Profile: Arnold Strauss, MD, New Chair of Pediatrics
Dr. Arnold Strauss is greeted by his predecessor as chairman of Pediatrics, Dr. Thomas Boat.
On May 1, Arnold Strauss, MD, officially took over as chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, chief medical officer of Cincinnati Children's and director of the Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation. He is the seventh B.K. Rachford Memorial Chair in Pediatrics and succeeds Thomas Boat, MD, who has served in that position since 1993.
In his career, Dr. Strauss has been a distinguished pediatric cardiologist, scientist, educator and leader. He most recently served as chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and medical director of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. A respected scientist, Dr. Strauss is the recipient of two of the most prestigious awards in research. In November 2006 he was awarded the American Heart Association's Basic Science Research Award for his research into finding genetic defects that can cause heart failure and sudden death in infants and children. In 1991 he received the E. Mead Johnson Award for Excellence in Pediatric Research.
"Dr. Strauss shares our commitment to transformational quality improvement and to translational research that moves new knowledge from the laboratory to the bedside to change the outcome for children," says James Anderson, president and CEO of Cincinnati Children's. "We are confident that he possesses the leadership qualities and interpersonal skills to take us to even greater heights and help us realize our vision of being the leader in improving child health."
"This is the best job in the country for someone who wants to make a difference."
Dr. Strauss says he is looking forward to the opportunities and challenges at Cincinnati Children's. "We have an incredible opportunity to improve the lives of children here in Cincinnati and throughout the region, country and world," he explains. "Because of the incredible vision and leadership here in the past, including that of Dr. Boat, and the dedication and quality of our exceptional faculty, we can fulfill these goals and continue to be a leader nationally and globally."
Of his immediate goals, Dr. Strauss says, "I want us to be more of an advocate for children on the state and national level, to get involved with the community. The key is to understand we don't just take care of sick kids. We need to do things to make sure they have a healthy environment."
On a personal level, Dr. Strauss and his wife, Patricia, have been married since 1970. They have two daughters, both of whom are grown. He describes his management style as "pretty low-key. I think it's important to listen, to encourage and help. But when it comes to making hard decisions, I'm used to doing that." He is intent upon creating an environment of openness and collaboration. "I intend to keep my office door open here. It invites people to come in and talk. It also says there's nothing hidden, no secrets," he explains. In keeping with this spirit, a popcorn machine sits just outside his office. "We're going to put that by the refrigerator and go get a 10 lb. bag of popcorn. I guarantee it will be gone in a week," he laughs. "It's like the water cooler concept – it encourages collegiality and brings people together."
Dr. Strauss has long admired the work being done at Cincinnati Children's and is energized by the opportunity to contribute to its future. "As a team, I am certain that we can accelerate discovery, educate and train future leaders in academic pediatrics, optimize patient care and change the outcome for children," he says. "This is the best job in the country for someone who wants to make a difference. I was attracted to Cincinnati Children's because of the people and the possibilities."
Dr. Strauss is the Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, chief medical officer of Cincinnati Children's and director of the Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation. He is the seventh B.K. Rachford Memorial Chair in Pediatrics and succeeds Thomas Boat, MD, who has served in that position since 1993.
