Building physician leaders, transforming care: The success of a children’s hospital Physician Leadership Development Programme

Author's Biography

Debbie Moysychyn, EdD, MBA, FACHE, is the Director of Learning and Organizational Development at Rady Children’s Health, where she leads system-wide strategies to develop talent, strengthen leadership and cultivate a culture of learning and engagement that supports exceptional paediatric care. A certified medical illustrator and calculated risk-taker, she brings creative, unconventional solutions to traditional challenges. Her expertise in change management, paired with deep experience in leadership, team and talent development, fuels her ability to drive growth and shape high-performing cultures. Prior to joining Rady, Debbie held leadership roles, including chief change artist at Re3 Consulting, chief community officer at Xebec, director of healthcare and science at Brandman University and executive director at University of California Irvine’s (UC Irvine’s) Paul Merage School of Business. She earned her doctorate from Brandman University, an MBA from UC Irvine and dual bachelor’s degrees from the University of Miami. Dr Moysychyn is board certified in healthcare management as a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Coleen Cunningham, MD, is Senior Vice President and Paediatrician-in-Chief at Rady Children’s Health and Chair of Paediatrics at UC Irvine. She oversees Rady Orange County’s academic, research and teaching programmes and serves as a vital liaison between physicians and administration, ensuring alignment between clinical care and organisational strategy. Dr Cunningham earned her medical degree from the State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University, where she also completed her paediatrics residency and a fellowship in infectious diseases. Her clinical and research focus has centred on paediatric human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and she is widely recognised for her leadership, advocacy and contributions to advancing care for children affected by HIV disease. She has published over 140 manuscripts and led numerous multi-centre clinical trials focused on treatment and prevention. Before joining Rady, Dr Cunningham held academic and leadership positions at SUNY and Duke University, including professor of paediatrics, chief of global health and vice chair for research at Duke’s Department of Paediatrics. She was also recognised at Duke for her excellence in mentoring junior faculty.