Our Leadership

Children's National Medical Center Executive Management and Key Staff

Edwin K. Zechman, Jr.
Mark Batshaw, MD
Jacqueline Bowens
Jody Burdell
Max Coppes, MD, PhD, MBA
Denice Cora-Bramble, MD, MBA, FAAP
Mary Anne Hilliard, Esq.
Peter Holbrook, MD
Pam King Sams
Gerard Martin, MD
Kurt Newman, MD
Roger Packer, MD
Nellie Robinson, RN, MS
Raymond Sczudlo, Esq.
Carl Spatz
Mendel Tuchman, MD
Mark Weissman, MD
David Wessel, MD
Joseph Wright, MD, MPH
F. Robert Yates, Jr., MBA, FACHE, FACMPE

Edwin K. Zechman, Jr. President and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Zechman joined the Executive Management Staff of Children's in 1994. He previously served as president and chief executive officer of the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, executive director of the Children's Hospital of Alabama and executive director of the Children's Hospital of New Orleans. Mr. Zechman is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the American Hospital Association (AHA), as well as chairman of National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI).
	Mark Batshaw, MD Chief Academic Officer, Children’s National Medical Center; Director, Children’s Research Institute; Chairman, Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University Dr. Batshaw trained as a developmental pediatrician and has spent more than 30 years treating children with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. Dr. Batshaw is a renowned researcher who has received nearly $100 million in grants and is author of the world’s most comprehensive book about developmental disabilities.
Jacqueline Bowens Vice President, Chief Government and External Affairs Officer  Ms. Bowens is responsible for the strategic direction of Legislative and External Affairs, Public Affairs, Advocacy and Community Affairs, Community Partnerships, and Volunteer and Consumer Support Services. She was recognized as the 2004 Alumnus of the Year by the University of Southern California Black Alumni Association. Ms. Bowens is a member of the Board of Directors of the District of Columbia Hospital Association. She also is a graduate of Leadership Greater Washington and is a former president of Women in Government Relations.
	Jody Burdell Vice President, Chief Operating Officer Ms. Burdell runs the day-to-day operations of the institution, including Strategic Planning and Development, Information Technology, Facilities, Operations and Compliance, and Human Resources. She joined Children’s in 1994, and previously served as vice president of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
	Max Coppes, MD, PhD, MBA Executive Director, Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders Dr. Coppes joined Children’s from the University of Calgary, where he was the first to hold the $6 million endowed Kids Cancer Care Foundation Chair in Pediatric Oncology. He was the director of the Children’s Cancer Program at the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, Canada. Dr. Coppes is an internationally recognized expert in Wilms tumors, the most common form of childhood kidney cancer. He has published more than 120 manuscripts, is a member of several editorial boards and sits on numerous national and international committees. The  Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders  plays an active role in childhood cancer research, education and advocacy.
	Denice Cora-Bramble, MD, MBA, FAAP Executive Director, The Diana L. and Stephen A. Goldberg Center for Community Pediatric Health Dr. Cora-Bramble manages the center that is the largest provider of pediatric primary care in the District of Columbia, with more than 70,000 visits per year. As a bilingual, board-certified pediatrician, Dr. Cora-Bramble has developed and implemented national and local programs that increase access to healthcare services for underserved populations. Her areas of expertise include cultural competency, health disparities, community-based education, and leadership development. She has received multiple awards from organizations such as the American Public Health Association, George Washington University, District of Columbia Public Schools, and the Metropolitan Washington Public Health Association.
Mary Anne Hilliard, Esq. Chief Risk Counsel Ms. Hilliard manages Children’s risk management, claims, litigation, and insurance. She previously practiced law in Washington, DC, as an in-house hospital attorney specializing in professional malpractice defense and general healthcare law. Prior to entering the practice of law, Ms. Hilliard worked as a pediatric nurse and nurse educator. She is extensively published and lectures widely at hospitals, universities and associations on litigation, patient safety and claims management.
	Peter Holbrook, MD Chief Medical Officer Dr. Holbrook has served as Children’s Chief Medical Officer for more than 12 years. Dr. Holbrook initiated a pediatric critical care fellowship training program, one of the first focused specifically on pediatricians as trainees. He also organized the pediatric section of the Society of Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Holbrook is recognized nationally for his work in developing critical care medicine, as well as administrative and ethical issues in caring for critically ill children. He is editor of the Textbook of Pediatric Critical Care and co-author of the Textbook of Critical Care Medicine. He has been author and co-author of a number of scientific publications and book chapters, as well as the recipient of several distinguished awards.
Pam King Sams Vice President, Development Chief Operating Officer, Children’s Hospital Foundation Ms. Sams is responsible for managing the $500 million “Transforming Children’s Health” campaign, which will fund Children’s National’s strategic initiatives during the next five years. Ms. Sams serves as an ex-officio member of the Children’s Hospital Foundation Board. Pam is certified as a fundraising executive through the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) and has served as a board member for the AHP Foundation.
	Gerard Martin, MD Executive Director, Center for Heart, Lung and Kidney Disease; Co-Director, Children’s National Heart Institute; Professor of Pediatrics, George Washington University Dr. Martin is a nationally recognized expert in pediatric cardiology. He has volunteered on medical missions to numerous third-world countries. Dr. Martin is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Cardiology, and he also serves on the American Board of Pediatrics sub-board in pediatric cardiology. Dr. Martin is an associate editor for Pediatric Cardiology, and has more than 60 publications in the field of pediatric cardiology. He is an invited speaker nationally and internationally.
	Kurt Newman, MD Executive Director, The Joseph E. Robert, Jr. Center for Surgical Care; Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics, George Washington University Dr. Newman has been a surgeon at Children's since 1984. He is an expert in clinical resource management and serves as a consultant to several children's hospitals in conjunction with the Child Health Corporation of America. Dr. Newman is the author or co-author of more than 60 publications. He is a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Joint Commission and the Board of Governors of the American Pediatric Surgery Association. Dr. Newman also is chairman of the Surgery Section of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
	Roger Packer, MD Executive Director, Center for Neuroscience and Behavioral Medicine; Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics, George Washington University Dr. Packer is a leader in the care of children with brain tumors and led the Brain Tumor Strategy Group of the Children’s Cancer Group, the largest organization caring for children with cancer in the United States. Approximately one in every ten children in the United States with a brain tumor will be evaluated by Dr. Packer through Children’s brain tumor program. Dr. Packer developed the standard approaches for children in the United States and throughout the world for medulloblastoma and low-grade astrocytomas, the most common benign brain tumor for children. He has authored or co-authored more than 500 scientific publications, including books on the management of childhood brain tumors and other aspects of pediatric neurology.
Nellie Robinson, RN, MS Vice President, Patient Services Ms. Robinson is responsible for Nursing Services, Quality Improvement, Case Management, Utilization Management, Social Work, Child Life, Food and Nutrition Services, and Occupational Health. She served as a member of the American Hospital Association (AHA) Board of Trustees, and also served on a national taskforce on Quality and Patient Safety. She has authored numerous articles on nursing leadership, and authored a book chapter in Redesigning Nursing Care Delivery:Transforming Our Future. Ms. Robinson has received numerous distinguished honors and awards for her work in nursing and health care.
Raymond Sczudlo, Esq. Vice President, Chief Legal Officer Mr. Sczudlo joined Children’s in July 2001 as vice president and chief legal officer responsible for all aspects of the organization’s legal affairs. Mr. Sczudlo was previously senior vice president and general counsel of EYECAST Corporation, and a partner in the international law firm of Weil, Gotshal and Manges LLP. He also was an adjunct professor at the George Washington University Law Center, where he taught banking and finance. He previously served as chairman of the Children’s Foundation Board and chairman of the Board of Safe Kids Worldwide.
Carl Spatz Corporate Affairs Manager Mr. Spatz joined Children’s in 1985 and previously served as assistant to the president (1985-86) and secretary to the boards (1986-95). He is the chief staffer for the nine governing boards and four auxiliary boards of the Children’s system. Previously, he served as office manager, legislative assistant and staff assistant in the U.S. House of Representatives. He also clerked at the U.S. Department of Justice.
	Mendel Tuchman, MD Scientific Director, Children’s Research Institute; Professor of Pediatrics, George Washington University Dr. Tuchman holds the Mary Elizabeth McGehee Joyce Chair in Genetics Research at Children's. He conducts translational research in biochemistry and molecular biology of nitrogen metabolism and inborn errors of metabolism. His work is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and he has published 140 peer-reviewed articles.
	Mark Weissman, MD Medical Director, Children’s National Health Network; Associate Professor of Pediatrics, George Washington University Dr. Weissman leads Washington, DC, region’s largest dedicated pediatric provider network that links more than 500 DC, Maryland and Virginia-based primary care pediatricians and 300 pediatric specialists with the programs and services of Children’s. He has been an actively practicing primary care pediatrician in Washington, DC for almost 30 years.
	David Wessel, MD Executive Director, Center for Hospital-Based Specialties Dr. Wessel is internationally known for his pioneering work in caring for infants with heart disease. Dr. Wessel previously was a professor of pediatrics (anesthesia) at the Harvard Medical School. He was chief of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Boston Children’s for many years and previously served as president of the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society.
	Joseph Wright, MD, MPH Executive Director, Child Health Advocacy Institute; Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Pediatrics; Professor of Emergency Medicine and Prevention and Community Health, George Washington University Dr. Wright provides strategic leadership for the organization’s advocacy mission, public policy positions and community partnership initiatives. He has served as attending faculty in the Division of Emergency Medicine at Children’s since 1993, and recently served the institution as executive director of the Center for Hospital-Based Specialties. Dr. Wright has devoted much of his academic energy to addressing the concerns of the underserved. He has been recognized for his efforts as a winner of the Shining Star award from the Los Angeles-based Starlight Foundation, and is an elected member of Delta Omega, the national public health honor society.
F. Robert Yates, Jr., MBA, FACHE, FACMPE Executive Director, Children’s Pediatrician’s & Associates, LLC Mr. Yates has extensive executive senior level experience in acute care, academic medical, ambulatory healthcare, practice management, and managed care. Mr. Yates planned, organized and executed the start-up and growth of Children’s Pediatricians & Associates (CP&A). Under his leadership, CP&A has been designated as one of the “Better Performing and Successful Medical Groups” in the United States by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA). He also serves as the American College of Healthcare Executives regent for the District of Columbia.