There is perhaps no medical field that shapes the future more profoundly than pediatrics. That’s why Phoenix Children’s President and CEO John R. Nickens IV is calling for the community to be all in for children and families in Arizona—with new ideas, new partnerships and a broader approach to care.
Phoenix Children’s is positioned to be at the forefront of groundbreaking change in pediatrics. With children’s healthcare at a pivotal moment, transforming the systems that care for young patients has never been more important.
“When you look at the data, this generation is facing challenges we haven’t seen before—especially in mental health,” Nickens says.
“This work has become about more than healthcare. It’s about changing the trajectory for kids long term,” Nickens says. “This vision—to improve the health of a generation—has to show up in everyday decisions. These are choices that will impact kids we may never meet.”
Nickens conceived of the multipronged strategy after conducting a 100 Days Listening Tour, during which he engaged with teams across the entire Phoenix Children’s organization to get real-time perspectives of children’s healthcare: what’s working (and needs to be protected), what’s slowing people down and what they need to provide their best work for patients and families.
Nickens unveiled Improve the Health of a Generation in September at the All In Community Luncheon, a special event where hundreds of community leaders, advocates and partners came together to join the conversation about the future of pediatric healthcare. At the event, Nickens discussed his vision—much of which was inspired by the Listening Tour—highlighting the strategic pillars of the plan and how Phoenix Children’s is all in for kids.
Expanding access means reaching more children across Arizona and delivering care when and where families need it most. “Families shouldn’t have to drive across the state—or leave Arizona entirely—to get exceptional pediatric care,” Nickens notes. “Whether that’s expanding our network in communities like Tucson, Prescott Valley and the West Valley, or getting a child an urgent same-day appointment, we are bringing care closer to home.”
Connecting care means driving innovation through groundbreaking research, academics and clinical programs to shape what comes next in pediatric medicine. “We want to build leading pediatric programs right here in Arizona that don’t just deliver today’s best treatments, but help discover cures for tomorrow,” Nickens explains. “Don’t just treat what exists today—help create a healthier future for all kids.”
Excellence is about elevating quality, safety, outcomes and capacity across every campus to ensure Phoenix Children’s is constantly the best at getting better. From implementing universal mental health and suicide screenings in clinics to advancing lifesaving pediatric specialties, the health system is investing in the foundation that makes world-class care possible.
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