Dr. Patrick Frias is back at the helm of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, a move the hospital calls a “homecoming” after his 18‑year tenure as a pediatric cardiologist and executive before leading Rady Children’s in San Diego. Assuming the CEO role on Aug. 31, Frias will steer the system’s “More Than Possible” strategy, which focuses on expanding pediatric access across metro Atlanta and the broader state.
Goal: 30‑Minute Access for Every Family
One of Frias’s top priorities is to ensure that every child in the Atlanta metro area can reach a Children’s specialty or primary‑care location within 30 minutes. The system is actively identifying pediatric health‑care deserts, planning new clinics in underserved neighborhoods, and extending services into rural Georgia.
Recent developments include a new primary‑care clinic in Adamsville, an area Frias described as a care desert, and plans for additional sites near the I‑75 South corridor, the Holcomb Bridge area, and a recently acquired parcel in Sandy Springs adjacent to a MARTA station.
Strengthening the Rural Pediatric Workforce
Beyond the city, Children’s is partnering with Mercer University School of Medicine and the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center to bolster the pediatric workforce in rural communities. A scholarship program has already secured commitments from 34 future physicians to provide primary pediatric care in these areas, covering their medical‑school tuition.
Mental‑Health Expansion
Addressing mental‑health needs remains a major focus. The hospital’s child and adolescent mental‑health team now exceeds 300 members, yet Frias acknowledges ongoing workforce shortages and reimbursement challenges. He is exploring technology‑based solutions to extend services and reduce barriers for families.
National Recognition Highlights Quality
Just weeks after Frias took office, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta earned top rankings from U.S. News & World Report, being named the No. 1 pediatric hospital in Georgia and the Southeast for 2026‑27, with nine specialties among the nation’s top 20, including cardiology and heart surgery at No. 7. While the accolades affirm clinical excellence, Frias stresses that rankings alone do not measure whether families can actually reach that care.
Looking Ahead
Frias envisions every Children’s specialty ranking in the top 20 within five years, and every child in metro Atlanta living within a half‑hour of a Children’s access point. He also aims for continued progress in rural health, research, and innovative treatments, all rooted in the mission that first drew him to pediatrics: improving the lives of children and families.
“I understand our mission to its core,” Frias said. “I went into pediatrics because I wanted to improve the lives of children and families, and now I’m doing it in the administrative offices, making sure we have the resources and systems in place to deliver that care.”
Original reporting: SaportaReport — read the source article.
