Atlanta’s two major health systems are heading into new chapters as longtime leaders prepare to step down. Grady Health System and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta announced major transitions this month that will reshape care delivery for hundreds of thousands of patients across the region starting in 2027.
John Haupert will retire at the end of 2026 after 15 years guiding Grady, while Donna Hyland steps away from CHOA after nearly four decades of service. Their departures mark the end of an era for safety-net care and top-tier pediatric services in one of the South’s fastest-growing cities.
Grady Reveals CEO Exit Alongside Billion-Dollar Campus Plan
Grady Health System dropped big news on March 18. President and CEO John Haupert plans to retire December 31, 2026. The timing lines up with fresh momentum on a massive expansion project.
Fulton County leaders approved funding for a new medical campus in South Fulton County. The $1 billion development aims to tackle a serious healthcare desert in one of metro Atlanta’s fastest-growing areas. It follows the earlier closure of Atlanta Medical Center campuses that left many residents without nearby options.
The campus will roll out in phases near a new freestanding emergency department set to open in Union City this June. A medical office building comes first in early 2028 with imaging, surgery, specialty clinics, pharmacy, rehab, and a full floor for pediatric care through CHOA. The 200-bed acute care hospital follows in 2031 and will function as a Level 3 trauma center.
Grady sees more than 2,000 patients daily and handles about 155,000 emergency visits each year. Demand keeps climbing despite efforts like neighborhood clinics, mobile units, hospital-at-home programs, and telehealth.
This new campus represents Grady’s biggest step yet to meet community needs while easing pressure on its main downtown facility.
Haupert will stay on in an advisory role through 2027. He will focus on the South Fulton project and help with fundraising efforts.
Anthony Saul Steps Up as Grady’s New President and Future CEO
Anthony Saul takes over as president and chief operating officer right away. He will become full president and CEO on January 1, 2027.
Saul brings more than 25 years of healthcare leadership experience. He joined Grady in 2019 as chief financial officer and later moved into the COO role. Before Grady he held finance leadership positions at LCMC Health in Louisiana.
Board chair Larry Gellerstedt praised the move. He noted Saul’s deep understanding of Grady’s safety-net mission and his focus on operational excellence.
Saul has already helped manage major capital projects, including the $237 million Correll Pavilion that opened in 2023. His background in both finance and operations positions him well for Grady’s growth phase.
The leadership handoff appears smooth. Haupert’s continued involvement should help maintain stability as the health system navigates changing reimbursement policies and rising patient volumes.
Donna Hyland Leaves Lasting Mark on Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
CHOA made its announcement earlier in March. Donna Hyland, who joined the organization in 1986 and became CEO in 2008, will retire later this year.
Her 40-year career helped transform a smaller children’s hospital into a national leader. Patient visits grew to 1.2 million per year under her watch, with more than 3,000 patients served daily.
Key achievements include:
- Leading the 1998 merger of Scottish Rite and Egleston hospitals to create CHOA
- Bringing Hughes Spalding Children’s Hospital into the system
- Integrating the Marcus Autism Center to boost care and research
- Developing the North Druid Hills campus and opening Arthur M. Blank Hospital
- Strengthening the academic partnership with Emory University School of Medicine, moving pediatric research funding from 49th to top five nationally
Cancer survival rates improved dramatically from about 60 percent to more than 85 percent overall, with some types exceeding 90 percent. The system built the nation’s largest sickle cell program and performed hundreds of heart transplants.
Hyland often spoke about her pride in growing the mission to serve Georgia families. Board chair Paul Brown highlighted her role in expanding hope and healing for generations of children.
Dr. Patrick Frias Returns Home to Guide CHOA’s Next Chapter
Dr. Patrick Frias will succeed Hyland as CEO in the coming months. The pediatric cardiologist spent 18 years at CHOA earlier in his career as a clinician, chief physician officer, and chief operating officer.
He left in 2018 to lead Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego. There he guided growth, campus expansion, and a major merger that created one of the largest pediatric systems in the country. He most recently served as co-president and CEO of Rady Children’s Health.
Frias knows CHOA well and returns with fresh perspective from leading through complex changes elsewhere. Board leaders call him a “people first” executive with strong strategic vision.
The transition includes a partnership period between Hyland and Frias to ensure continuity for patients, families, and staff.
What These Changes Mean for Patients Across Atlanta
Both organizations serve critical roles in the region’s healthcare fabric. Grady functions as the primary safety-net provider and Atlanta’s only Level 1 trauma center. CHOA delivers specialized pediatric care that families often travel across the state to access.
The parallel leadership changes come as both systems face similar pressures: growing populations, workforce challenges, evolving payment models, and the need to expand access in underserved areas.
Grady’s South Fulton campus will include pediatric services through its ongoing partnership with CHOA. This collaboration could strengthen coordination between adult and children’s care in the growing southern suburbs.
Patients and families may wonder how daily operations will shift during these transitions. Health system leaders emphasize continuity of care as the top priority. Both organizations have strong clinical teams and established programs that should weather the executive changes.
The moves also reflect broader trends in healthcare leadership. Many longtime CEOs who guided systems through the pandemic and major expansions are choosing this moment to pass the torch to the next generation.
Atlanta residents have relied on Grady and CHOA during some of the city’s most challenging times. The deep community roots of both institutions suggest these transitions aim to build on past success rather than break from it.
As new leaders settle in, their focus will likely stay on core missions: providing high-quality care regardless of ability to pay at Grady, and delivering world-class pediatric services at CHOA.
These changes mark more than personnel shifts. They represent Atlanta’s health systems positioning themselves for the next decade of growth and challenges in a rapidly evolving city.
