After more than three decades caring for children and their families, Scott H. Kozin, M.D., has stepped into the role of chief medical officer (CMO) for Shriners Children’s. We asked him what families can expect in this next chapter of his career.
What does serving as chief medical officer mean to you?
Serving as CMO is both an honor and a responsibility. Shriners Children’s has a long tradition of providing exceptional pediatric specialty care. My role is to provide support and guidance to all our physicians and advanced practice providers across the system, so we can continue delivering the highest quality care to children.
How does your experience as a surgeon influence your leadership?
I’ve spent more than 30 years as a pediatric hand surgeon, educator and researcher. I’ve had the amazing opportunity to train residents and fellows, lead multidisciplinary teams and serve as chief of staff at Shriners Children’s Philadelphia. The pinnacle of my clinical career was performing the world’s first bilateral pediatric hand transplant in 2015, which reinforced the importance of team collaboration, innovation and systemwide excellence.
Caring for children is a privilege and keeps you grounded. When parents entrust you with the care and treatment of their children, that trust represents the ultimate responsibility. The experience reminds you that behind every diagnosis is a family trusting you with something precious. That perspective guides my decisions every day.
What should families know about Shriners Children’s?
We are built entirely around kids. Every decision we make is guided by one question: What is best for the child? This unpretentious concept and focus shapes everything we do and every decision we make.
What excites you most about this moment?
The opportunity and the responsibility. We have extraordinary talent across our system. Aligning that talent through research, education and collaboration will lead to innovation, better treatments and better outcomes for children. Ultimately, it means we can reach and care for even more families.
What is your vision for the future?
The best way to predict the future is to create the future. We will continue to innovate, expand and invest in care — ensuring that every child who comes to Shriners Children’s receives exceptional treatment and the compassion every family deserves.
Champion of Change
As CMO, Dr. Kozin brings a strong record of surgical and organizational leadership. He became the first full-time pediatric hand surgeon at Shriners Children’s Philadelphia and most recently served as chief of staff there. Dr. Kozin is an advocate for improving the lives of children through research, education and patient care. “Innovation leads to excitement and the desire for growth. We must grow to expand care to more children across North America and around the world,” he said.
