CEO Oxendale of UPMC's Children's Hospital, foundation resigns
The administrator who guided plans for construction of Children's Hospital of UPMC has resigned, barely a month after the hospital's opening.
Roger Oxendale, a longtime fixture in Children's administration, resigned from his dual jobs as the hospital's chief executive officer and president of the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation, officials said Monday.
"It's bittersweet," Oxendale said. "Fifteen years of your life invested in this is a long time. There's a little bit of nostalgia when I look back at that, but there's also excitement as to what might lie in front of me and what I can contribute to the region."
Oxendale, 55, said his departure was planned for some time. He and UPMC President Jeffrey Romoff agreed he would step down once the hospital opened. Oxendale initially did not plan to leave the foundation job but said his skills don't match the needs of the organization.
"The more I thought about my skills and my ability, the more I realized that I don't think it maximizes the opportunity the foundation has," he said.
Oxendale, who informed the Children's board of his decision last month, will stay on the jobs through the end of the year and help with a search for his successor. He and his wife intend to stay in the Pittsburgh area, where he expects to remain on the boards of several nonprofit organizations. He said he intends to work as a consultant.
Oxendale has been at Children's since 1995, when he was hired as chief financial officer. He became president and CEO in January 2005 after the resignation of Ronald L. Violi. Violi clashed with leaders at UPMC, which merged with Children's in 2001.
Oxendale called the merger "the right decision."
Oxendale's duties were split in April 2008 when Chris Gessner took the president's job and Oxendale remained CEO. The change allowed Oxendale to take over the foundation job and work with government agencies as an advocate for children and reimbursement issues.
Gessner called Oxendale a mentor and friend.
"His unwavering support of Children's mission and quiet, effective leadership style was critical to the planning and development of our new campus in Lawrenceville and the significant growth of our clinical and academic programs," he said.
The Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation is in the midst of a capital campaign to raise money for construction of the $622 million hospital in Lawrenceville. The foundation needs to raise about $35 million to fulfill its $100 million pledge. Foundation chairwoman Catharine M. Ryan did not return a call for comment.
One of the most gratifying aspects of his position, Oxendale said, was hearing from parents and former patients about the impact Children's had on their lives.
"If someone finds out what I do for living, it's very rare they don't immediately tell me how they've been touched by the hospital," he said. "That really brings it home for me."
