St. Christopher's Hospital for Children

Jodi Coombs

Interim President and Chief Executive Officer

Jodi Coombs was appointed interim president and CEO of St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia in April 2025. [6, 11, 35] She has over 30 years of pediatric healthcare experience. [6, 11] She previously served as COO of Mercy Children's Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. [6, 11, 12, 33]

Claire Alminde, MSN, RN, CPN, NEA-BC

Chief Nursing Officer

Claire Alminde is from the Department of Nursing at St Christopher's Hospital for Children. [28, 41] As of 2017, she had worked at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children for nearly 30 years and started a program for special needs children at her local swim club. [27]

Wanda Amaro

Vice President of Human Resources

Wanda Amaro has a diverse background in human resources, with previous roles at Tower Health, Associacion Puertorriquenos en Marcha, MC Staffing LLC, TerraVida Holistic Centers, Spectrum Health Services, Inc., Aria - Jefferson Health, and Shriners Hospitals for Children. [2] She holds an MBA and a Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management. [2, 3, 17]

Arlene Asgard

Senior Vice President of Operations, St. Christopher's Pediatric Associates

Edward Bleacher II

Chief Financial Officer

Edward Bleacher II is listed as CFO for St. Christopher's Hospital for Children [3, 44]. He has also been associated with Cooper University Healthcare as Sr. Vice President of Financial Operations and CFO for AllCare Health Alliance, holding a Widener MBA in Healthcare Services Administration. [15]

Martin J Herman, MD

Surgeon-in-Chief President, Medical Staff

Martin J Herman, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children [13, 21, 29]. He is also interim chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and a professor of orthopedic surgery and pediatrics at Drexel University College of Medicine. [29] His clinical interests include pediatric musculoskeletal conditions, traumatic injuries, scoliosis, and hip conditions. [21, 24, 29]

Ogechukwu R Menkiti, MD

Vice Chair for Outreach, Community Partnerships, and Innovation/Integration

Ogechukwu R Menkiti, MD, is an attending neonatologist and perinatologist at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. [7, 19, 36] He is a professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Drexel University College of Medicine and holds roles as NICU Medical Director, Medical Director of ECMO Program, and Co-Director of Simulation at St. Christopher's. [7, 16, 19, 36] His clinical interests include treating neonates with respiratory failure, pulmonary hypertension, and combined cardiopulmonary failure. [7, 19, 36]

Tyler Shugarts

Chief Transformation Officer

E Douglas Thompson, MD

Chief Medical Officer

E Douglas Thompson, MD, is the director of inpatient services and chief of the Section of Hospital Medicine at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. [31] He is also an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Drexel University College of Medicine and is board certified in pediatrics. [31, 34]

Marilynn Touni

Assistant Vice President of Development

Renee M Turchi, MD

Pediatrician-in-Chief Department Chair-Pediatrics

Renee M Turchi, MD, is a pediatrician at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children [10, 18, 20, 22, 23] and a professor and chair in the Department of Pediatrics at Drexel University College of Medicine. [10, 20, 22] She is also the medical director of the Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs at St. Christopher's and the Pennsylvania Medical Home Program. [10, 20, 23] Her research and clinical work focus on children and youth with special health care needs. [10, 22, 23]