R. Lawrence “Larry” Moss, M.D., President and CEO of Nemours Children’s Health One of the most important leaders in pediatric health policy in the United States, with offices in Wilmington, Delaware and Orlando, Florida, Dr. Moss joined Nemours in 2018 after spending nearly 30 years as a pediatric general surgeon and critical care physician before moving into health care administration. Since then, he has spearheaded significant advancements in all clinical, operational and strategic areas of the health system, as well as becoming a nationally recognized leader in policy. Notably, Dr. Moss has become one of the most prominent advocates for children’s health at the federal policy level in the U.S. health system.
I have had the privilege of interacting with Dr. Moss on a number of occasions and his vision, passion and integrity are unwavering. He is able to communicate with great clarity and precision why policy leaders, including elected officials in Congress and state legislatures, need to rethink how we fund and support children’s health.
Dr. Moss shared a story that is always moving to hear: that of a young boy named Wendell who was injured in Albuquerque in 1994. Wendell lived in an apartment complex in a tough neighborhood that didn’t have enough space for children to play safely, and he severely injured his leg while playing around a metal trash can. He eventually had to have his leg surgically amputated due to rapidly spreading necrotizing fasciitis, and he had to receive skin grafts on 85 percent of the skin surface of his body. The point that Dr. Moss shared was that if Wendell had easy access to a safe play area, he would never have experienced the cuts and infections, and he would never have had to have his leg amputated or receive skin grafts.
Dr. Moss said, “It’s a wonderful privilege to live in a country where we have the resources to provide the most complex, high-tech, life-saving medical care to children who need it. But for many children, some simple actions could have prevented the need in the first place. In Wendell’s case, when his amputated leg became infected, there was nothing we could do except amputate and treat it with skin grafts. “We need to focus on providing a healthy environment for children, because if we invest in it, we can help them develop healthy adults, not just reactively treat sick and injured children. And all this experience of my own,” he adds, “as a physician, came from a practice that treats less than 1% of children who suffer from serious illnesses and injuries. “Of course, it’s a wonderful privilege and incredibly rewarding, but it’s sad to see how with so few resources we can have such an amazing impact on all children. Nemoa’s work is not just to treat illness, but to create health.”
Every interaction with Dr. Moss is truly rewarding. Luckily for viewers, he Keynote Speaker at the Rocky Mountain Healthcare Innovation Summitwill be held at the Grand Hyatt in downtown Denver on Wednesday, June 12th. Don’t miss Dr. Moss’s important keynote address, and don’t miss the opportunity to hear from all the speakers and panelists at the summit and network with your colleagues.
It’s always enlightening to me to hear from health system leaders who are investing their personal and professional capital to move the entire health system forward toward greater inclusivity, equity, and wholeness. Join us in Denver to learn about the latest trends and hear from visionaries like Dr. Larry Moss. Opportunities await!
