CHKD president and CEO James Dahling to retire

After nearly 30 years, Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters President and CEO James Dahling announced his retirement from the Hampton Roads-based health system Friday.

“The board extends immense gratitude to Jim for his visionary leadership,” Akhil Jain, chair of CHKD’s board of directors, said in a statement. “His tenure marked an era of critical expansion for the health system, improving access to pediatric services and aligning CHKD with major shifts in the delivery of health care.”

Amy Sampson, CHKD’s senior vice president and chief engagement and innovation officer, will succeed Dahling, who will retire in 2023, but a transition date has not yet been set.

The leadership structure of the health system will also change. Dr. Christopher Foley, vice president and chief of medicine, is being promoted to chief clinical operations officer, a new position that will replace the chief operating officer. Dahling, Sampson and Foley will work together over the next several months toward the transition.

Dahling came to CHKD in 1994 as vice president and chief operating officer and became president and CEO in 2003, overseeing the expansion of CHKD’s outpatient services to multiservice health and surgery centers throughout Hampton Roads, according to a news release from CHKD.

Dahling worked as senior vice president of Richmond Memorial Hospital from 1987 until 1993 and prior to that, held senior management positions at hospitals in Texas and Minnesota. He serves on several state and regional boards, including the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association and Virginia Beach Vision.

“It has been a privilege to lead this organization,” Dahling said in a statement. “CHKD is a remarkable family of extraordinary clinicians, surrounded by exceptional team members and bolstered by our King’s Daughters and volunteers, all of whom are steadfast in their dedication to doing what is best and right for children. I am in awe of their compassion, their commitment to excellence, and their resilience, and I am confident they will continue to grow and flourish with Amy’s insightful and inspirational leadership, and Chris’ knowledge and experience of clinical operations.”

This year, CHKD opened a 14-story, $224 million Children’s Pavilion in Norfolk to house outpatient mental health care, primary care pediatrics, sports medicine, and laboratory and radiology services. The hospital made a dozen inpatient beds available initially, and another 48 will be open in a phased approach through mid-2023. Outpatient services began in April and the hospital opened for inpatient care in the fall. When fully operational, the Children’s Pavilion will admit about 2,500 children for inpatient care every year, provide 48,000 outpatient therapy appointments annually, and add 400 new jobs to the Hampton Roads area, according to CHKD.

Sampson joined CHKD in 1990 and has been part of the health system’s leadership team. She helped develop CHKD’s mental health initiative, spearheading efforts to secure government approval and financial backing for the Children’s Pavilion, according to a news release. She has also guided the development of the hospital’s mental health program. Additionally, she has overseen strategic planning, government relations, marketing and communications, philanthropy services, community outreach, experience services, the donor milk bank, call center and volunteer services.

Foley came to CHKD in 1996 as a pediatric intensive care specialist. He has also served as chief of the division of pediatric critical care and medical director of CHKD’s pediatric intensive care unit, pharmacy and critical care transport. He became chief medical officer in 2015.