Our leadership team is dedicated to advancing children's health in our community and is driven by a passion to put children first.
President
Mr. Neujahr joined CHoR in 2017 with a focus on expanding and improving care for children and families in Virginia. Under his leadership, CHoR has been listed among the nation’s top children’s hospitals in U.S. News & World Report in four specialties, signifying the outstanding quality, safety, research and other important components of providing the best care for kids.
Neujahr has also been a key leader in solidifying plans for CHoR’s long-awaited dedicated full service and comprehensive children’s tower, set to open in spring 2023. It will be the new home for inpatient, critical and emergency care, along with the Level I pediatric trauma center – and will complement our already existing inpatient services for mental health at our Virginia Treatment Center for Children, long-term care at our Brook Road Campus and NICU in VCU Medical Center’s Critical Care Hospital. The new tower, adjacent to the outpatient Children’s Pavilion, will complete an entire city block dedicated to caring for kids in an environment designed just for them.
In an effort to ensure that children can acquire critical medications, Mr. Neujahr was integral in CHoR being included among 11 of the country’s leading children’s hospitals as an inaugural member of the Children’s Hospital Coalition. The coalition aims to provide certainty in access to medicines and address supply chain issues that disproportionately impact children’s hospitals.
A tireless advocate for children’s health, he also shares his passion and expertise as an active Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals board member.
Neujahr holds master’s degrees in both health care and business administration from the University of Colorado. He has committed his 20+ year career to pediatric health care, with an extensive background in operations and leadership that includes previous roles at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio in Texas, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital and Physicians in Michigan, Women and Infants Hospital in Rhode Island and Colorado Children’s Hospital in Denver, Colorado.
Email: Elias.Neujahr@vcuhealth.org
Associate vice president of operations
Roane plays an essential role on the executive team and within VCU Health’s leadership structure. Her extensive pediatric nursing and leadership career drive her work with our teams to enhance the patient experience and improve quality outcomes across our continuum of care. She is critical in crafting the vision for our new inpatient tower and will lead the execution of operational change for the new facility. Roane works with our quality teams to drive quality performance to the top decile.
With more than 25 years of nursing experience, Roane earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from the VCU School of Nursing, and she is currently pursuing her doctorate in nursing. She advocates for our community’s children in her personal time as an active member on the boards of Ronald McDonald House Charities and Family Lifeline. In 2021, Roane was honored with a prestigious YWCA Outstanding Woman Award.
Roane also currently serves as Interim Chief Nursing Officer for VCU Medical Center.
Email: jeniece.roane@vcuhealth.org
Associate chief nursing officer
Donna joined the CHoR team in December 2020, bringing a wealth of experience in pediatric clinical care, leadership, safety and quality. Before joining our team, she served in leadership and clinical roles at other leading children’s hospitals and academic health systems. Donna directs all nursing activities for CHoR (excluding the Brook Road Pavilion).
She is passionate about creating healthy work environments, promoting quality and safety, and serving care team members so that they can provide the best care for patients. Her leadership will be integral to our growth and service excellence – and to the opening of our new children’s tower in the spring of 2023. Donna earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from The Catholic University of America with dual a master’s degree from University of Maryland. She received her doctorate in health services leadership from Walden University in 2022.
Meet Donna Johnson, associate chief nursing officer
Email: donna.d.johnson@vcuhealth.org
Associate vice president of operations
Associate chief nursing officer
Nursing home administrator
Children's Services Brook Road
Darby oversees operations of our transitional care unit, dental services and therapy services at the Brook Road Pavilion and community therapy centers. Her career has focused on achieving high performing teams with quality outcomes. Her vast nursing experience spans across the CHoR continuum, from newborn intensive care to post-acute care. She previously served in a nursing administration role where her duties included managing our NICU, PICU and acute care units. Darby has a doctorate in nursing and a masters in health administration; she is also a licensed long term care administrator.
Email: sharon.darby@vcuhealth.org
Interim physician-in-chief, CHoR
Interim chair, Department of Pediatrics
Email: karen.hendricks-munoz@vcuhealth.org
C.D. Anthony Herndon, MD
Co-surgeon-in-chief
Professor and chief, Division of Urology
Email: claude.herndon@vcuhealth.org
Co-Surgeon-in-Chief
Professor, Division of General Surgery
Email: david.lanning@vcuhealth.org
Vice chair of clinical operations
Pediatric ambulatory medical director
Professor and chief, Division of Allergy and Immunology
Email: wei.zhao@vcuhealth.org
Vice chair of research
Professor, Division of Neonatal Medicine
Email: henry.rozycki@vcuhealth.org
Barry V. Kirkpatrick Vice Chair of Education
Associate professor, Division of Hospital medicine
Email: michael.ryan1@vcuhealth.org
Medical director, safety and quality
Professor, Division of Infectious Disease
Prior to joining CHoR in 2012, Dr. Muñoz served as Chief Quality Officer for Maria Fereri Children’s Hospital and the Department of Pediatrics at New York Medical College and Professor and Division Chief in Pediatric Infectious Diseases. Dr Muñoz earned his medical degree and pediatric residency from the Yale University and completed his fellowship training at University of Rochester Strong Memorial Hospital. He is a nationally recognized pediatric infectious diseases physician and quality and safety scholar with accomplishments in multidisciplinary care, teaching, patient safety, quality improvement and safety operations.
Email: jose.munoz@vcuhealth.org
Senior administrator
Department of Pediatrics
Email: gary.southard@vcuhealth.org
Senior director of nursing and operations for ambulatory care
Email: rocquel.crawley@vcuhealth.org
Director of nursing for acute care pediatrics, critical care and child life
Walczak provides clinical, operational and financial leadership for inpatient nursing and the Child Life department. She has an extensive pediatric background in critical care, cardiac surgery program development, quality and performance improvement initiatives in hospital acquired conditions, healthcare design/renovation and workflow processes.
Prior to joining CHoR, Walczak was the Nursing Quality Outcomes Manager and the Cardiac ICU Nurse Manager respectively at Children’s National Medical Center. Walczak obtained a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing and a Master’s in Healthcare Informatics. She holds a Nurse Executive National Board certification, Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality and a LEAN Six Sigma Green Belt certification. She has co-authored publications and given podium presentations at the national level on topics related to nursing quality improvement initiatives and patient safety. Her nursing career has been dedicated to creating high quality, reliable systems of care and developing the next generation of nurses and healthcare professionals to lead in these ever-changing times.
Email: dory.walczak@vcuhealth.org
Director of nursing, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Lovelace joined the CHoR team in 2021 during a pivotal time for mental health in our community and across the country. Lovelace leads efforts to ensure optimal mental health care for kids across all of CHoR – whether they present in the ED or an ambulatory clinic – or require inpatient care or follow-up at VTCC.
Lovelace is a seasoned, board-certified psychiatric nurse with more than 20 years of experience in mental health and 14 specifically in nursing. She joins us from Menninger Clinic in Houston, Texas. Jaime received her MSN from Duquesne University and a BSN from Chatham University. She holds a BS in psychology from University of Pittsburgh. She’s an active member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and currently serves on their Stress Resources Workgroup. Jaime is active in nurse education and promotion as a member of the American Nurses Association’s new graduate mentorship program and through conference presentations on topics including improving safety for adolescent patients and nursing leadership.
Email: Jaime.Lovelace@vcuhealth.org
