Anne Baum has been named the first president of Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, part of Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN).

Baum, working in partnership with Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital Physician in Chief J. Nathan Hagstrom, MD, will oversee strategic planning and operations of Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, the area’s only children’s hospital and the third largest children’s hospital in Pennsylvania.

Baum will assume the role Jan. 3, 2022. She will report to LVHN Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer John Pierro.

Baum, a well-known and respected business leader in the Lehigh Valley for more than 20 years, comes to Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital from Capital Blue Cross, where she was Lehigh Valley Market President and Vice President, Producer and Labor Relations.

“The reputation of Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital is phenomenal and having the chance to make a positive difference in the health and well-being of our community’s children is the opportunity of a lifetime,” Baum said.

“Good health is so important. Without good health, our children find it hard to learn, be active, enjoy art and music or just be kids. I’m excited to work with an outstanding team of health care professionals to care for children in times of sickness and to help children develop healthy lifestyles.”

Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital provides access to more than 30 pediatric specialties, including pediatric surgery, a Children’s ER, two Children’s ExpressCARE locations, the highest possible level of neonatal intensive care, a pediatric intensive care unit, pediatric burn and trauma care and a child-life program that helps children cope during a hospital visit.

“Anne’s health care, business and leadership experience – coupled with her passion for this community and its people – make her a natural choice to lead the growth of Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital,” said LVHN President and Chief Executive Officer Brian A. Nester, DO, MBA.

“Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital already is the region’s leader in children’s care, and now with Anne as a member of the LVHN family, the future is even brighter,” Pierro said.

Baum’s experience prior to Capital Blue Cross includes Director of Managed Care Services for Premier Inc., Executive Director of Eastern Pennsylvania Health Network, and Vice President of Managed Care at St. Luke’s University Health Network.

She is founder and president of Vision Accomplished, which provides leadership and professional training programs that help businesses enhance customer satisfaction.

Baum is a member of numerous community boards and the recipient of several awards, including Pennsylvania Best Women in Business and the ATHENA Award.

She is the author of the books,” Small Mistakes, Big Consequences: Develop Your Soft Skills to Help You Succeed,” which helps people identify common behavior mistakes that can make or break relationships, and “Small Mistakes, Big Consequences for Interviews.”

Baum received a bachelor’s degree in biology from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a master’s degree in health systems management from Rush University.