As a longtime pediatrician and infectious disease specialist, Dr. Mark Kline has a fascinating history. While at the renowned Baylor College of Medicine, he established the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative, a global health program that delivered HIV/AIDS care and treatment to over 350,000 children and families throughout sub-Saharan Africa and Romania. This work led to his 2019 nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize. In addition, he spent 11 years as a physician-in-chief of Texas Children’s Hospital, which is the biggest children’s hospital in the country.
Seeking new opportunities, Dr. Kline interviewed at many other children’s hospitals across the country. His longtime colleague John R. Nickens, CEO of Children’s Hospital New Orleans at the time, invited him to learn more about the hospital’s work. As a public health-oriented pediatrician, Dr. Kline was moved by the hospital’s dedication to serving a medically indigent population. The city itself won him over as well.
“I was really impressed by how genuine the people were, both at the hospital and just people I met on the street,” said Dr. Kline. “And I was really excited about the mission that the hospital was pursuing. It had a grander vision than most of the children’s hospitals I was familiar with, that was much more community-focused.”
In 2021, Dr. Kline accepted the position as physician-in-chief and soon became chief medical officer. He immediately faced the challenge of riding out Hurricane Ida in the hospital, all the while ensuring the children had continued treatment. Dr. Kline also became more aware of the social determinants of health that affected children in the city, including traumatic events such as the loss of homes or family members to storms, as well as the many effects of COVID-19. With this in mind, he encourages physicians to take a holistic approach to treat both the child and the family.
Community Outreach
“We cannot treat children and abandon families who do not have resources to support their children,” said Dr. Kline. To this end, the hospital has a number of programs that address many of these root causes of disease and injury, including the need for clothing, education, and nutrition. The Thrive Kids Program, for example, provides in-school care coordination, mental and behavioral health services, sports medicine, chronic disease management, and more resources to schools across the state.
Recruitment
Dr. Kline noted that one of the most rewarding aspects of his work has been recruiting physicians to New Orleans. While many of the hospital’s outstanding doctors are local, the existing pool has not been sufficient to meet its growing needs. In response, he has led efforts to attract physicians from across the country who are aligned with the institution’s mission and committed to serving underserved communities.
“A lot of brainpower is being recruited to New Orleans across healthcare,” said Dr. Kline, including top-notch specialists in cardiology, cancer, rheumatology, endocrinology, and more. “Those folks will be here for decades, and they will train the next generation. That is going to have a huge impact on New Orleans and the state of Louisiana for a long, long time to come.”
Accessible Brilliance
In addition to his recruitment efforts, Dr. Kline emphasizes the importance of what he describes as “accessible brilliance.” While highly skilled, technically proficient physicians are not uncommon, he places particular value on those who consistently treat all individuals within the hospital — coworkers, colleagues, families, and especially patients — with dignity, respect, and compassion. He recognizes that professional excellence is most impactful when paired with kindness, as arrogance can undermine even the highest levels of expertise.
“But if you are brilliant professionally, as nice as can be, and you can truly relate to the people you are serving, then every ounce of your brilliance becomes accessible to them,” said Dr. Kline. “So that is who we look for: the people who combine those characteristics.”
Get Involved
Keep up with the hospital’s latest news by visiting their website and social media. Visit the volunteer section to learn about current options within the hospital.
Because of the population it serves, the hospital is highly dependent on philanthropy. Gifts big and small alike help support the hospital. Their current projects include building a brand-new newborn intensive care unit that will be three times the size of the existing unit. In addition, the hospital served over 100,000 more children in 2025 than they did in 2024. This requires good stewardship of their resources, as well as significant community support.
Contact
Website: manningchildrens.org
Facebook: facebook.com/manningchildrens
