For Perry Ann Reed, pediatric healthcare is personal. Her son faced significant medical complications as a child and required multiple surgeries at Texas Children’s, where doctors saved his life. Now 28, healthy and married, he went on to serve as a Special Forces Marine. Reed says the experience deepened her passion for improving pediatric healthcare.

That passion took Reed from Texas Children’s to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, where she served as President. Now, as Interim Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer at Phoenix Children’s, she’s bringing that experience to help build the resources needed to do even more for kids.

For Reed and her husband, John, joining a new community means getting involved. As Reed puts it, “I feel like being part of the community is different than just being in the community.”

1)What drew you to Phoenix Children’s? Phoenix Children’s has always had an excellent reputation among the Children’s Hospital Association. When I was in Miami, it was actually our go-to hospital to call if we had questions.
2)You’ve worked across many different areas of pediatric healthcare. What’s been your big takeaway? I’ve seen pediatric healthcare from many different angles—from clinical programs and ethics to hospital operations and community partnerships. Each experience has taught me that you have to understand what children, families and the people caring for them need—and then find ways to bring the right resources together.
3)You recently took time away from pediatric healthcare to care for your husband. How did that experience change your perspective? I left Miami after five years as President and COO of Nicklaus Children’s because my husband was diagnosed with cancer. He just finished a yearlong clinical trial involving personalized medicine and immunotherapy, and he is completely clear and tumor-free. That experience made me even more of an advocate for clinical research because he wouldn’t be here without it. It renewed my commitment to this work.
4)What do you hope to accomplish at Phoenix Children’s? I want to listen to what the health system, physicians, nurses and families need—and figure out how I can help bring their plans to life. That might be through grants or funding or partnerships or whatever it takes.
5)What do you want Phoenix Children’s donors to know about you? Donations are so personal. Whether someone gives $10 a month because they had great care or makes a multimillion-dollar endowment, their reasons are critically important. I want to partner with them to figure out the most rewarding, seamless way for them to participate.
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