Paul Kempinski

Faculty

Paul Kempinski, MS, FACHE, CEC is the recently retired Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Mercy Kansas City, one of the nation’s largest, independent, academic children’s health systems. He was also the inaugural Alice Berry, DDS and Katharine Berry, MD, Endowed Chair in Executive Leadership at Children’s Mercy. 

Kempinski was appointed President and CEO at Children’s Mercy in 2018. Under his leadership, Children’s Mercy opened the Children’s Mercy Research Institute, launched a bold strategy to address the pediatric mental health crisis, activated growth strategies throughout Kansas and Missouri, achieved national rankings by US News and World report in all 11 specialties, established the Berry Institute to invest in the development of internal leaders, expanded clinical programs, and achieved unprecedented financial strength. These accomplishments occurred while also guiding the system through the COVID-19 pandemic. Kempinski has 42 years of leadership experience in health care. Prior to joining Children’s Mercy Kempinski served as President of the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware and Enterprise Vice President for Nemours Children’s Health. Kempinski joined Nemours in 2003, serving as Chief Operating Officer before his promotion to president. Prior to Nemours, Kempinski was Chief Operating Officer of Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby, Pennsylvania. He also held senior leadership positions at Via Health in Rochester, New York; Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. He is a sought-after presenter, panelist, and podcaster on health care issues and leadership.

Kempinski obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Planning and Administration from Penn State University, followed by a Master of Science in Health Systems Management from Rush University and, most recently, completed the Symbiosis executive certification program.  He is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and an alumnus of Leadership Philadelphia. He received the Rochester Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” award for professional achievement and community service by young leaders. In 2018, he was the recipient of the prestigious Alumni Fellow Award from the Penn State University Alumni Association, and in May 2019 delivered the commencement address to 1,000 graduating students in the College of Human Development at Penn State, which included his daughter, Jennifer. In 2021, Kempinski received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Rush University Health Systems Management Alumni Association. 

Kempinski is actively engaged in the community at a local, regional, and national level. He served on the Board of Trustees of the Children’s Hospital Association and chaired the association’s Quality Committee. He also served on the boards of the Missouri Hospital Association; Kansas City Chamber of Commerce; Kansas City Civic Council, KC Common Good, and the Ronald McDonald House of Greater Kansas City.

Kempinski resides in Bonita Springs, FL and Leawood, KS with his wife Maureen.  The couple have three grown children.