Robert W. Steele, MD, MBA

president and chief executive officer

Robert W. Steele, MD, MBA, serves as president and CEO of Dayton Children’s Hospital, where he leads the organization’s relentless pursuit of optimal health for every child within our reach.

A pediatrician, physician leader and healthcare strategist, Dr. Steele brings nearly three decades of experience in pediatric medicine, health system leadership and strategic growth. He is deeply committed to advancing children’s health, expanding access to care and building innovative solutions that help children and families thrive.

Before joining Dayton Children’s in 2026, Dr. Steele served as chief strategy and innovation officer at Children’s Mercy Kansas City, one of the nation’s leading pediatric health systems. In that role, he led enterprise strategy, innovation and transformational initiatives focused on improving outcomes, expanding access and strengthening the delivery of pediatric care. His work included leading the development of the health system’s five-year strategic plan, advancing mental health services and securing significant funding for innovative programs and technologies.

Prior to that, Dr. Steele served as chief strategy officer at Arkansas Children’s, where he helped shape the organization’s long-term strategic direction and led major growth initiatives. During his tenure, he also served as president of Arkansas Children’s Medical Group and president of Arkansas Children’s Care Network, helping expand pediatric specialty care and develop one of the nation’s first statewide pediatric clinically integrated networks.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Steele held several executive leadership roles at Mercy Springfield Communities, including president and senior vice president of market growth and development. He began his career as a practicing pediatrician in 1997, caring for children and families for 17 years. That clinical experience continues to shape his leadership philosophy, grounding his work in the needs of patients, families and care teams.

Dr. Steele completed his pediatric residency and served as chief resident at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, his Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst Isenberg School of Management and his Bachelor of Arts from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

A passionate advocate for healthy communities, Dr. Steele has served on numerous boards focused on community development, health and regional growth. He believes that improving children’s health extends beyond hospital walls and requires strong partnerships with families, schools, community organizations and healthcare providers.

Dr. Steele and his wife, Renee, are the proud parents of five children.

topics for media interviews:

• Hospital leadership

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