ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Joseph A. Mitchell '93, MD
Joseph A. Mitchell ’93, MD, is president of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the nation’s oldest children’s hospital. Since assuming the role in April 2025, he has been working closely with fellow CHOP executives to gain a deep understanding of the hospital’s culture, community, and operations, and to implement an enterprise strategy to ensure a strong future for the 31,000-employee organization.
“Burroughs has had a profound impact on my life and our family,” Joe writes. “At CHOP, we often talk about the importance of mentorship. In Burroughs, I found many wonderful mentors and lifelong friends who have supported me and cheered me on throughout my career.
“Burroughs taught me how to be a critical thinker, how to be a great teammate, and how to lead. More than anything, though, Burroughs instilled in me the importance of leading an impactful life that lifts up others.”
Joe brings more than 20 years of experience in healthcare leadership and pediatrics. Before joining CHOP, he served as executive vice president at Boston Children’s Hospital. At the same time, he held the role of president of Franciscan Children’s, a specialty hospital, following his successful negotiation of the two hospitals’ affiliation.
Joe joined Franciscan Children’s as CEO in 2021 after three years as a member of its board of directors. As CEO, he delivered a three-year clinical, operational, and financial turnaround program that improved staffing levels, strengthened the hospital’s quality infrastructure, reduced attrition, grew philanthropic contributions, improved quality and safety outcomes, and expanded state, local, and federal advocacy efforts.
Prior to Franciscan Children’s, Joe spent 14 years as a partner with McKinsey & Company in Boston, where he worked with large pediatric and adult hospital systems to improve quality, outcomes and affordability and to drive growth and financial performance. He also served as one of the leaders of McKinsey’s North American healthcare provider practice.
Joe earned his medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis and his undergraduate degree in history from Stanford University. He completed his urology residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston through Harvard Medical School’s residency program, followed by a National Institutes of Health-sponsored research fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco.
He currently serves on the board of advisors of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston and previously served on the board of the March of Dimes in Massachusetts.
MORE ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS
Alumni Spotlight: Joseph A. Mitchell ’93, MD
Phoebe Sklansky ‘18 is a New York City-based senior e-commerce editor at brands like Food & Wine, where she’s always looking for a good deal or the next cool kitchen product.
Alumni Spotlight: Phoebe Sklansky ’18
Phoebe Sklansky ‘18 is a New York City-based senior e-commerce editor at brands like Food & Wine, where she’s always looking for a good deal or the next cool kitchen product.
Alumni Spotlight: Michael “MJ” Strawbridge ’15
Michael “MJ” Strawbridge ’15, PhD, is a tenure-track assistant professor of political science at Washington University in St. Louis, where he researches Black political psychology, political representation, and the influence of race and gender in American politics.
Alumni Spotlight: Holly Lowy Bernstein ’89
Holly Lowy Bernstein ’89 is co-lead of the Missouri Election Protection Coalition’s St. Louis Metro Field Program and founding board member of Access MO, a PAC supporting reproductive healthcare freedom.
Alumni Spotlight: Evie Oglesby ’16
Evie Oglesby ’16, a Denver-based mechanical process engineer, discovered rugby in college and now plays for the Denver Onyx as part of the newly formed Women’s Elite Rugby league.
Alumni Spotlight: Keaton Wetzel ’11
Keaton Wetzel ’11 is a New York City-based urban planner who partners with transit agencies and cities across the country to design and improve their transit networks.