NEW ORLEANS – Children’s Hospital in New Orleans announced John R. Nickens IV as the new president and CEO. Nickens, 47, who will assume his role at Children’s on Nov. 1, will lead a staff of more than 1,900 and manage a $300 million expansion and renovation project.
Nickens has nearly three decades of experience in the healthcare industry. He began his career at Texas Children’s Hospital in 1990 with management positions in revenue cycle and clinical operations. He went on to hold various administrative positions at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and then returned to Texas Children’s where he currently holds the position of executive vice president overseeing system-wide clinical business analytics, pediatric subspecialty medical service lines and inpatient and outpatient operations.
“I am honored for the opportunity to join the Children's Hospital team and consider it a privilege to serve the New Orleans community,” said Nickens. “I am excited to live out the mission of Children’s as we boldly embrace the future of healthcare in our city, our state and our country.”
As president & CEO, Nickens will focus on maintaining and strengthening Children’s Hospital’s position as the leader in pediatric healthcare in Louisiana and the Gulf South.
“With his extraordinary experience in academic pediatric healthcare, John Nickens will comfortably lead an exciting new chapter at Children’s Hospital,” said Greg Feirn, CEO, LCMC Health. “I am confident that John’s strong technical knowledge of clinical operations, academic medicine, healthcare finance, business development, governance and philanthropy, combined with his charisma, leadership and staff engagement, will be beneficial to Children’s Hospital. We couldn't be more excited to have him on the team.”
Nickens earned a Bachelor’s Degree in business management from LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas, a certificate in medical and healthcare management from Rice University and a Master’s in Business Administration from Texas Tech University. Nickens and his wife Marye have three grown daughters and four grandchildren.
Children’s Hospital is a 247-bed, not-for-profit regional medical center offering the most advanced pediatric care to children from birth to 21 years. With more than 400 physicians trained in more than 40 subspecialties, it is the only full-service hospital exclusively for children in Louisiana and the Gulf South.
