Dr. Kenisha Campbell has taken on the role of Chief Medical Officer at the Seattle Children’s Care Network (SCCN), where she is committed to transforming pediatric healthcare access for families across the region. Her efforts focus on reducing disparities that prevent many children from receiving essential health services. SCCN operates 15 community pediatric clinics serving over 137,000 children, and under Campbell’s leadership, the organization aims to ensure every young patient benefits from equitable and preventive care.
In her new position, Campbell emphasizes the importance of early intervention in health outcomes. “I’m motivated by the power of preventative care and early intervention,” she stated. “The foundations for a healthy life are built in childhood and adolescence.” Her dedication to child health began during her time at Washington University in Saint Louis, where she worked with adolescents to improve their health outcomes. She completed her residency at the University of Rochester’s Golisano Children’s Hospital, followed by a fellowship specializing in adolescent medicine at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital while earning a master’s in public health.
After leading adolescent primary care at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Campbell was drawn to Seattle’s Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic, where she served as medical director. “I was impressed by the clinic’s 50-year history of community connection and its focus on caring for the entire patient,” she explained. This experience reinforced her understanding of the challenges families face beyond healthcare facilities.
At SCCN, Campbell leads quality improvement initiatives that target crucial areas such as immunizations, preventive visits, antibiotic stewardship, and the management of chronic conditions like asthma and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A significant part of her strategy involves bridging communication gaps among various healthcare sectors. “Building effective population health programs isn’t easy because you have to collaborate through interdisciplinary teams,” Campbell noted. “You need to bring together primary care providers, specialists, operational leaders, data analysts, and community partners who all speak different professional languages.”
This collaborative approach has allowed SCCN to implement extensive screening efforts across its network. “We screened over 50,000 patients for behavioral health needs last year,” Campbell pointed out. Early identification of potential issues helps connect families with resources before challenges escalate, demonstrating her commitment to proactive care.
In alignment with her focus on health equity, all SCCN practices accept Medicaid insurance and have instituted standardized assessments to identify disparities in health outcomes. Campbell credits her experiences and mentors for shaping her equity-driven philosophy in healthcare. “Every initiative we launch has an equity lens built into its foundation,” she explained, highlighting the importance of integrating this perspective into all aspects of care delivery.
Her vision extends beyond merely adopting evidence-based practices in clinics; Campbell aims to create comprehensive systems that empower healthcare providers to deliver consistent, high-quality care. For community pediatricians managing busy practices, SCCN offers vital data infrastructure and quality improvement resources. “I’m really grateful for the opportunity to bring together 135 providers who care for children and adolescents across the region,” Campbell reflected.
As Dr. Campbell embarks on this new chapter at SCCN, her leadership promises to enhance the pediatric healthcare landscape, ensuring that equitable care becomes a reality for all families in the Seattle area.
