Dallas, TX -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/05/2012 -- Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children (TSRHC) http://www.tsrhc.org/ today announced new appointments to its senior medical and management staff, and plans to form a Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children Foundation.“

The hospital remains focused on our mission to improve the lives of the children we treat,” said Lyndon L. Olson, Jr., TSRHC Chairman of the Board of Trustees. “We have significant opportunities emerging from both the hospital’s leadership in pediatric orthopaedics http://www.tsrhc.org/pediatric-orthopedics.htm and the changes occurring in the overall U.S. health care industry. These appointments draw upon the strength of both our long-term hospital leaders and the next generation of leaders developed within the hospital. This depth and continuity of management is one of the hospital’s most valued assets.”

J.A. “Tony” Herring, M.D., TSRHC orthopaedic surgeon and Chief of Staff for the past 34 years, assumes the new title Chief of Staff Emeritus and will continue to work closely with the TSRHC medical leadership team, while maintaining his pediatric orthopaedic services to patients. Daniel “Dan” J. Sucato, M.D., M.S., TSRHC orthopaedic surgeon and Director of the Sarah M. and Charles E. Seay/Martha and Pat Beard Center for Excellence in Spine Research, is named Chief of Staff and will lead the hospital’s medical team. Joining Drs. Herring and Sucato on the TSRHC medical leadership team is B. Stephens “Steve” Richards, M.D., TSRHC orthopaedic surgeon, Assistant Chief of Staff and Medical Director of Inpatient Services, who is named to the new position of Chief Medical Officer of TSRHC.

“We are especially proud to name Drs. Sucato and Richards to these positions at TSRHC,” Olson said.  “They began their careers as TSRHC fellows in pediatric orthopaedics and for many years have championed the expertise and compassion that is at the heart of our mission of caring for children. Both men also are recognized professors, widely published in their fields of expertise, and leaders in their professional organizations. The leadership of this hospital could not be in better hands.” 

The board of trustees also announced plans to form the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children Foundation. The Foundation will focus on sustaining and growing development efforts for the hospital. The board of trustees is proud to name J. C. Montgomery, Jr., who has led the hospital as president for the past 23 years, as the founding Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the TSRHC Foundation. 

Succeeding Montgomery is long-time Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Robert “Bob” L. Walker, who becomes TSRHC President and CEO. Walker brings extensive expertise to his new role, having joined the administrative staff at TSRHC in 1979 and serving for 23 years as the day-to-operations leader. He will provide a seamless transition in the management of the hospital to ensure that the highest quality of medical care is provided to patients. “I am confident that Bob’s leadership in his new role as president will allow the hospital to continue to make strides in cutting-edge research and technology, teaching and training physicians from around the world and maintaining excellent standards of patient care,” Olson said.

Karl E. Rathjen, M.D., TSRHC orthopaedic surgeon, is named president of the TSRHC Foundation and will work with Montgomery. Rathjen joined TSRHC in 1996 and will assume the Foundation duties while maintaining his pediatric service to patients and his current role on the TSRHC medical staff. “This appointment of additional duties recognizes Karl’s tremendous capacity for leadership and his important contributions to the hospital’s development initiatives,” noted Olson.“

With J. C. and Tony continuing to provide leadership and mentoring in their new roles, and with the demonstrated expertise of our expanded leadership team, the hospital is well positioned for the opportunities ahead,” according to Olson. “All of these intelligent and talented leaders have been vigilant stewards of the culture of caring for children that is unique to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.”

About TSRHC
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children is one of the nation's leading pediatric centers for the treatment of orthopaedic conditions, such as scoliosis http://www.tsrhc.org/scoliosis-spine.htm, clubfoot http://www.tsrhc.org/clubfoot-foot-disorders.htm, hip dysplasia http://www.tsrhc.org/hip-dyslasia-perthes.htm, hand disorders http://www.tsrhc.org/hand-disorders.htm, and Legg-Perthes http://www.tsrhc.org/hip-dysplasia-legg-perthes.htm, and certain related neurological disorders and learning disorders, such as dyslexia. Admission is open to Texas children from birth up to 18 years of age. Patients receive treatment regardless of the family's ability to pay. For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation, please call (214) 559-5000 or (800) 421-1121 or visit http://www.tsrhc.org/.