Dr. Heather Fagan, Pediatrician-in-Chief, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida

In an interview with Invest:, Dr. Heather Fagan, pediatrician-in-chief at Nemours Children’s Hospital and chair of the University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Medicine – Nemours Children’s Health Department of Pediatrics., discussed the rapid growth of pediatric care infrastructure in Central Florida, the importance of innovation in academic-health partnerships, and the need to build a sustainable pipeline of pediatric specialists. 

What is your background and current role at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida?

I came to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, in 2014 from the University of Chicago, where I served as a pediatric critical care physician and educational leader. I was recruited primarily to help build the medical education infrastructure at the children’s hospital that would lay the groundwork for the recruitment and retention of pediatric physicians.

In my 12 years with Nemours Children’s, we’ve seen incredible growth and change across the Central Florida region.

Currently, I serve as the pediatrician-in-chief of Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, and the chair of the University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Medicine – Nemours Children’s Health Department of Pediatrics. In this role, I oversee the 18 pediatric medical subspecialty divisions with a focus on clinical excellence and academic preeminence.

What sets the UCF–Nemours Children’s Pediatrics partnership apart?

One of our greatest strengths is that both institutions are relatively new and still in a growth phase. That fosters a strong spirit of innovation. While we are bringing together health care and academic medicine, we are not bound by the same legacy structures seen in more traditional systems. This gives us a unique opportunity to grow together, identify community needs, and build infrastructure collaboratively. It also allows for greater flexibility and faster adaptation compared to more established academic medical centers. Because we are both evolving, there is an expectation that we will continue to change over one-, three-, five-, and even 10-year horizons. This enables us to respond quickly to clinical opportunities, research development, and population health challenges. This environment also attracts high-caliber talent. Many physicians are drawn to the opportunity to build something new and address unmet needs in Florida.

Ultimately, our shared mission is to ensure that every child in Florida has access to high quality medical and surgical care.

How is Nemours Children’s Health aligning its footprint with Central Florida’s population growth?

Nemours Children’s Health has focused on meeting families where they live, work, and play. Rather than requiring patients to travel to a central hospital location, the goal is to extend subspecialty care into communities across the region. We just recently broke ground on a new multi-specialty care facility in Brevard County that will bring pediatric primary, urgent and specialty care such as hematology, cardiology, neurology and more to that area.

As the population grows, especially in areas outside Greater Orlando, Nemours Children’s is expanding access to ensure care is available locally. While complex or inpatient care still takes place in our Orlando hospital, the broader strategy is to bring high-quality, specialized services into the community.

This approach reflects a commitment to accessibility and respect for families’ time and needs. It also aligns with Nemours’ broader mission across Florida, including expanding services into medically underserved areas and ensuring all children have access to care.

How are you training the next generation of innovative pediatric physicians?

Nemours Children’s Health is deeply committed to developing the next generation of pediatric subspecialists. There is a
national decline in medical students entering pediatrics, so early exposure is critical. We work closely with UCF to integrate pediatric education early in the curriculum, providing mentorship and demonstrating the depth and impact of pediatric care. This helps counter misconceptions about the field and highlights both the professional fulfillment and clinical complexity involved.
We also focus on graduate medical education through residency and fellowship programs, which are essential for recruiting and retaining talent in Florida. Data shows that many physicians stay near where they complete their training, so building strong training programs locally is key. We currently train 48 pediatric residents as part of our core residency program, and offer 12 pediatric subspecialty fellowship programs. Nemours Children’s also plays a broader role by training residents from other specialties, such as emergency medicine and surgery. This comprehensive approach helps strengthen the pediatric
workforce and supports Nemours Children’s mission to provide high-quality care to children across Florida.

Why is pediatric healthcare critical to Florida’s long-term success?

The long-term economic impact of the state depends on healthy children. Pediatric care plays a crucial role in ensuring children grow into healthy, productive adults. Factors such as early health, education readiness, and overall well-being directly influence graduation rates, workforce participation, and economic stability. Pediatric healthcare systems are therefore not only supporting individual families but also contributing to the future strength of the state’s economy and workforce.