DuPont Children’s Hosp. boss gets send off in the place where he began

Tom Ferry has worked at the Alfred I DuPont Hospital for Children since 1979. Many of those who started when he did gathered to wish him well in retirement.

Ferry is leaving his post as CEO at the end of January. He was hired as an Assistant Administrator. At that time the hospital was known as a small orthopedic institute. It has since grown into a 200-bed, full service, critical and acute care pediatric teaching hospital, which now employs 3200 people. Ferry was one of the youngest hospital CEO’s when he was promoted in 1982 at the age of 35.

Ferry says one his proudest accomplishments has been to establish a network of pediatric practices throughout Delaware. The network, he says, gives everyone access to a pediatrician regardless of their ability to pay. The hospital opened an Emergency room in 1989.

Kevin Churchwell has been hired to take over for Ferry. He comes to Delaware from Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville.

The send off for Ferry was in the original hospital building where he and many others began their careers. The new hospital building was opening in 1984. Photos from the party show many workers who were used to calling him Tom. “Tom is a class act,” said the hospital’s Associate Administrator for Finance Bill Britton. “He’s a humble guy with real passion and intelligence who took the organization to great heights in his own quiet, elegant way.”

Ferry doesn’t have any immediate plans except to travel and take things a little easier. “It’s time to do something different and I’m excited about finding new opportunities,” he said. “I’d like to be of meaningful service to the community.”