Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Announces New Chief Operating Officer
ATLANTA (August 14, 2025) – Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is excited to announce Scott Turner as the new Chief Operating Officer, effective August 4. Turner brings over 28 years of experience in healthcare operations, including 18 years in pediatrics. In this new role, he will lead hospital operations and enhance organizational excellence.
Turner most recently served as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and President at Children’s Wisconsin. He successfully led the opening of the $385 million Milwaukee Campus Improvement project in October 2023, which expanded access to healthcare through partnerships and growth of existing clinical services.
“We are so fortunate to have Scott Turner join Children’s and look forward to the specialized expertise he will bring to our system,” said Donna Hyland, Chief Executive Officer. “We are committed to maintaining a strong leadership team to support our staff and positively impact the lives of our patients. Scott is a great fit for helping us achieve this goal.”
As the new COO, Turner will report to Donna Hyland and serve as a member of the Executive Team. Turner earned a master’s degree in Hospital and Health Administration from the University of Iowa and a bachelor’s degree in Planning, Public Policy and Management from the University of Oregon.
After 17 years at Children’s, former COO Ronald Frieson will retire at the end of 2026. Frieson joined the team in 2008 and has served as COO since July 2020. Prior to this role, he served as President of the Children’s Foundation.
About Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
As the only freestanding pediatric healthcare system in Georgia, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is the trusted leader in caring for kids. The not-for-profit organization’s mission is to make kids better today and healthier tomorrow through more than 60 pediatric specialties and programs, top healthcare professionals, and leading research and technology. Children’s is one of the largest pediatric clinical care providers in the country, managing more than one million patient visits annually at three hospitals (Arthur M. Blank, Hughes Spalding and Scottish Rite), Marcus Autism Center, the Center for Advanced Pediatrics, the Zalik Behavioral and Mental Health Center, urgent care centers and neighborhood locations. Consistently ranked among the top children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has impacted the lives of kids in Georgia, across the United States and around the world for more than 100 years thanks to generous support from the community.