Why Culture, Why Now? is the topic of a co-presentation by Tom Shanahan, vice president of human resources at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and Senn Delaney Partner Nitsa Lallas at the Children’s Hospital Association’s organizational transformation conference April 8 in Atlanta, GA.

Transforming Children’s Health —Together: Organizational Transformation Conference, is part of a new spring conference series by the Children’s Hospital Association that provides a collaborative venue for pediatric hospital leaders to connect with peers and around organizational transformation. The conference offers education sessions that exemplify leading case studies, best practice examples and innovative ideas. Learn more about the conference

Representing more than 220 children’s hospitals, the Children’s Hospital Association is the voice of children’s hospitals nationally. Children's hospitals are working to transform health care for children and forge a new future. Together they are developing groundbreaking strategies, shaping new realities, managing complex relationships and leveraging technological advances to advance care for kids inside and outside their hospitals.

In their presentation, Why Culture, Why Now?, Lallas, who leads culture-shaping firm Senn Delaney’s health care practice, and Shanahan will discuss why culture is a major factor in transformational change that can either accelerate or inadvertently undermine change efforts, and why this is important in the changing health care landscape.

Senn Delaney and Children’s Hospital and Health System have partnered on a culture-shaping journey to build on the hospital and health care system’s cultural strengths to create and implement a plan to positively impact health for kids and results for the organization. Lallas and Shanahan will share highlights of the journey as well as some positive outcomes and accomplishments in areas of gaining physician alignment, increasing provider engagement, electronic medical records implementation, and shifting from independent businesses toward service delivery integration.

 “Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin is a true leader in demonstrating the importance of proactively shaping culture as a foundation for success when building the systems of care that are needed as the industry transforms from an acute care focus to keeping kids healthy and fulfilling on CHW’s vision: The Healthiest Kids in the Country,” said Lallas. “We look forward to sharing their innovative approach at this important conference.”

 “Nothing matters more than our children. Our belief that kids deserve the best drives everything we do, from our vision for the future to our mission for today," adds Shanahan. " We are passionate about ensuring that our culture is a reflection of this and look forward to sharing our progress to inspire other children’s hospital leaders.”

About Nitsa Lallas

Nitsa Lallas is a partner and executive vice president at culture-shaping firm Senn Delaney, a Heidrick & Struggles company. Passionate about positively impacting health care in America, Nitsa guides Senn Delaney’s health care practice to ensure that the firm maximizes its impact on the industry. Her clients include Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Kellogg’s, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Limited Brands, Miami Children’s Hospital, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Staples, T-Mobile, Yum! Brands and Victoria’s Secret Stores. Full biography