of Methodist Healthcare and President of Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center from 1995 to 2002, and was Le Bonheur’s Chief Operating Officer from 1991 to 1995. He served as the Associate Director of Hospitals at Indiana University Hospitals and Administrator of the James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children from 1987 to 1991. Dr. Shmerling’s career in children’s hospitals began in the Children’s Hospital of Alabama where he progressed in administrative responsibilities from 1979 to1987, the last of which was as its Associate Administrator.

He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Education from the University of Tennessee in 1976. In 1980, he was awarded a Master of Science Degree in Hospital and Health Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He earned a Master of Business Administration from Samford University in 1984 and his Doctorate of Health Administration from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1999.

Dr. Shmerling is a Fellow in the American College of Health Care Executives (ACHE). He is an adjunct faculty member in the Hospital Administration programs, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Additionally, Dr. Shmerling is active in several national healthcare organizations.

Bridgett Feagin is senior vice president, chief financial officer for Connecticut Children’s. In her role, she’s responsible for leading the organization’s financial planning, analysis and operations.

Recently, Bridgett was recognized as one of Becker’s Hospital Review’s 70 African American Leaders in Healthcare to Know. She joins Connecticut Children’s with more than two decades of financial experience and a proven track record of successfully managing the financial operations of highly complex matrixed organizations. She most recently held the position of CFO for three of Tenet Healthcare Corporation/Detroit Medical Center’s (DMC) seven hospitals, including Detroit Receiving, Harper University and Hutzel Women’s Hospitals. Bridgett provided direct oversight of finance, supply chain, medical records, revenue integrity, clinical resource management and physician advisors, and patient access. Prior to DMC, she held the role of CFO at United Way for Southeastern Michigan (UWSEM) in which she managed the financial health of the organization, information technology and facilities administration. Prior to UWSEM, she spent 20 years serving in various financial leadership roles at DMC, including Financial Controller of DMC’s Children’s Hospital of MI.

She received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Alabama State University and earned a Master of Business Administration in Information Systems Management from Wayne State University. Her professional memberships include Healthcare Financial Management Association, American College of Healthcare Executives, Inforum and National Black MBA Association.

James Moore MD, PhD, is the Division Head of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine and Vice President, Clinical Network Development and Chief Clinical Network Development Officer for Connecticut Children’s. He is also an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at UCONN Health. Jim has been involved in neonatal research and education through his career and has previously been awarded the Richard Rivas Memorial Teaching Award, the Founder’s Award from the Southern Society for Pediatric Research, and the Graham’s Foundation honoree for Contributions to Neonatology. Previous to his arrival at Connecticut Children’s he was faculty at the University of Texas Southwestern and was the medical director of the Level IV NICU at Dallas Children’s.

Dr. Moore received his Bachelor’s Degree from Syracuse University, and his MD and PhD from Emory University in Atlanta. He completed his Pediatric Residency at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, and his fellowship in Neonatal Perinatal Medicine at the Harvard Combined Program in Neonatology at Boston Children’s.

Deb Pappas is vice president, chief marketing and communications officer for Connecticut Children’s. In her role, she’s responsible for leading the development of comprehensive marketing and communications strategies to build Connecticut Children’s brand and reputation, and customer acquisition initiatives in support of the organization’s growth strategy. Pappas oversees digital and content marketing, earned and social media, internal and external communications, and creative services.

Pappas brings a career of marketing and communications experience in both agency and industry sectors, including healthcare, to Connecticut Children’s. Most recently, she served as the Senior Director of Marketing and National Physician Relations for Boston Children’s Hospital. Prior to that she was the Senior Director of Marketing and Communications for UMass Memorial Health Care.

Throughout her career, Pappas has managed corporate and product marketing and communications strategies for a variety of healthcare, technology, financial services and retail brands. Known nationally for her marketing expertise, she has been a featured speaker at conferences across the country.

Pappas earned a BA degree in Psychology from Colby College and an MBA in Marketing from the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business, Babson College.

Experienced Academician with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital & health care industry. Skilled in Clinical and Translational Research, Medical Education, Life Sciences, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Global Health. Strong education professional, trained in Pediatrics at the University of Connecticut, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases and MPH focused in Epidemiology from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Currently serving as Chair of a large Department of Pediatrics at the University of Connecticut and Physician in Chief and EVP Academic Affairs at Connecticut Children's Medical Center.

Jung Park are an Associate CIO at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and are based in West Hartford, Connecticut. They have worked as Director of Application Services at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, IT Director at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Sr Director of Information Services at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. Jung studied at Carnegie Mellon University between 1993 and 1997.

Lawrence (Larry) Milan is a SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and is based in West Hartford, Connecticut. He has worked as SVP, Human Resources at ING US; SVP, Customer Service Centers at ING US; and Interim Chief Human Resources Officer at ING US. Lawrence studied at Michigan State University and Bluffton University.

James E. Shmerling was named President and Chief Executive Officer at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center on October 1, 2015. For over three decades, Dr. Shmerling has served in management roles in children’s hospitals and is nationally recognized as a leader in issues concerning children’s health and wellness.

Prior to joining Connecticut Children’s, Dr. Shmerling spent the last eight years as the Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Hospital Colorado, one of the top ranked children’s hospitals in the nation. Before that, he was the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt from 2002 to 2007. He was the Senior Vice President of Methodist Healthcare and President of Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center from 1995 to 2002, and was Le Bonheur’s Chief Operating Officer from 1991 to 1995. He served as the Associate Director of Hospitals at Indiana University Hospitals and Administrator of the James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children from 1987 to 1991. Dr. Shmerling’s career in children’s hospitals began in the Children’s Hospital of Alabama where he progressed in administrative responsibilities from 1979 to1987, the last of which was as its Associate Administrator.

He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Education from the University of Tennessee in 1976. In 1980, he was awarded a Master of Science Degree in Hospital and Health Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He earned a Master of Business Administration from Samford University in 1984 and his Doctorate of Health Administration from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1999.

Dr. Shmerling is a Fellow in the American College of Health Care Executives (ACHE). He is an adjunct faculty member in the Hospital Administration programs, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Additionally, Dr. Shmerling is active in several national healthcare organizations.

Bridgett Feagin is senior vice president, chief financial officer for Connecticut Children’s. In her role, she’s responsible for leading the organization’s financial planning, analysis and operations.

Recently, Bridgett was recognized as one of Becker’s Hospital Review’s 70 African American Leaders in Healthcare to Know. She joins Connecticut Children’s with more than two decades of financial experience and a proven track record of successfully managing the financial operations of highly complex matrixed organizations. She most recently held the position of CFO for three of Tenet Healthcare Corporation/Detroit Medical Center’s (DMC) seven hospitals, including Detroit Receiving, Harper University and Hutzel Women’s Hospitals. Bridgett provided direct oversight of finance, supply chain, medical records, revenue integrity, clinical resource management and physician advisors, and patient access. Prior to DMC, she held the role of CFO at United Way for Southeastern Michigan (UWSEM) in which she managed the financial health of the organization, information technology and facilities administration. Prior to UWSEM, she spent 20 years serving in various financial leadership roles at DMC, including Financial Controller of DMC’s Children’s Hospital of MI.

She received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Alabama State University and earned a Master of Business Administration in Information Systems Management from Wayne State University. Her professional memberships include Healthcare Financial Management Association, American College of Healthcare Executives, Inforum and National Black MBA Association.

James Moore MD, PhD, is the Division Head of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine and Vice President, Clinical Network Development and Chief Clinical Network Development Officer for Connecticut Children’s. He is also an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at UCONN Health. Jim has been involved in neonatal research and education through his career and has previously been awarded the Richard Rivas Memorial Teaching Award, the Founder’s Award from the Southern Society for Pediatric Research, and the Graham’s Foundation honoree for Contributions to Neonatology. Previous to his arrival at Connecticut Children’s he was faculty at the University of Texas Southwestern and was the medical director of the Level IV NICU at Dallas Children’s.

Dr. Moore received his Bachelor’s Degree from Syracuse University, and his MD and PhD from Emory University in Atlanta. He completed his Pediatric Residency at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, and his fellowship in Neonatal Perinatal Medicine at the Harvard Combined Program in Neonatology at Boston Children’s.