City of Hope Cancer Center Atlanta has appointed Childress as its new president, placing the longtime cancer care executive at the helm of its Newnan-based center as the organization works to expand access across metro Atlanta and Georgia. Her appointment comes as an estimated 68,400 Georgians are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2026 and City of Hope looks to grow its clinical capabilities, research and supportive care programs.
City of Hope Atlanta is part of City of Hope’s national cancer system and a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. Through that larger network, Atlanta patients have access to more than 700 clinical trials, along with multidisciplinary cancer care, screenings and supportive services. Childress described the Newnan center as a “holistic one-stop shop for cancer care” that can connect Georgia patients with the resources and research of the broader City of Hope system.
Childress brings more than two decades of experience in cancer care leadership. Before joining City of Hope, she was a partner at Chartis Healthcare Consulting, where she advised cancer centers nationwide on strategy, growth and operations. Her previous roles include vice president of cancer services at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University and chief operating officer at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center.
That experience gave Childress a national perspective on cancer care, but the opportunity to return to Georgia drew her to City of Hope.
“I understood that we could bring City of Hope-level care to the state of Georgia … [and] bring the power of over 700 clinical trials here to Atlanta,” Childress said. “It was a wonderful experience to get back to my roots and to work on behalf of our patients and staff.”
One of Childress’ priorities will be expanding City of Hope Atlanta’s reach. She said the organization is completing a five-year strategic plan that will examine ways to bring treatment closer to patients through partnerships, additional care sites, telehealth and other approaches.
“We know that the needs for the patients are to have care closer to home [and] to be able to have access to innovative, high-quality care,” Childress said.
That question of access extends beyond geography. Childress said City of Hope is already working with rural health care providers, but she also pointed to disparities within Atlanta.
“It’s not just the rural population that we need to focus on,” Childress said. “We have health care deserts that exist in Atlanta … [and] we need to consider the rich melting pot of individuals we have in the state of Georgia and how to affect their care.”
As City of Hope grows, Childress said expansion should not come simply for the sake of getting bigger.
“Every decision that we make needs to have the patient in the center of it,” she said. “Not to expand for expansion’s sake, but to expand because our patients need us to expand.”
For Childress, that philosophy is personal. She recalled meeting a businessman at a recent event who revealed that he was also a City of Hope patient. He had been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer and later became cancer-free.
“He said, ‘… you saved my life. And City of Hope Atlanta saved my life. And I would not be here without all of you,’” Childress recalled. “Those are the stories … that keep me coming back to cancer.”
As she begins her presidency, Childress said her first task is listening to patients, employees and the communities City of Hope serves.
“I want to hear what this community needs,” she said. “We have a strong foundation to build on, and it is our responsibility to continue to offer services in a differentiated way throughout the state of Georgia.”
For Childress, the next chapter for City of Hope Atlanta will be measured not simply by how far it expands, but by how effectively that expansion brings cancer care closer to the people who need it.
