Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) today announced an important leadership transition: Madeline Bell, Chief Executive Officer, will retire on Oct. 1, 2026, following a distinguished career spanning nearly 40 years at CHOP, including eight years as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and 11 years as CEO.
CHOP’s current President, Joseph (Joe) Mitchell, MD, will succeed Madeline as President and CEO, effective Oct. 1, 2026. Joe joined CHOP in April 2025 following a comprehensive national search and has worked closely with Madeline, the Board of Trustees, and the CHOP leadership team in preparation for this transition.
“Serving CHOP has been the honor of a lifetime,” said Bell. “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.”
The transition reflects CHOP’s longstanding commitment to thoughtful succession planning and leadership development. Madeline shared her intention to retire with the Board of Trustees in 2024, initiating a deliberate process to identify CHOP’s next leader.
Joe has more than 20 years of healthcare leadership experience, including executive roles in leading pediatric systems and work focused on healthcare quality, outcomes and affordability. Prior to joining CHOP, he served as both Executive Vice President at Boston Children’s Hospital and President of Franciscan Children’s, a specialty hospital. In these roles, he helped secure city and state approval for Franciscan’s 10-year institutional master plan, including a new state-of-the-art hospital facility that will open in 2029. In addition, he launched a major capital campaign to support campus modernization. Earlier in his career, Joe worked at McKinsey & Company for 14 years, including seven as a Partner. He trained in the Harvard urology residency program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and completed a National Institutes of Health-sponsored research fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco.
Over the past year, Joe has immersed himself in CHOP’s operations, culture and community, meeting with staff, patients, donors and partners across the region. He has worked closely with Madeline to advance CHOP’s strategic priorities and finalize efforts to expand its presence throughout the region.
“Madeline has led CHOP through an extraordinary period of growth and impact,” said Greg Davis, Chairman of CHOP’s Board of Trustees. “Her vision and unwavering commitment to children in our local community and throughout the world have strengthened CHOP’s position as a global leader in pediatric healthcare. We are deeply grateful for her leadership and confident in the strong foundation she leaves behind. I especially want to thank her for her thoughtful approach to welcoming Joe to the organization.”
“Joe brings a fresh perspective, a patient-first approach, and a strong strategic mindset,” he continued. “We are confident he will guide CHOP into its next chapter with continued excellence and impact.”
Founded more than 170 years ago as the nation’s first children’s hospital, CHOP remains steadfast in its mission to address the most complex challenges in pediatric healthcare.
“CHOP is one of the most remarkable institutions in healthcare, with a mission that truly transforms lives,” said Mitchell. “It is a privilege to build on this legacy alongside an exceptional team. Together, we will keep advancing our work to ensure all children, in Philadelphia and beyond, have the opportunity to thrive.”
With Joe at the helm, CHOP will continue to advance its mission — delivering exceptional clinical care, driving life-changing research and innovation, and investing in the future of pediatric medicine.
Featured in this article
Experts
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) today announced an important leadership transition: Madeline Bell, Chief Executive Officer, will retire on Oct. 1, 2026, following a distinguished career spanning nearly 40 years at CHOP, including eight years as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and 11 years as CEO.
CHOP’s current President, Joseph (Joe) Mitchell, MD, will succeed Madeline as President and CEO, effective Oct. 1, 2026. Joe joined CHOP in April 2025 following a comprehensive national search and has worked closely with Madeline, the Board of Trustees, and the CHOP leadership team in preparation for this transition.
“Serving CHOP has been the honor of a lifetime,” said Bell. “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.”
The transition reflects CHOP’s longstanding commitment to thoughtful succession planning and leadership development. Madeline shared her intention to retire with the Board of Trustees in 2024, initiating a deliberate process to identify CHOP’s next leader.
Joe has more than 20 years of healthcare leadership experience, including executive roles in leading pediatric systems and work focused on healthcare quality, outcomes and affordability. Prior to joining CHOP, he served as both Executive Vice President at Boston Children’s Hospital and President of Franciscan Children’s, a specialty hospital. In these roles, he helped secure city and state approval for Franciscan’s 10-year institutional master plan, including a new state-of-the-art hospital facility that will open in 2029. In addition, he launched a major capital campaign to support campus modernization. Earlier in his career, Joe worked at McKinsey & Company for 14 years, including seven as a Partner. He trained in the Harvard urology residency program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and completed a National Institutes of Health-sponsored research fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco.
Over the past year, Joe has immersed himself in CHOP’s operations, culture and community, meeting with staff, patients, donors and partners across the region. He has worked closely with Madeline to advance CHOP’s strategic priorities and finalize efforts to expand its presence throughout the region.
“Madeline has led CHOP through an extraordinary period of growth and impact,” said Greg Davis, Chairman of CHOP’s Board of Trustees. “Her vision and unwavering commitment to children in our local community and throughout the world have strengthened CHOP’s position as a global leader in pediatric healthcare. We are deeply grateful for her leadership and confident in the strong foundation she leaves behind. I especially want to thank her for her thoughtful approach to welcoming Joe to the organization.”
“Joe brings a fresh perspective, a patient-first approach, and a strong strategic mindset,” he continued. “We are confident he will guide CHOP into its next chapter with continued excellence and impact.”
Founded more than 170 years ago as the nation’s first children’s hospital, CHOP remains steadfast in its mission to address the most complex challenges in pediatric healthcare.
“CHOP is one of the most remarkable institutions in healthcare, with a mission that truly transforms lives,” said Mitchell. “It is a privilege to build on this legacy alongside an exceptional team. Together, we will keep advancing our work to ensure all children, in Philadelphia and beyond, have the opportunity to thrive.”
With Joe at the helm, CHOP will continue to advance its mission — delivering exceptional clinical care, driving life-changing research and innovation, and investing in the future of pediatric medicine.
Contact us
Dan Alt