Keith D. Goodwin of Columbus, Ohio, has been named President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of East Tennessee Children's Hospital, succeeding Bob Koppel, who will retire June 30 after a distinguished 31-year career as the hospital's chief executive officer. Goodwin will assume his duties sometime in late May or early June.

Goodwin has spent most of his professional career at Columbus Children's Hospital (CCH), a 375-bed pediatric medical center. During his 26 years in management at CCH (1977-96 and 1999-2006), he has served in the positions of Assistant Executive Director, President and Chief Operating Officer and Interim CEO. At Columbus Children's, Goodwin focused many of his efforts on program/service development, strategic planning, physician recruitment, children's advocacy, fundraising, health care access for the region's children, facility expansion and a successful capital funds campaign. Goodwin also served as administrator of Children's Hospital in Austin, Texas, from 1996-98. Currently, Goodwin is president of Doctors Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, a 222-bed hospital that is part of the OhioHealth hospital system.

A graduate of The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science as well as a certificate from its Executive Program in Health Care Financial Management, Goodwin also holds a Master of Business Administration from Capital University in Columbus.

Beyond his dedication to pediatric health care, Goodwin has a history of supporting the community in which he lives and works. He has been actively involved with organizations including Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Ronald McDonald House, Juvenile Diabetes Board of Central Texas, and his two alma maters, Ohio State and Capital University.

When Koppel announced in May 2006 that he planned to retire in June 2007, a President & Chief Executive Officer Succession Plan adopted in 2004 was put into action. Last summer, the hospital established an Executive Search Committee and retained the services of DHR International, an Atlanta-based executive search firm that has worked with Children's Hospital on several previous senior management searches.

An extensive national search and screening process led to invitations to four candidates for final two-day interviews in February. During these interviews, the candidates met with more than 55 individuals representing the Medical and Hospital staff leadership, Senior Management, Volunteer Leadership and the Board of Directors.

"Although we had four very strong candidates from which to choose, we believe Keith is a perfect fit for both our hospital and the community, " said Jim Bush, Chairman of the Board of Directors. "Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a passion and commitment to building an organizational culture of service and support for sick and injured children and their families. His positive relationships with medical and hospital staff, trustees and volunteers have been a hallmark of his leadership. Keith's understanding of children's health care, coupled with his management style and relationship-building skills, will allow for a smooth CEO transition and ensure East Tennessee Children's Hospital will continue on a road toward a very bright future."

"At the same time, we wish to extend our profound thanks to Bob Koppel for his countless contributions to Children's Hospital these past 31 years," Bush concluded.

Koppel commented, "The Children's Hospital family is very impressed with Keith Goodwin's breadth of experience in children's health care management and advocacy. With his leadership skills and knowledge, as well as his more than 28 years of experience in children's hospital management, we are confident he will contribute greatly to Children's Hospital and the East Tennessee community in the years to come."

Goodwin said, "I am extremely honored to be offered the job of President/CEO at East Tennessee Children's Hospital. My long-term goal has always been to be the CEO of a free-standing children's hospital, and I cannot think of a better institution to serve. The hospital is known nationally, and the medical/hospital staffs, board of directors and volunteers are extremely dedicated individuals with a passion for children. The region is fortunate to have an institution of such high caliber to serve its children. I look forward to building on the success Children's Hospital has enjoyed under Bob Koppel's leadership for the last 31 years. Having Bob's extensive expertise available to me, not only during the transition period but also for the next two years in his capacity as President/CEO Emeritus, will be an advantage for both me and the hospital. My wife, Diane, and I have enjoyed the time we have spent in Knoxville. We've met many friendly people and are excited to move to such a beautiful part of the country."

As Koppel ends a long and distinguished career as president of Children's Hospital, the pediatric medical center is flourishing. According to Bush, the positive changes and growth that have taken place at Children's Hospital since Koppel arrived in 1976 are nothing short of phenomenal. Koppel has led the recruitment effort to bring more than 100 pediatric medical and surgical specialists in 28 different specialties to Children's Hospital and was instrumental in the addition of many new departments and services. The hospital staff has grown from 110 employees to 1,800, and Children's Hospital now ranks as the 25th largest employer in the Knoxville area. The medical center has expanded from a single four-story structure to several multi-story buildings at the main campus. Additional hospital services and facilities have been added throughout Knox and surrounding counties, including the Children's West outpatient campus in West Knoxville. Children's Hospital now owns or manages Children's Home Health Care, the Children's Hospital Rehabilitation Center, two primary care centers and physician practices in seven counties.

Beginning July 1, 2007, Koppel will serve Children's Hospital for two years in a new role as President/CEO Emeritus, focusing on strategic planning, physician recruitment, fund-raising strategies, donor relationships and advocacy of Children's Hospital's interests to promote quality children's health care.

"The three decades I have spent at Children's Hospital have been filled with rewards beyond anything I could have imagined when my family and I moved to Knoxville in 1976," Koppel said. "I have been honored and privileged to have served as Children's President and CEO. The trust placed in me by patients and their families, as well as our Medical and Hospital staffs, Board of Directors and Volunteers is something I will treasure for a lifetime. I am proud to have been a part of the tremendous growth at Children's Hospital over the past 31 years, and a part of my heart will forever remain at Children's Hospital. It is a place like no other on earth."

East Tennessee Children's Hospital is a private, independent, not-for-profit pediatric medical center that has served the East Tennessee region for 70 years and is certified by the state of Tennessee as a Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center.