Meet Dr. Claudia Hudspeth

Bringing a global perspective home to Calgary

After more than 25 years advancing health around the world, the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation’s new President and CEO is bringing her experience home – and looking ahead to what Calgary can accomplish next for children and families.

For more than 25 years, Dr. Claudia Hudspeth has worked to improve health outcomes for people around the world, particularly children and families. Now, as the new President and CEO of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, she is bringing that global experience home to Calgary.

A medical doctor and public health expert, Claudia has led major public health initiatives with UNICEF and the Aga Khan Foundation and provided strategic guidance through McKinsey & Company to address complex health challenges. Her work has spanned nearly 40 countries and some of the world’s most demanding health environments.

Throughout her career, she has helped develop strategies, raise funds, strengthen organizations and bring together governments, donors, multi-sector partners and expert teams to turn ambitious ideas into action.

But for Claudia, the purpose behind that work has always been deeply human.

“No matter where you are in the world, every parent wants their child to be healthy, to fulfil their potential and to do everything they dream of doing,” she says. “That is universal. And every child deserves the opportunity to achieve their best health and well-being.”

Seeing the whole child

Claudia’s experience has given her a broad perspective on what it takes for children to thrive.

Medical advances have transformed what is possible for young patients. At the same time, children’s health is influenced by much more than the medical care they receive. Mental health, social connection, family circumstances and the environments in which children live and grow all shape their well-being.

“Children’s lives extend far beyond the walls of the hospital and so should our understanding of their health and well-being,” Claudia says.

For Claudia, this means thinking about child health in its fullest sense — preventing illness wherever possible, supporting children and families in their communities and ensuring exceptional hospital care is available when they need it.

It also means recognizing how much of a person’s future health is shaped during childhood.

“Children are the canary in the coal mine of society. Their health and well-being tell us how our communities are doing. Because the course of a life is shaped so early, investing in children is one of the most powerful ways to build healthier, stronger societies.” — Dr. Claudia Hudspeth

Building on a remarkable legacy

Claudia joins the Foundation at a time of tremendous possibility.

Over several decades, the generosity and determination of the community have helped build a world-class children’s hospital, establish a child-focused research institute, open Alberta’s first pediatric hospice and create one of Canada’s most research-intensive, community-based mental health centres for young people.

Claudia sees those achievements as a remarkable foundation for what comes next.

“There is a pragmatic, entrepreneurial, ‘get-it-done’ spirit here,” she says. “Calgary gives us the confidence to believe we can do big things – and the determination to turn that belief into action.”

That spirit is particularly powerful when it comes to children. When Calgarians see a need or an opportunity to improve young lives, they come together and act.

Claudia has also been impressed by the strength of the relationships connecting Alberta Children’s Hospital, the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, the University of Calgary and the Foundation.

“When the University, hospital and Foundation speak with one voice, we are far more powerful than we could ever be separately. Children don’t choose the circumstances that shape their health. We owe it to them to use every resource, idea and partnership available to give them every opportunity to live full and healthy lives.” – Dr. Claudia Hudspeth

Foundation Board Chair Mike Begin believes Claudia is uniquely positioned to help bring those strengths together.

“We are excited for the exceptional leadership strengths that Claudia will bring to the organization with her health care expertise, strategic insights, global perspective and the breadth of relationships she has managed,” he says. “She brings the experience and passion to build on the Foundation’s achievements and expand the impact of what is possible for children and families.”

Turning possibility into progress

Child health research and innovation will be central to that next chapter.

Claudia understands the enormous potential to identify health risks earlier, prevent or reduce the severity of illness and tailor care more precisely to each child. Research is also creating gentler treatments that can save not only a child’s life, but protect the rest of their life.

“Precision medicine gives experts the opportunity to find risks earlier, reduce the severity of illness and tailor care more closely to each child,” she says.

Donors make it possible for specialists to explore new approaches, fill critical gaps and move promising ideas forward. Their support helps provide advanced equipment, accelerate innovative programs and world-leading research, strengthen family-centred care and extend support beyond the hospital’s walls.

“Philanthropy provides the freedom to fill gaps, move promising ideas forward and elevate excellent care to world-class care. More than that, philanthropy gives us the confidence to dream big.” – Dr. Claudia Hudspeth

After calling Calgary home base for more than a decade, Claudia feels privileged to serve children and families in her own community. She is equally excited to invite Albertans to see themselves in the Foundation’s future.

She believes the next chapter will be built the same way its greatest achievements have been built: through expertise, generosity, partnership and a shared determination to ask what more is possible for children.

“Calgary has an extraordinary history of caring deeply for children,” Claudia says. “Together, we can build on that legacy and give every child the opportunity to achieve their best health and well-being.”