Season 2: Episode 9
Hope and Will: A Parenting Podcast from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Everything Parents—And Kids!—Want to Know About Our New Hospital
Arthur M. Blank Hospital will open Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, at the site of our expanded North Druid Hills campus. If you’ve driven on I-85 or North Druid Hills Road in the past few years, you’ve likely caught a glimpse of its rise. This 19-story, 2 million-square-foot facility is generating lots of buzz with its fleet of robots, cutting-edge technology, more than 20 acres of greenspace, and a slew of fun—and practical—amenities for families.
If you’ve ever looked at a large-scale construction site and wondered what went into making such an undertaking possible, this conversation will shine a light on what it takes to take a sapling of an idea and translate it into something really, really big. Whether you’ve walked our halls as a patient family, you wear an employee badge or you’re a Georgia parent curious about how this new facility may support your family in the future, these are 45 minutes you don’t want to miss.
Chris Chelette, Senior Vice President, Facilities Services
Chris is responsible for all things facilities-related, including real estate, planning, design, and construction at existing and future facilities within the Children’s system, as well as facilities operations for the existing campuses which includes engineering, healthcare technology management, EVS, food service, security and emergency management. Since joining Children’s in mid-2016, Chris has been focused on the development of the North Druid Hills campus and Arthur M. Blank Hospital. At home, he’s the proud dad to two boys.
Linda Cole, Chief Nursing Officer
Linda Cole, MBA, BSN, RN, FACHE, NEA-BC, began her career at Children’s as a staff nurse more than 30 years ago. Since joining our team in 1985, she has worked at all three campuses, served in multiple leadership roles and led numerous high-profile projects, including Egleston hospital’s Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center designation, the integration of the Hughes Spalding campus from concept through operations, the opening of Children’s at Forsyth and the path to Magnet recognition. At home, she’s a proud mom to four adult kids and five grandkids.
Linda Matzigkeit, Chief Administrative Officer
Linda Matzigkeit provides executive oversight, vision and support for the human resources, legal, compliance, marketing and communications, prevention and child wellness, strategic planning, and employee and physician wellness areas of Children’s. With a passion for health, she’s a frequent speaker on the topics of becoming an employer of choice, leadership, employee wellness and childhood obesity. At home, she’s the proud mom of a son who recently graduated from college.
Lynn Smith
Lynn Smith is a veteran journalist, podcast host and mom of two boys. Her experience as the parent of a patient at Children’s inspired her to advocate for spreading awareness of childhood illnesses and injuries.
