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Gillette Children’s Names Chief Operating Officer

May 10, 2021

Gillette Children’s announced that Thomas Harris, Jr., FACHE, has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer.  

 Harris comes to Gillette Children’s from Ochsner Health in Louisiana, where he served as vice president of pediatrics. His prior experience included leadership roles at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and Kaiser Permanente.    

 “Since 1897, Gillette Children’s has been an innovative pioneer focused on helping children with rare and complex conditions. As we continue to grow, we’re welcoming talented leaders and providers as we expand our impact in Minnesota and throughout the country,” said Barbara Joers, president and CEO. “Thomas brings our team a proven track record of leading system-level clinical operations, partnering with physicians, and valuing compassion and understanding for young patients and their families.”   

 Harris holds a Master of Health Administration degree from Tulane University and an undergraduate degree in biology from Dillard University, both located in New Orleans. In addition to serving on boards of several nonprofit organizations, he was an instructor of health management courses at the University of Southern California. Harris is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.   

 “I am both excited and honored to join a renowned organization with such an admirable mission in children’s healthcare,” Harris said. “In this next chapter of my career and life, I look forward to collaborating with the physicians, leaders and teams to strengthen and grow the exceptional care provided at Gillette Children’s.”