Pamela Johnson-Carlson named chief administrative officer of UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital
University of Iowa Health Care leaders have named Pamela Johnson-Carlson the chief administrative officer of University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
Johnson-Carlson, DNP, RN, NE-BC, who begins on April 27, will report to Suresh Gunasekaran, MBA, chief executive officer of UI Hospitals & Clinics and associate vice president for UI Health Care.
As chief administrative officer, Johnson-Carlson will provide oversight and direction in the planning, organization, and administration of daily operations at the children’s hospital. Johnson-Carlson will collaborate with the chair of the Stead Family Department of Pediatrics in the UI Carver College of Medicine, who also serves as physician-in-chief of the children’s hospital, and she will work closely with administrators and leaders across UI Health Care.
“Pam has shown a passion for children and pediatric health care throughout her entire career,” Gunasekaran says. “She brings a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and experience to this important leadership position with UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital and our statewide system of pediatric care. We look forward to having her on our team.”
Before joining UI Health Care, Johnson-Carlson served as vice president for patient care services and chief nursing officer at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Colorado Springs. She has also held leadership roles at children’s hospitals in Arizona and Nebraska.
“Sharing my passion for clinical excellence and advocating for future pediatric care initiatives in partnership with the high-performing team at UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital is exciting,” Johnson-Carlson says. “I look forward to joining this team of health care professionals in making a difference for children’s health locally and nationally.”
Johnson-Carlson also serves as a Magnet appraiser for the American Nurse Credentialing Center, which evaluates hospitals applying for Magnet Recognition, the highest award given for excellence in nursing practice. UI Hospitals and Clinics was the first hospital in Iowa to receive Magnet Recognition (2004) and the first hospital in the state to be re-designated three times (2008, 2013, and 2018).
Gunasekaran thanked Amy O’Deen, BSN, MHA, the senior associate director of UI Hospitals & Clinics who served as interim chief administrative officer for UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital during the national search that led to the selection of Johnson-Carlson.