Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Welcomes New Chief Medical Officer

Sept. 5, 2024

Mitchell B. Cohen, MD

STANFORD, Calif.—Following a national search, Stanford Medicine Children’s Health is pleased to announce the appointment of Mitchell B. Cohen, MD, as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for Stanford Children’s and Senior Associate Dean for Maternal and Child Health at the Stanford School of Medicine. As CMO, Dr. Cohen will lead the medical staff at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford and the physicians in the Stanford Children’s network. He will begin his dual role in January 2025.

“I’m excited to welcome Dr. Cohen to our leadership team,” said Paul A. King, president and CEO of Stanford Medicine Children’s Health and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. “Not only has Dr. Cohen distinguished himself as a national leader in pediatric medicine, but his sincere dedication to caring for and improving the health and well-being of children is at the heart of our mission.”

As a physician scientist, Dr. Cohen has a keen interest in addressing health equity and developing the next generation of leaders in pediatric medicine. He is also internationally renowned for his expertise in pediatric digestive disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and diarrheal diseases. His research contributions have led to the development of vaccines for E. coli and diarrheal diseases. He led the first National Institutes of Health Digestive Disease Research Center dedicated to pediatrics and has mentored numerous individuals who now hold faculty positions across the globe.

“Dr. Cohen is a visionary leader, dedicated mentor, and prolific physician scientist,” said Lloyd Minor, MD, dean of the school of medicine and vice president for medical affairs at Stanford University. “This combination of experience and expertise will enable him to further elevate innovation, quality, and academic excellence at Stanford Medicine.”

Until joining Stanford Medicine, Dr. Cohen will continue to serve as the Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine and the Physician-in-Chief at Children’s of Alabama. His illustrious career also includes roles as a professor of pediatrics, vice-chair for clinical affairs, and director of the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

In addition to his academic and clinical roles, Dr. Cohen has held significant leadership positions in various professional organizations. He served as President of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) and has chaired and served as a member of several committees within the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA)​.

Media Contact

Katie Chen
KatChen@stanfordchildrens.org
(650) 465-4872