Dayton Children’s Hospital names Robert W. Steele, MD, MBA, as the fifth president and CEO, beginning July 1, 2026. Dr. Steele will succeed Debbie Feldman, who retires on June 30, 2026, after leading the hospital for 14 years.

The board selected Dr. Steele after a nationwide recruitment started in November 2025 by executive search firm Spencer Stuart. They have successfully completed nationwide C-suite searches for more than 20 children’s hospitals in recent years and developed a rigorous process to find the best candidates to continue the mission and vision that serves the children and families of the region.

“Dayton Children’s has a strong national reputation, as evidenced by the number and caliber of applicants we received,” says Todd Pleiman, Dayton Children’s Board of Trustees chairperson. “In Rob Steele, we found the right mix of family first medicine, business acumen and strategic leadership that we were seeking. We look forward to what the future holds.”

Dr. Steele began his career as a pediatrician in 1997 in Springfield, Missouri, where he served children and families for 17 years. He currently serves as the chief innovation and strategy officer for Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, a 386-bed health system with two campuses, a research institute and fetal health center. There he created and implemented a five-year strategic plan that invested in building a full continuum of care for mental health, including a joint venture for a new mental health hospital with 48 beds. He increased access for underserved children, enhanced culture through improved operations and secured millions in government funding for innovative projects and technologies. He sits on a number of boards of directors for community development organizations in that region, showcasing his commitment to families and neighborhoods.

“I am incredibly honored to be the next advocate to serve the children and families of the Dayton, Ohio, region,” says Dr. Rob Steele. “What Debbie Feldman, her team and the staff have created at Dayton Children’s is wondrous. I view it as a sacred trust to inherit this leadership role and am dedicated to continuing the reinvention of the path to children’s health in the relentless pursuit of optimal health for every child within our reach.”