Southcoast Health currently has an affiliation with Boston Children’s for pediatric inpatient and emergency care at St. Luke’s as well as nursery care at Tobey Hospital in Wareham.

“This relationship has been embraced by staff and has been well received by parents and families within our communities,” said Linda Bodenmann, Chief Operating Officer for Southcoast Health. “We are excited to expand this relationship to all three of the acute care hospitals in our system.”

A change in physician leadership will accompany this transition.

Brian Sard, MD, has been appointed Chair of Pediatrics. Dr. Sard served as the medical director of pediatric programs at St. Luke’s since 2012. Dr. Sard has led the program to significant growth in terms of both patients seen and services provided during his tenure. In his new role, Dr. Sard will oversee delivery of pediatric and newborn care across Southcoast Health, collaborating closely with clinical leadership in neonatology, obstetrics and other departments, as well as administrative leaders at both Southcoast Health and Boston Children’s.

Athena Xifaras, MD, will continue to serve as a leader within the pediatric program in her role as Division Chief of Inpatient Pediatrics. This work includes coordinating pediatric care both within the St. Luke’s pediatric program and with community providers across Southcoast Health.

Daphne Remy Gomes, MD, MPH, will take on the role of Division Chief of Neonatology and Site Leader for the Charlton Memorial Hospital Special Care Nursery. Dr. Remy Gomes has served as a staff neonatologist within level IIA, IIB and III nurseries across the Boston Children’s affiliated community hospitals since 2013, currently as an attending neonatologist at Winchester Hospital. Dr. Remy Gomes also spent time as a neonatology consultant in Rwanda and currently serves as the Associate Director of Education for the Boston Children’s Division of Newborn Medicine; work that includes facilitation of neonatal simulation training.

Jessica Slusarski, MD, will be the Site Leader for the St. Luke’s Hospital Special Care Nursery. Dr. Slusarski has been part of the team from Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island for the past six years. At Women & Infants, she was a leader of the transport team and has experience with simulation training. Dr. Slusarski also served as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at both the University of Washington and more recently at Brown University. For the past three years, Dr. Slusarski has served as the Medical Director of Neonatal Transport for Women & Infants’ NICU.

Cynthia De Meester, MD, PhD, has been named the Site Leader for the Tobey Hospital Nursery. Dr. De Meester brings more than 15 years of experience from both the pediatric primary care and hospital-based perspective, most recently as a pediatric hospitalist at Cape Cod Hospital. In addition, Dr. De Meester offers program administrative experience and a personal interest in working with families that struggle with addiction.

For more information about Southcoast Health, visit www.southcoast.org.