Dr. Richard Chinnock Named Chief Medical Officer of Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital

Richard E. Chinnock, MD, MHCM, has been named chief medical officer of Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital (LLUCH). His new position became official on August 25. Chinnock has served as physician-in-chief at the hospital since August 2003 and has been affiliated with LLUCH since 1989. “I’m pleased to welcome Richard to this new position in our new Children’s Hospital administrative structure,” said Kerry Heinrich, chief executive officer of Loma Linda University Medical Center. “He will continue to bring innovation and strength to our medical staff and operations.” The new position reflects his duties under the separate California State licensure that went into effect in November 2014, separating the hospital from the adult hospital’s license. As physician-in-chief, Chinnock has been the primary liaison between LLU School of Medicine, pediatric services and Children’s Hospital administration. He has been chief quality officer, engaging in strategic planning and creating systems of pediatric care. Prior to that appointment, Chinnock served LLUCH as pediatric residency director, overseeing the academic program for post-graduate training in pediatrics, from 1991 to 2003. He has simultaneously served as director of the pediatric heart transplant program (1990-present) and professor and chair of pediatrics for the School of Medicine (2003-present). Chinnock has been associated with LLUCH since it opened its doors to the community in 1993. He holds a master’s in health care management from Harvard University School of Public Health and received his MD degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine. He did his residency in pediatrics at the U.S. Naval Hospital in San Diego, California. Chinnock sits on many boards and has affiliations with dozens of organizations. Among them are the Children’s Specialty Care Coalition, where he was vice president in 2012.