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A Collaborative Approach to Excellence
As a former senior vice president and chief operating officer for Denver Children's Hospital, Debra Mathias knows quality when she sees it. And when her consulting work brought her to CHOC, Debra liked what she saw.
The feeling was mutual. Last September, Debra joined the CHOC management team as executive vice president and chief operating officer.
"Over the years, I have watched CHOC evolve into a more tertiary-level institution. I've observed first-hand the excellent patient care delivered at every level, from inpatient critical care programs to the ambulatory services," says Debra, who has consulted with many Orange County community-based organizations, including the Children and Families Commission of Orange County.
"CHOC provides a very strong continuum of care, and I've been impressed with the physicians' and all the clinical providers' dedication to the patients and their families," she says. "It is not just a job here; it is a passionate commitment to the kids."
In addition to her seven years at Denver Children's Hospital, Debra has held executive positions within the Humana hospital system. Her professional background includes a master's degree in health administration from the University of Colorado, in Denver, where she is also a Ph.D. candidate in public affairs. She has an undergraduate nursing degree from the University of Arizona.
"My goal is to work in concert with medical and nursing leaders to help CHOC develop a new patient tower that will allow us to provide a full spectrum of tertiary services," Debra says. "CHOC is the leading provider of tertiary pediatric healthcare in Orange County. The tower, along with investments in clinical programs, will allow CHOC to become a regional and national leader."
Debra welcomes feedback from the CHOC medical staff. To contact her, please call 714-532-8822 or email dmathias@choc.org.
Children's Hospital of Orange County | 
University of California, Irvine