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As Akron Children’s leader, Chris oversees its two hospitals in Akron and Youngstown, more than 30 Akron Children’s Pediatrics primary care practices and dozens of pediatric specialties at its hospitals and regional health centers.
Aug 5, 2021 · Christopher A. Gessner will succeed the retiring Grace Wakulchik as president and CEO of Akron Children’s, effective October 18.
Aug 6, 2021 · Christopher A. Gessner has been chosen to lead Akron Children’s Hospital as CEO. He will succeed Grace Wakulchik, who is retiring.
- Gessner Brings Years of Hospital Leadership Experience to Akron
- Stumbled Into His Career
- 'A Very Open-Door Policy Type Leader'
- Covid-19 Vaccine Mandate
- Ready For The Job Amid Labor Shortages
- 'Full Immersion' and Closer to Family Living in West Akron
- First 'Outsider' to Lead Akron Children's
Gessner is an accomplished and visionary leader who understands the complexities of the world of health care today and shares the board’s commitment to keeping Akron Children’s an independent, free-standing and locally-governed children’s hospital system, John C. Orr, chairman of the Akron Children’s Board of Directors, said in a press release in A...
Though the grew up in a family affiliated with health care — his father is a retired pediatrician and his youngest brother is an internist in North Carolina — Gessner stumbled into his career choice. Between his junior and senior year of college, he was doing odd jobs at a hospital. “I was digging a ditch actually in front of the hospital and the a...
In his first 90 days, Gessner he wants to meet people within Akron Children's and the community to learn and listen. “I'm a very open-door policy type leader. I look for feedback from frontline staff to drive decision making because I believe they're the closest to the patient and know what's best for the patient,” he said. Issues from before and d...
Gessner acknowledged that one controversial topic has been COVID-19 vaccine mandates. At Akron Children’s, employees must either show proof of vaccination or be tested weekly beginning Nov. 1. Hospitals also are awaiting more details from an announcement from President Joe Biden that will require all staffwithin Medicare and Medicaid-certified faci...
Gessner hasn’t had a chance to meet too many Akron leaders or the other hospital leaders yet but is working with Wakulchik to meet them. It’s important to partner with other hospitals in the community to be effective, he said. “They've just done a great job of that and that's a sign of really mature leadership on the part of Mr. C. and Grace,” Gess...
Gessner said he and his wife, Jane, are ready for “full immersion” into Akron. They just moved into a house they bought in West Akron. They’ll be slightly closer to two of their grown children and really close to their youngest. Their oldest son is in graduate school at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and their middle son is an auditor in...
Gessner becomes the first leader of Akron Children’s that is not a native of the area or long-time employee. But there are “pros and cons of being an outsider," he said. “I think I'm an outsider that understands the importance though of learning the community,” Gessner said. “I need to become much more a part of this community so I can make respons...
- Betty Lin-Fisher
- Consumer Reporter
Aug 5, 2021 · Effective Oct. 18, Christopher A. Gessner will succeed Wakulchik, Akron Children's Hospital announced in a news release late Thursday afternoon.
- Betty Lin-Fisher
- Consumer Reporter
Feb 9, 2022 · Chris began his new role as president and CEO of Akron Children’s in October 2021, succeeding the now-retired Grace Wakulchik after her 40-year health care career. “There’s been great leadership at Akron Children’s that has really set the bar high,” said Chris.
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Oct 20, 2021 · It’s the first week on the job for Akron Children’s Hospital’s new CEO and president, Christopher Gessner. One of his goals, Gessner said, is to expand the hospital's behavioral and mental health services.
