Deborah Feldman

past president and chief executive officer, 2012 – 2026

Deborah Feldman was an active community leader for more than 30 years and served as the fourth president and chief executive officer of Dayton Children’s from 2012 to 2026. She retired on June 30, 2026, following 14 years of transformational leadership. 

During her tenure, Debbie led one of the most significant periods of growth in Dayton Children’s history. She guided a campus-wide revitalization, expansion of pediatric specialty services, recruitment of highly specialized experts and the integration of advanced technology, while elevating patient and family experience to top-quartile performance. Under her leadership, Dayton Children’s strengthened its position as a strong, independent children’s hospital and expanded access to expert pediatric care across the region. 

Debbie led the organization through two strategic plans that drove major investments in facilities, services and community partnerships. Her leadership helped advance innovative models of care and expanded the hospital’s reach beyond its walls, including major investments in behavioral health, community-based care and health equity initiatives. Her tenure included transformative projects such as the Mathile Center for Mental Health and Wellness and the Feldman Center for Healthy Futures. 

Prior to joining Dayton Children’s, Debbie served Montgomery County government for 30 years, including 16 years as county administrator. In that role, she led numerous community initiatives, including the Homeless Solutions Ten Year Plan, the Out-of-School Youth Task Force, the Montgomery County Healthcare Safety Net Task Force and the establishment of the Community Health Centers of Greater Dayton. Her leadership in economic development also included the development of Riverscape and the Austin Interchange. 

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Debbie built a strong record of community service and leadership. She served on numerous local, state and national boards, including the Children’s Hospital Association, Ohio Children’s Hospital Association and Ohio Hospital Association Board of Trustees. She also served as chair of Preschool Promise, the Montgomery County Family and Children First Council and the DaVinci Neighborhood Redevelopment Collaborative. She served as vice chair of the Miami University Board of Trustees and as a member of the AES Ohio Advisory Board. 

Her contributions were recognized with numerous honors, including the YWCA Women of Influence Award, Dayton Daily News Top Ten Women Award, Dayton Daily News Person of the Year, Dayton Business Journal’s Ten Most Influential People and the National Conference of Community and Justice Humanitarian Award. She was also recognized by the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, Leadership Dayton and the United Way of Greater Dayton, and received the Dayton Development Coalition’s Maureen Patterson Regional Leader Award. Debbie was also the inaugural recipient of the hospital’s Deborah A. Feldman Leadership Legacy Award, created to honor leaders whose contributions have shaped Dayton Children’s and made a lasting difference in the community. 

Debbie holds a bachelor of arts in political science from Miami University and a master of public administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. 

Debbie’s legacy is defined by her commitment to innovation, collaboration and improving the health and wellbeing of children and families across the community.