One Children’s Hospital, One Bold Vision

Dr. Marie-Laure Romney is building the future of pediatric care.

Pediatric Healthcare Is at a Turning Point. Hospitals across the country are grappling with rising numbers of complex patients, workforce shortages, and cuts to public funding. But at NewYork-Presbyterian, Dr. Marie-Laure Romney sees more than just challenges—she sees a once-in-a-generation opportunity.

As the Chief Operating Officer of Children’s Hospital of New York at NewYork-Presbyterian, Dr. Romney is leading the transformation of NYP’s pediatric services into a single, unified system. With one standard of excellence, it is the combined strength of NYP Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital and Komansky Children’s Hospital, anchored in a vision of seamless, equitable care for every child.

Dr. Marie-Laure Romney and her family.

“We want to reimagine pediatric care for the 21st century, where every child, in every neighborhood of New York and beyond, receives world-class care,” she says.

It’s a bold undertaking, and one that Dr. Romney is uniquely equipped to lead. With decades of clinical and operational experience, she steps into this role possessing a deep understanding of what it takes to drive lasting change. “Pediatric hospitals are navigating a perfect storm,” she says. “At Children’s Hospital of New York, we’re uniquely positioned to lead through this moment.”

That leadership begins with unification. Across nine campuses, Dr. Romney is forging a singular pediatric enterprise—blending the strengths of two nationally ranked children’s hospitals and the academic powerhouses of Columbia and Weill Cornell Medicine. “Our goal is to create something greater than the sum of its parts,” she says. “Together, we can innovate faster, scale impact more broadly, and advocate more powerfully for the most vulnerable children and families.”

Already, the results are extraordinary. A recent landmark split-root domino heart transplant—three pediatric patients receiving life-saving cardiac surgery in a single 24-hour period—was only possible because of the deep collaboration across sites. Children’s Hospital of New York teams are also pioneering genomic mapping techniques to diagnose rare and complex conditions earlier, giving children a better chance at lifelong health.

“We’re advancing programs that blend cutting-edge science with deeply human care,” Dr. Romney explains. “Our clinicians are not only exceptional at what they do, they’re also deeply committed to earning the trust of every family we serve.” A central tenet of her vision is access. “We want our nine doors to feel like one,” she says. “Whether a child arrives through a NICU, ER, or specialty clinic, they should be able to get to the right provider in the right place—seamlessly, and without delay.”

That vision demands more than operational coordination. It demands imagination and investment.

“Philanthropy is the fuel behind our most transformative work,” she says. “It allows us to dream bigger, move faster, and care more fully—especially when public funding falls short.”

The power of giving can often be found in life itself. “I would take our donors to the NICU and introduce them to a baby born at 23 weeks who is now thriving today because of the extraordinary care made possible by philanthropy,” Dr. Romney says. “Specialized equipment, training, and research that saves lives. It’s a tangible example of how generosity touches the most fragile lives and creates futures that wouldn’t otherwise exist.”

Looking ahead, Dr. Romney envisions a children’s hospital that redefines what pediatric healthcare can be. “I hope people will say Children’s Hospital of New York is the preeminent hospital for children’s health in the country,” she says. “That we’re known not only for excellence in care, but also for leading nationally, serving globally, and being the hospital families trust most.”