Experienced pediatric healthcare leader brings unique operational and nursing expertise to support strategic growth, system-wide integration and nursing excellence
PHOENIX, Aug. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Phoenix Children’s has appointed Jamie Wiggins, PhD, MBA, RN, FACHE, FAAN, as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Executive. The uniquely integrated leadership role brings together operational and nursing leadership at a pivotal time in the health system's growth.
"Jamie brings a combination of expertise that is incredibly rare in healthcare," said John R. Nickens IV, President and CEO of Phoenix Children’s. "He is a highly accomplished operations and nursing executive and a lifelong pediatric nurse. His experience leading complex pediatric organizations will be invaluable in a role that touches so many aspects of our health system."
As Phoenix Children's continues its Journey to Magnet® designation, Wiggins brings experience leading Magnet efforts and strengthening the leadership and operational foundations that support professional nursing practice.
"For children and families, exceptional care is safe, coordinated, accessible and compassionate," said Wiggins. "For staff, it means creating an environment where people can do their best work. My responsibility is to remove barriers, strengthen teams and create the conditions that allow our people to succeed. The strength of Phoenix Children's comes from the people who choose to show up for children and families."
Prior to joining Phoenix Children's, Wiggins served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Arkansas Children's. Earlier in his career, he served as Senior Vice President, Chief Clinical Officer and Chief Nursing Officer at Manning Family Children's Hospital in New Orleans and held clinical and operational leadership positions at Nicklaus Children's Health System, Children's Minnesota and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital.
Wiggins is committed to developing future pediatric nurses and healthcare leaders. He has served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and as an Adjunct Instructor at the LSU Health Sciences Center School of Nursing.
Wiggins earned an associate degree in nursing from Pitt Community College, a bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of San Francisco, a master's degree in nursing from the University of California, San Francisco, an MBA from Nicholls State University and a PhD from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, where his research focused on nurse practice environments and pediatric acute care outcomes.
About Phoenix Children's
Phoenix Children’s is one of the nation's largest pediatric health systems. It comprises Phoenix Children's Hospital – Thomas Campus, Phoenix Children's Hospital – Arrowhead Campus, Phoenix Children's Hospital – East Valley, Phoenix Children's – Avondale Campus, four pediatric specialty and urgent care centers, 12 community pediatric practices, 20 outpatient clinics, two ambulatory surgery centers and seven community-service outpatient clinics throughout the state of Arizona. The system provides world-class inpatient, outpatient, trauma, emergency and urgent care and has been serving children and families for more than 40 years. Phoenix Children's Care Network includes more than 1,405 pediatric primary care providers and specialists who deliver care across more than 75 subspecialties. Alongside our colleagues, collaborators and communities, we're elevating pediatric care, education and innovation, so we can all grow healthier together. For more information, visit phoenixchildrens.org.
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SOURCE Phoenix Children's
