North Fulton Healthcare Leaders Forum:  Managing Pandemic Change and Planning for Recovery

North Fulton Healthcare Leaders Forum:  Managing Pandemic Change and Planning for Recovery (“GNFCC 400 Insider,” Episode 36)

Three respected North Fulton healthcare leaders joined a forum organized by GNFCC to discuss the current state of Covid-19 care at their respective institutions. Jon-Paul Croom, Wellstar North Fulton Hospital, Freda Hardage, Northside Hospital System, and Dr. Daniel Salinas, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, also offered recommendations to individuals and businesses as Georgia “reopens,” dispelled myths, and much more. The host of “The GNFCC 400 Insider” is GNFCC CEO Kali Boatright, and the show is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®. Business RadioX and John Ray sponsored and moderated this forum.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Dr. Daniel Salinas

Daniel Salinas, MD, is Chief Medical Officer for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. He provides executive oversight for quality and patient safety, medical staff services, and affiliations. In addition, Dr. Salinas has worked closely with community providers to develop The Children’s Care Network, one of the first pediatric, clinically integrated networks in the country, for which he also has executive oversight. He has also worked to advance Children’s Behavioral Health and primary care strategies.  Dr. Salinas provides visionary leadership for the clinical delivery systems and draws on his skills as a relationship-builder and facilitator to forge strong relationships with physicians in Atlanta and across the state.   A native of Houston, Texas, Dr. Salinas currently serves on several boards and lives in Roswell.

Northside Hospital, Freda Hardage

Freda Hardage is the Director of Northside Alpharetta Medical Campus and Director, Foundation and Community Services for Northside System.  Freda’s responsibilities include all daily operations of Alpharetta Medical Campus which consists of 3 medical office buildings, 100 + physicians from multiple specialties.  Her foundation responsibilities include comprehensive oversight for all fundraising, donor giving, community activities and research grant writing for the hospital system.

Freda has volunteered for many organizations and also serves as the first MARTA Chair from North Fulton, President Emeritus and Board Member of The Drake House and Former Chair and Board Emeritus for GNFCC.  She has served with distinction on the North Fulton Poverty Task Force, Johns Creek Community Association, YMCA High Harbour Board and Windward Rotary.

Wellstar North Fulton Hospital, Jon-Paul Croom

Jon-Paul Croom is the President of Wellstar North Fulton Hospital, a 202-bed facility located in Roswell, GA.  Croom joined Wellstar in April of 2017.   Wellstar North Fulton Hospital is one of Georgia’s only Level Il Trauma Centers and delivers services including cardiovascular services, women’s services, Pain & Spine Center, Wound Care & Hyperbarics, and inpatient rehabilitation. North Fulton Hospital is a Primary Stroke Center arid an accredited Chest Pain Center.

Croom previously served as CEO for the 429-bed Central Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Miss. and opened the only burn center in Mississippi and increased the availability of inpatient psychiatric services at the facility.  Croom also lives in Roswell where he serves his community.