The leader of a children’s hospital in New York will be the next president of Wolfson Children’s Hospital of Jacksonville, Baptist Health announced Oct. 7.
Starting in January, Allegra Jaros will succeed the retired Michael Aubin, who served as president from January 2011 to Oct. 3.
Since 2014, Jaros has been president of John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, New York, a regional pediatric referral center for trauma, surgical and medical care.
Jaros was responsible for completing the design and development of the $272 million Oishei Children’s Hospital, which opened in 2017.
“Allegra is an energetic, innovative senior executive who has spent the last 22 years of her career with a specific focus on providing outstanding care to women and children,” Baptist Health President and CEO Michael Mayo said in a news release. “In addition to her significant operational acumen, her work in health equity, strategic relationships, and team engagement are exemplary – she will be a tremendous asset to our organization and our region.”
Jaros also is system vice president for Kaleida Health, a position she has held since 2011. Kaleida said Jaros will remain in her job until the end of the year to help plan for the transition.
“While it is a loss for us, it is a great career opportunity for Allegra,” Don Boyd, president and CEO of Kaleida Health, said in a news release. “It is no surprise that this national opportunity attracted her and that she was a strong candidate given her success here over the years. She has the opportunity to go to a larger market and larger health system and utilize her 25 years of service here at Kaleida Health.”
Kaleida is western New York’s largest health care system. It comprises 11 hospitals, two skilled nursing facilities, two joint-ventured surgery centers, a large physician practice group and an academic partnership with the University at Buffalo Medical School.
“My career at OCH has set me on a path of personal growth, advancement, and advocacy for pediatric and women’s health,” Jaros said in a news release about her leaving Kaleida.
“This is an exciting opportunity and adventure for my husband and me, and our family,” she said. “I am thankful to Buffalo for trusting me to lead our children’s hospital. We’ve accomplished so many incredible things together for which I will forever be grateful and proud.”
Allegra earned a bachelor’s in finance and an MBA with an emphasis on health care from Canisius College in Buffalo.
She also serves on the Children’s Hospital Association Finance Committee and is affiliated with the Child Health Corp. of America.
Wolfson Children’s Hospital is a part of Baptist Health. The 276-bed hospital is at 800 Prudential Drive on the Downtown Southbank.
