Kristi Baker named senior executive officer of AdventHealth for Children

Kristi Baker has been named senior executive officer for AdventHealth for Children, effective April 7. In this role, Baker will oversee the day-to-day operations of AdventHealth for Children and lead the health system's statewide pediatric care network in Florida.

“I’m humbled to join the AdventHealth for Children team — a team that’s already inspired me through their dedication to compassionate care,” said Baker. “I believe we have the power to make a profound difference in the lives of the children and families we care for, and I look forward to partnering with our providers and care teams to help advance world-class pediatric care throughout the communities we belong to.”

Baker added: “As a mother, I look at every program or service through the lens of ‘what would I want for my child?’ and I can't imagine a more fulfilling job than helping a sick child and being that resource families know they can depend on during one of the most difficult times in their lives.”

AdventHealth for Children is a nationally recognized children’s hospital and comprehensive care network that includes more than 250 pediatricians and specialists caring for nearly 200,000 children annually, and its flagship hospital in Orlando is home to the Walt Disney Pavilion. Ranked as a Top Children’s Hospital by the Leapfrog Group, a three-time gold standard Magnet designated hospital by the ANCC and recognized as a national leader by U.S. News & World Report, the health system offers specialized programs in neonatology, Down syndrome, liver transplant, mental and behavioral health, epilepsy, cellular therapy, and pediatric head and neck care.

“AdventHealth for Children is a leader in pediatric health care — it’s a special place taking care of some of our most special patients,” AdventHealth Orlando CEO Rob Deininger said. “I’m thrilled Kristi’s bringing her unique background and expertise in both academic and non-academic settings as we seek to deliver seamless, whole-person care to our youngest patients and their families.”

Baker succeeds Dr. Rajan “Raj” Wadhawan who joined AdventHealth’s West Florida Division as chief clinical officer last April, overseeing clinical operations and quality of care for the region’s 13 hospitals.

In her previous role, Baker served as vice president of women and children services at Saint Francis Health System in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a multi-campus system with more than 1,600 beds and 11,000 team members. Prior to that, she held various leadership positions at Novant Health’s Betty H. Cameron Women and Children’s Hospital in North Carolina and at Children’s Mercy Kansas City in Missouri.

“Kristi’s deep pediatric experience and love of children are inspiring,” said Brea Weiss, chair of the AdventHealth for Children Foundation board. “We are excited for this next chapter of our beloved children’s hospital and the incredible care we provide to children in our community, across the state and around the nation as a destination and leader for pediatric care.”

Baker received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Missouri and a master’s degree in integrated marketing and communications from the University of Kansas. She has served on a variety of boards, including the Ronald McDonald House and the Missouri and Oklahoma chapters of the American College of Healthcare Executives. She currently serves as president-elect of the Association of Administrators in Academic Pediatrics and on the board of the American College of Healthcare Executives programs, products and services committee.

She and her daughter Brooke, who is a freshman at Oklahoma State University, follow Formula 1 racing and love spending time at the lake with family and friends.