Newswise — Michael Frick has been named president of the Children’s Medical Center Foundation, responsible for managing all fundraising programs for the private, not-for-profit hospital, which has an annual operating budget of approximately $1 billion.

As Children’s Medical Center prepares to enter its second century, the need for its services continues to grow. It is the fifth-largest pediatric hospital in the United States, providing nearly 600,000 patient encounters each year, including nearly 150,000 visits to the Emergency Department.

“Michael’s extensive experience in health care fundraising and his strong relationships in and knowledge of the Dallas market readily equip him to be a dynamic leader as we head into the hospital’s centennial year in 2013,” said Christopher J. Durovich, president and CEO of Children’s.

“We are committed to providing the best possible care for all children who need us and to innovating new therapies, treatments and cures. This commitment requires philanthropic support to play a much greater role than ever before, given today’s rapidly changing healthcare landscape and economic challenges. We believe Michael brings a powerful set of skills to successfully lead our fundraising efforts.”

Children’s is the oldest, largest and highest-ranked pediatric medical center in North Texas, and has among the widest range of pediatric specialty services in the nation. It provides both clinical excellence as well as research initiatives that pursue knowledge to develop new and better treatments.

The hospital has achieved this level of excellence despite receiving no funding from Dallas County or the State of Texas, and while providing $67 million in uncompensated care in 2011.

“There is no higher priority than the health of children who represent our future,” Frick said. “When children become ill or are injured, their families deserve the best care. But that excellent care doesn’t just happen.

“That’s why the opportunity to join the Children’s family is exciting and compelling. The challenge of building a development program equal in stature to Children’s clinical care is equally compelling and exciting. And working toward this goal in a city as generous as Dallas is a bonus in and of itself.”

Frick, who also serves as senior vice president of Development at Children’s, will guide the Foundation’s critical mission of expanding resources to provide the investments in staff, facilities and science needed to continue the hospital’s pediatric excellence. The Foundation is currently closing out 2012 with a strong push toward its goal of raising $50 million. Its efforts in recent years have enabled Children’s to double in size to more than 3.5 million square feet, increase its clinical staff and dramatically increase the commitment to research.

In addition, Children’s has funded the recruitment of more than 350 pediatric sub-specialists to the UT Southwestern Medical School faculty and provides over $70 million annually to help support those faculty members.

Frick brings 38 years of exceptional results in leading development programs, including 21 years as a member of The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Development Office management team, growing revenues from $16 million to $200 million annually. Throughout his career, he has managed programs that have raised more than $2 billion, including more than $600 million raised personally.

Prior to M.D. Anderson, Frick led fundraising and development efforts at St. Mary’s University, University of St. Thomas, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart. He is joined in Dallas by his wife, Stephany Marreel.

“Stephany and I are tremendously pleased to be here and look forward to working with many of Dallas’and Children’s leaders, both internal and volunteer, as we pursue our commitment to the children served by Children’s,” he said.

Frick has a Bachelor of Arts degree in government from the University of Notre Dame. He is a frequent speaker on the subject of development. Frick has been very active with the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, and received their District IV Distinguished Achievement Award in 2011.

He joins the only pediatric hospital in North Texas ranked in all 10 rated specialties by U.S. News & World Report: Cardiology and Heart Surgery, Oncology, Urology, Pulmonology, Orthopedics, Nephrology, Neonatology, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Neurology and Neurosurgery, and Gastroenterology.

About Children’s Medical CenterThe private, not-for-profit Children's Medical Center is the fifth-largest pediatric healthcare provider in the country, with 559 licensed beds, two full-service campuses and 10 outpatient sites. Children’s was the state’s first pediatric hospital to achieve Level 1 Trauma status and is the only pediatric teaching facility in North Texas, affiliated with UT Southwestern Medical Center. For more information, please visit www.childrens.com.

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