by
Gus Iversen, Editor in Chief | June 13, 2022
From the June 2022 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
In January, Anne Baum was named the first president of Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, part of the Pennsylvania-based Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN). Working in partnership with Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital Physician-in-Chief Dr. J. Nathan Hagstrom, Baum oversees strategic planning and operations of the community’s only children’s hospital and the third largest children’s hospital in the state.
A well-known and respected business leader in the Lehigh Valley for more than 20 years, Baum comes to Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital from Capital Blue Cross, where she was Lehigh Valley Market president and vice president, producer and labor relations.
HealthCare Business News checked in with Baum to learn more about her background, the journey that brought her to Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, and the things that have impressed her most about her new position, her colleagues, and the patients they are serving.
HCB News: Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in healthcare?
Anne Baum: I have always been interested in and intrigued by hospitals and healthcare. I was first inspired by my pediatrician who would share his experiences with me. My teachers in grad school, who were hospital administrators themselves, further inspired me to pursue a career on the business side of healthcare.
HCB News: Can you tell us what your career has been like up to this point?
AB: After grad school, I started my career in consulting and learned so much about hospitals and health systems as I traveled the country on projects. I gained an expertise in building physician hospital organizations to offer insurance products and contract with health plans. This expertise led me to working for Capital Blue Cross to work directly on the insurance side of healthcare. My current role takes me back to my original roots of working in the direct patient care world, coming full circle!
HCB News: What drew you to Lehigh Valley Reilly Children's Hospital?
AB: The privilege of leading an organization focused on improving the health and well-being of the children in our community is the opportunity of a lifetime. I was drawn to this organization by the high quality of care, the leadership and excellent reputation of LVHN and the opportunity to lead the next phase of growth and development of the organization. The people are amazing and I am honored to be their colleague.
HCB News: How would you describe the leadership style of the organization?
AB: As a leader, I am focused on empowering the team to succeed by providing the resources, tools, training and trust that they need to deliver the best care. We strive to deliver the highest quality care in a safe and nurturing environment and it’s my job to make sure the team has what they need to succeed.
