Philadelphia – October 01, 2026 -- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has officially installed Joseph Mitchell, MD, as President and Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Madeline Bell after her nearly four-decade tenure and 11 years as CEO.
Mitchell completes an 18-month transition after joining CHOP as President in April 2025
Mitchell spent the past year and a half working alongside CHOP leadership, clinicians, researchers and community partners ahead of taking full control of the nation's first children's hospital, an institution founded more than 170 years ago.
Former Boston Children's executive led a 10-year master plan and a 2029 hospital build
Before CHOP, Mitchell served as Executive Vice President at Boston Children's Hospital and President of Franciscan Children's, where he secured city and state approvals for a 10-year institutional master plan and a new hospital facility slated to open in 2029. He also launched a capital campaign to fund campus modernization at Franciscan Children's.
Fourteen years at McKinsey, including seven as Partner, shaped his strategy background
Mitchell spent 14 years at McKinsey & Company advising healthcare organizations on strategy, operations and transformation, including seven years as a Partner. He trained as a physician through the Harvard urology residency program at Brigham and Women's Hospital and completed an NIH-sponsored research fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco.
"I am excited to work alongside our teams as we continue advancing breakthrough research, expanding access to care, and delivering the best possible outcomes for children and families," Mitchell said.
CHOP signals continued focus on regional expansion and strategic priorities
Since joining the organization, Mitchell has worked with internal leaders to strengthen CHOP's regional presence and deepen engagement with employees, patients, donors and community stakeholders.