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Children's National Appoints Mark Batshaw, MD, to New Physician-in-Chief Post

Washington, DC—Mark L. Batshaw, MD, has been appointed to the new position of Physician-in-Chief at Children’s National Medical Center.

The goal of this position is to optimize synergies at Children's National across patient care, research, and education.

“Mark has played a leading role in the success of Children’s National as a top academic pediatric medical center in both clinical and translational science, with innovative educational programs and strong academic partnerships,” said Kurt Newman, MD, President and CEO, Children’s National Medical Center. “His unique abilities to bridge the worlds of groundbreaking research, education for our next generation of pediatric experts, and world-class care for children’s health make Mark the perfect choice for this new role.”

Dr. Batshaw will continue to serve as Chief Academic Officer at Children’s National and Director of the Children’s Research Institute. In his new role as Physician-in-Chief, he will be the head physician for Children’s National, overseeing research, medical education/training, and medical staff activities while continuing to bring an evidence-based approach to patient care. He also is responsible for accreditation and faculty appointments in his continuing role as Chairman of Pediatrics and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Reporting directly to the President and CEO, Dr. Batshaw will work with the Chief Medical Officers to align research and clinical priorities and apply an educational focus. He also will oversee the research and educational activities of the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children’s.

Dr. Batshaw joined Children’s National in 1998. Trained as a developmental pediatrician, he has spent more than 30 years treating children with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. Known as the “Dr. Spock” for this area of pediatric medicine, he is the author of the classic textbook Children with Disabilities, now in its 7th edition.

He also is a renowned researcher in the area of inborn errors of metabolism who has received nearly $100 million in NIH grants. Under his leadership, NIH grants to Children’s Research Institute have increased tenfold. In 2010, Children’s National, in collaboration with the George Washington University, became the first children’s hospital to receive an NIH Clinical and Translational Science Award—the largest single NIH grant yet to Children’s, National valued at $20 million.

Dr. Batshaw is the author of more than 120 peer-reviewed publications. He has received numerous awards including the Capute Award in developmental disabilities from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Research Award from the ARC.

Contact: Emily Hartman or Paula Darte, 202-476-4500

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