Children's of Alabama President, CEO Mike Warren Announces Retirement; Tom Shufflebarger Named New CEO

Mike Warren

BIRMINGHAM (April 15, 2021) – Mike Warren, president and chief executive officer of Children’s of Alabama, is retiring from the state’s only freestanding pediatric hospital, effective June 1, 2021.

Warren, who has served as CEO at Children’s since January 2008, will be succeeded by Tom Shufflebarger, currently serving as chief operating officer and senior executive vice president. The announcements were made by the hospital’s board of directors today.

“Together, we have accomplished a great deal over these past 13 years, the crown jewel of which is the Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children. That addition transformed our campus and allowed us to move transplant surgery and cardiovascular services to Children’s – truly making us a comprehensive pediatric medical facility. Along the way we greatly expanded many services, making tremendous progress in fulfilling our mission to the children and families of Alabama. With Tom set to take the helm, Children’s is positioned to achieve even greater things,” Warren said.

“Under Mike’s leadership, Children’s has thrived, and we are grateful for his service. We are confident in Tom’s ability to continue to carry out the mission of Children’s and guide the organization as a leader in pediatric healthcare here in the state, the region and beyond,” said Temple Tutwiler III, chairman, Children’s Board of Trustees.

Shufflebarger joined Children’s in 1992, having previously served as the budget director and director of physician recruitment and development for Brookwood Medical Center. At Children’s, Shufflebarger has managed the hospital’s daily operations and policy decisions. He also directs the operations and development of Children’s Physician Services, including Pediatric Practice Solutions (Children’s primary care practices), Hospital Ambulatory Care Services, and business relationships with Health Services Foundation and hospital-based physicians.

Shufflebarger is an honors graduate of Duke University where he earned both a Bachelor of Arts in economics and a Master of Business Administration. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has served as a Trustee of the Alabama Chapter of the American Hospital Association. He currently serves as chairman of the Child Health Patient Safety Organization, an affiliate of the Children’s Hospital Association. Active in numerous community organizations, he has served in volunteer leadership roles with the United Way of Central Alabama, American Red Cross, Magic Moments, the Lakeshore Foundation, Riverchase United Methodist Church and Hoover City Schools.

Tom Shufflebarger

“I am honored to be named the next CEO of Children’s of Alabama,” Shufflebarger said. “It is a humbling experience to be part of the strong legacy of providing care for ill and injured children from throughout the region. As the past year has taught us, Children’s of Alabama stands ready to face the challenges of modern healthcare, while remaining firmly dedicated to providing the highest standards of care for our patients and their families.”

Under Warren’s leadership, Children’s of Alabama has grown both in size and standing.

In May 2009, the hospital broke ground on an expansion that would become the Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children. The 12-story building was designed to accommodate projected growth in patient volume, anticipated medical technology needs and the planned consolidation of pediatric services including cardiovascular surgery and comprehensive solid organ transplant care. The $400 million facility opened to patients in August 2012.

In 2010, six of the hospital’s programs were ranked for the first time among the nation’s best children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. The most recent ranking released in June 2020 marked the 11th consecutive year that Children’s has been included.

The relationship between Children’s and the University of Alabama at Birmingham strengthened under Warren’s leadership as the two institutions worked together to offer world-class pediatric health services in an environment that fosters world-class research, excellence in medical education and access to leading-edge treatments for pediatric illnesses and injuries.

Warren has long been a leader in Birmingham’s business community, previously serving as chairman and chief executive officer of Energen Corporation and its two primary subsidiaries, Alagasco and Energen Resources. Prior to that, Warren practiced law with the Birmingham firm of Bradley, Arant, Rose & White. Warren served 22 years on the Children’s of Alabama board of trustees before he was named the hospital’s CEO. He has been in involved in many state and local efforts and served as chairman of the Business Council of Alabama, the United Way, Leadership Birmingham and Leadership Alabama. He has also been chairman of the Metropolitan Development Board, and the area American Heart Association. He has twice chaired the general campaign for the United Way and the United Negro College Fund. In 2004, Warren was inducted to the Alabama Academy of Honor.

Since 1911, Children’s of Alabama has provided specialized medical care for ill and injured children. Ranked among the best children’s hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Children’s serves patients from every county in Alabama and nearly every state. With more than 3.5 million square feet, it is one of the largest pediatric medical facilities in the United States. Children’s offers inpatient and outpatient services at its Russell Campus on Birmingham’s historic Southside with additional specialty services provided at Children’s South, Children’s on 3rd and in Huntsville and Montgomery. Primary medical care is provided in more than a dozen communities across central Alabama. Children’s is the only health system in Alabama dedicated solely to the care and treatment of children. It is a private, not-for-profit medical center that serves as the teaching hospital for the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) pediatric medicine, surgery, psychiatry, research and residency programs. The medical staff consists of UAB faculty and Children’s full-time physicians as well as private practicing community physicians.