Our People

Chair, Department of Pediatrics

Leslie Walker, MD

Professor Ford/Morgan Endowed Chair of Pediatrics Associate Dean, UW School of Medicine Chief Academic Officer/Senior Vice President, Seattle Children's President, Association of Medical School Pediatric Chairs (AMSPDC)

Dr. Leslie Walker has been dedicated to the health and wellbeing of children and adolescents for over 25 years, particularly in the area of prevention of adolescent substance use and promotion of healthy adolescent development. Her current focus is to raise awareness of and bring to the national scale proven interventions to prevent the development of substance use and mental health conditions in children and adolescents. 

Read a welcome message from our chair.



Vice and Associate Vice Chairs

Vice Chair of Administration and Finance

Erin E. Allen, MHA

Vice Chair, Administration and Finance

Vice Chair of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Jason F. Deen, MD

Professor Vice Chair for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Vice Chair of Research

Luke R. Hoffman, MD, PhD

Professor Director, The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Center for CF Microbiology (CCFM lab) Vice Chair for Research

Vice Chair of Medical Education

Abena Boateng Knight, MD

Clinical Professor Vice Chair of Education Associate Division Head

Vice Chair of Academic Affairs

Frederick P Rivara, MD, MPH

Professor Vice Chair, Academic Affairs

Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs

Jack Salerno, MD

Associate Division Chief Professor

Vice Chair of Faculty Development

Richard P. Shugerman

Professor Vice Chair, Faculty Development Director, Pediatric WWAMI

Associate Vice Chair for Basic Science Research

Stefan Kappe, PhD

Professor at the Center for Global Infectious Disease Research

Associate Vice Chair of Academic Affairs

Eileen J. Klein, MD, MPH

Professor Associate PEM Head for Faculty Affairs and Development PECARN, STELAR node PI

Associate Vice Chair of Medical Education

Matthew P. Kronman, MD, MSCE

Professor Medical Director of Outpatient Antimicrobial Stewardship and co-Director of Fellows’ College, Seattle Children’s Hospital

Associate Vice Chair of Administration and Finance

Taylor L Sawyer, DO, MEd, MBA

Division Head and William Alan Hodson Endowed Chair of Neonatology Professor

Associate Vice Chair of Quality and Safety

Kristina A. Toncray, MD

Clinical Professor Medical Director, Patient Safety Associate Vice Chair for Quality and Safety Associate Chief Safety Officer, Seattle Children’s

Administrative Directors

Director of Operations

Emily Allen, MPA

Director, Operations

Director of Finance

Timothy Appel

Director, Finance

Director of People and Workforce

Maria Zontine, MPA, SHRM-SCP

Director, People and Workforce