A Toast to Mike Farrell | Cincinnati Children's

Mike Farrell, MD, steps down as chief of staff
Most employees at Cincinnati Children’s today have known only one chief of staff - Michael Farrell. When he stepped down on June 30, 2015, after 22 years as chief of staff, it was truly the end of an era.
For many of us, Farrell is the epitome of the compassionate clinician and champion for the patient and family.
It’s been 41 years since Farrell arrived in Cincinnati as a pediatric resident in 1974, fresh from a tour of duty in the Navy. He followed his residency with back-to-back fellowships, first in Ambulatory and Emergency Pediatrics, then Gastroenterology and Nutrition. He joined the faculty in the Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition in 1979 and has been an innovator and leader ever since.
Throughout his career, Farrell has had a passionate interest in serving patients whose complex conditions present difficult challenges: children with special needs, short bowel syndrome, epidermolysis bullosa and anorexia nervosa. His commitment to meeting the needs of underserved rural populations in Appalachia is extraordinary. In early June, he made his 200th monthly trip to Portsmouth -100 miles from Cincinnati - where he has seen over 4,000 patients.
Over the years, he supervised the training of more than 600 residents. Today, senior residents give formal, evidence-based presentations at the weekly Farrell Rounds, named in his honor in 2008. Farrell always attends.
Since he was appointed chief of staff in 1993, Farrell has worked alongside three Pediatric chairs - Drs. Thomas Boat, Arnold Strauss and Margaret Hostetter. His leadership was critical as Cincinnati Children’s expanded clinical services, opened new inpatient and outpatient facilities, adopted the quality/transformation agenda and became a national and global referral center.
He was influential in adopting family-centered rounds and a leading advocate for improving patient safety. b
But Farrell’s greatest legacy as teacher, clinician and chief of staff may be one oft-repeated phrase that summarizes his priorities: “Take care of the patient first.”
After more than 40 years of dedicated service to Cincinnati Children’s, and 22 years as chief of staff, Farrell is slowing down but not retiring. He will continue as a member of the Gastroenterology faculty and has promised to spend more time documenting the history of the institution he loves.