Vice President, Social Work and Family Services

Renowned for its outstanding clinical services, research programs, and medical and clinical education programs, Boston Children's Hospital (BCH) seeks a collaborative and visionary leader to serve as its inaugural Vice President, Social Work and Family Services (VP/SWFS). Personifying BCH’s commitment to excellence, the VP/SWFS will continue to optimize key operational systems and processes while establishing an overarching strategy for advancing the key areas of focus incorporated within the role. Ensuring alignment with the goals and objectives of the hospital’s medical staff and nursing/patient care operational leaders, the VP/SWFS will also actively engage with colleagues spanning finance and business, strategy, innovation, digital health strategies, research, philanthropy, compliance, and government relations to advance the organization’s clinical care delivery, education, community, and research commitments.

As one of the largest pediatric medical centers in the United States, BCH is a 454-bed comprehensive center for pediatric healthcare with more than 40 clinical departments and  offers a complete range of health care services for children of all ages. The hospital has approximately 20,000 inpatient admissions each year, and its 250+ specialized clinical programs schedule over 1 million visits annually. In 2021, the hospital performed more than 26,000 surgical procedures.  In FY2020, BCH was #1 in National Institutes of Health funding for all U.S. children’s hospitals with $205 million, and #5 in funding for research institutes at any independent hospital in the country. As one of the premier pediatric teaching hospitals in the world, BCH is affiliated with Harvard Medical School (HMS) and is revered for its ongoing commitment to fostering cutting-edge research. BCH also maintains affiliations and clinical education relationships with over 50 leading colleges and universities regionally, nationally, and internationally to fulfill our commitment to prepare the next generation of clinicians spanning a wide range of clinical disciplines, including social work.

Reporting to Laura J. Wood, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Executive Vice President, Patient Care Operations, and System CNO, the VP/SWFS will lead a senior leadership team of direct reports guiding over social workers, psychiatric social workers, family-focused coordinators and support team members, child protection program social workers, business operations resources, family housing coordinators, interpreters and translators, and volunteers. Direct care services are provided throughout inpatient, emergency department, satellite, and ambulatory care settings.

As a member of the organization’s Senior Management Group (SMG) comprised of EVP, SVP and VP colleagues, the VP/SWFS will provide innovative and progressive social services thought leadership toward expanding Boston Children’s impact via community-directed and research-oriented academic pediatric service delivery principles that impact child health regionally, nationally, and internationally.

The successful candidate will be accomplished in the discipline of social work with a strong understanding of behavioral health, child protection services, family services, the integration of language and translation services, and compliant philanthropic funds management. This individual will possess demonstrated leadership skills and vision to lead a complex, multi-faceted department that emphasizes excellence, quality, safety, and innovation.

Electronic submissions of applications or nominations can be made below.

Patricia Hastie is leading this search with Tatiana Oberkoetter and Sokeng Cleary. 


Boston Children’s is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition, or any other characteristic protected by law.