Conners appointed executive director of Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Upstate Medical University has named Dr. Gregory Conners the new executive director of Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, effective March 4.

Conners will also serve as chair of the medical school’s department of pediatrics, Upstate Medical said in a news release.

Originally from Pittsford, near Rochester, Conners currently serves as associate chair of pediatrics at Children’s Mercy Hospitals & Clinic at the University of Missouri, Kansas City School of Medicine.

“I am pleased that Dr. Gregory Conners will be returning to upstate New York to lead our department of pediatrics and Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital,” Dr. Julio Licinio, senior VP for academic health affairs and dean of the College of Medicine, said. “With the appointment of Dr. Conners, we are gaining an outstanding physician-scientist, collaborative leader and champion of quality.

Conners will succeed Dr. Ann Botash, who has served as interim chair of pediatrics since last May, Upstate Medical said. In addition to her faculty post, Botash serves as senior associate dean for faculty affairs and faculty development.

Conners joined Children’s Mercy in 2009 and served in roles that included director of the division of emergency medicine. He’s also served as professor, vice chair and associate chair of pediatrics, and medical director for emergency preparedness.

Under his leadership, the division has grown “considerably,” per the Upstate Medical release. The division now sees about 115,000 pediatric emergency visits per year in its Missouri and Kansas emergency departments. It also educates trainees and produces research, advocacy, and other scholarly products.

Besides his work at the University of Missouri, Conners has also held faculty and teaching positions at the University of Rochester and George Washington University.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com