Hospital taps new leader for women’s, children’s facilities

Dr. Rajan Wadhawan has been selected to lead both Florida Hospital for Children and Florida Hospital for Women, the hospital chain announced Monday.

Wadhawan, 52, previously served as the chief medical officer and medical director of neonatology at Florida Hospital for Children. He is also an associate professor for pediatrics at the University of Central Florida.

In his new role as senior executive officer for the hospitals, he replaces Marla Silliman, who resigned in April to accept a senior executive position at TriHealth health system in Cincinnati.

During Wadhawan’s tenure as chief medical officer, Florida Hospital for Children was named a top neonatology program by U.S. News & World Report. The hospital also entered into affiliations with Duke Health and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.

“Dr. Wadhawan has done an outstanding job bringing national prominence to our neonatal care,” said Eric Stevens, Florida Hospital’s CEO of acute-care services.

Wadhawan will oversee a range of women’s and children’s programs, including pediatric liver transplant, pediatric and congenital cardiology, four labor and delivery locations with more than 12,000 deliveries annually, advanced gynecology and urogynecology surgical services, and extended-care facilities supported by seven hospitals.

Wadhawan completed his training in pediatrics and neonatology at Brown University in Providence, R.I. He was at All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg before joining Florida Hospital for Children in 2012.

“It is an honor to lead our exceptional women’s and children’s care teams,” Wadhawan said.