Chief Strategy Officer Shawn Lyden retires on Aug. 30.
Whether he was engaging in strategic planning for Akron Children’s, visiting a hospital in Haiti as part of a medical mission or rappelling down skyscrapers to support organ donation, Chief Strategy Officer Shawn Lyden found passion and purpose in our mission of improving the health of children.
As he prepares to retire on Aug. 30, Shawn reflected on the many places and people he met during his 16-year tenure.
One of the most interesting places he visited was Port-au-Prince, Haiti. “We have a partnership with a hospital there, St. Damien, and it was incredibly meaningful to see the work we were doing,” Shawn said. He fondly remembers one of the children he met there, who left his parents and flew to Akron with the team from Children’s for heart surgery. “He was cute as anything.”
Shawn in Port-au-Prince.
Closer to home, Shawn was also very involved with the Akron Marathon during the time Akron Children’s was the title beneficiary of the event. This was not only another way to give back to the community and support our mission, but also a way to feed his long-standing passion for long-distance running.
Shawn and his daughter, Ali, at the Akron Marathon.
Shawn also spent his personal time supporting organizations such as Lifebanc, Northeast Ohio’s only nonprofit organ and tissue recovery organization. Shawn participated in Lifebanc’s Over the Edge fundraiser several times, raising money by rappelling over the edge of high-rise buildings in Akron and Cleveland. “I don’t really have a fear of heights,” Shawn said. “It got easier, but that first step was a doozy.”
Participating in Lifebanc’s Over the Edge fundraiser for organ donation.
When he wasn’t defying gravity, Shawn could be found visiting patients and hospital staff with his Newfoundland, Maya, a member of the Doggie Brigade for more than six years. “As a nonclinical employee, the Doggie Brigade gave me unique exposure to the front lines of patient care at Children’s,” Shawn shared. “It’s amazing to see pet therapy in action.”
Doggie Brigade with Maya.
But Shawn’s connection to Akron Children’s isn’t just professional; it’s personal, too. In one of his most memorable moments, he and his wife, Amy, dedicated the “Circle of Friends” sculpture on the Akron campus in honor of Amy’s brother, Billy Cunningham. “Billy died of cancer at Akron Children’s at the age of 13. I see the sculpture every time I walk between the Exchange Street parking deck and my office. It always brings a big smile to my face.”
What brought you to Children’s? Who gave you your start?
I spent the first 23 years of my professional career as a lawyer in private practice specializing in health law, 10 years in Chicago and then in Northeast Ohio. I represented Akron Children’s as outside legal counsel beginning in the late 1990s, working closely with senior management and the board of directors. This was my first experience with a children’s hospital, and I immediately fell in love with the mission and culture of the organization. Out of the blue, in early 2007, Bill Considine asked me to join Children’s as a full-time employee. With a healthy mix of enthusiasm and anxiety, and strong encouragement from my wife, Amy, I said yes. I became executive vice president and Children’s first ever in-house general counsel in January 2008.
Have you always worked in the same department and role?
I’ve been a member of the senior leadership team since I joined Children’s, reporting to the CEO. In January 2010, I gave up the general counsel role and assumed the executive vice president role full-time. At the same time, I gave up my license to practice law and jumped headfirst into the business side of health care. I never looked back. My title changed from executive vice president to chief strategy officer in July 2018, and my role and responsibilities changed as well.
What have your biggest contributions been while here?
I’d highlight 3 areas:
1. The expansion of our service area and regional footprint, including the Akron Children’s Pediatrics network, strategic partnerships with adult hospitals and health systems, and creation of Akron Children’s Mahoning Valley.
2. The transition of our medical staff from a private practice model to an employed model that includes greater subspecialty depth, new programs and services, and more complex care.
3. Building an incredibly talented and dedicated team of leaders in strategy, business development, marketing and communications, and government relations – which allows me to retire knowing the organization is in very capable hands in these areas.
Other than new buildings and construction, is there anything about the way that Akron Children’s has changed that you notice since you started here?
The biggest change I’ve noticed is the incredible growth of the organization. Looking at any metric, from size of the workforce to revenue, Children’s has grown exponentially over the last 15 plus years. Importantly, it’s not growth for the sake of growth. It’s strategic growth that has allowed Children’s to reach more children and families close to home with a full spectrum of high-quality, accessible and coordinated care. In addition, our growth has addressed unmet needs for pediatric care in underserved areas of our service area, such as the Mahoning Valley and Southeastern Ohio.
What gave you the most satisfaction at work?
I’ve always been proud to work at Children’s and am deeply passionate about the Three Promises and Mission. More specifically, I’ve been able to help the organization expand its geographic reach and improve the lives of more children. This impact has given me great satisfaction.
With so many little children here, did someone or something especially touch your heart?
The patient who sticks in my mind the most had been boarding in the hospital for over 6 months because he was in between foster families. I spent a good amount of time with this young boy and learned he loved sports and was about to turn 8. I visited him the week after his birthday and gave him my prized Kyrie Irving bobblehead as a gift. It was 2016, the year the Cavs won the NBA championship.
What do you look forward to the most in retirement?
I’m looking forward to spending much more quality time with Amy, our 4 children, their spouses/significant others and our 5 grandkids.
Shawn’s son, Austin’s, wedding day last May. Pictured left to right: Emma, Molly, Shawn, Amy, Austin and Jack.
What’s your idea of a perfect day?
It’s a day that includes quality time with my wife, kids and grandkids, exercise outdoors (preferably cardio), good food and a long walk with our Bernedoodle, Hank.
Amy, Hank and Shawn at Holden Arboretum.
Do you have any advice for people just starting at Children’s?
My advice is to appreciate and cherish that you’ve joined an organization with a unique culture and a deep and lasting commitment to improving the health of children, teens and young adults.
What couldn’t you live without?
I couldn’t live without Amy’s love, guidance and ongoing support. I also couldn’t live without the precious time we spend with our kids and grandkids.
Daughter, Ali; her husband, Justin; and Shawn’s grandchildren on vacation in South Carolina.
