Caitlin Stella, who has served as the CEO for Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital for the past eight years, is no longer in that position as of Tuesday, the South Florida Sun Sentinel has confirmed.
Stella had been recruited to lead DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood in June 2018 and had overseen a $166 million expansion, the development of corporate partnerships and the improvement of patient care.
No official explanation was given for Stella’s departure from the CEO position. Multiple calls to Stella went unanswered on Tuesday and Wednesday.
A Memorial Healthcare System board member told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that, as a board member, she was advised of Stella’s departure on Tuesday.
Laura Raybin Miller said she was told the position would be consolidated under the leadership of Paul Gaden, CEO of the adjacent Memorial Regional Hospital. Gaden joined Memorial as CEO of the Hollywood hospital in July 2025.
“Organizations are constantly evolving and this is really just a reorganization of the organization,” said Raybin Miller, who is Memorial’s longest-serving board member. “This is essentially an opportunity for Paul Gaden, the CEO over at Regional, to run both campuses. I think it will be beneficial and help with efficiencies.”
Gaden arrived at Memorial with more than 25 years of healthcare experience, including 15 years as a senior executive leading complex, multi-hospital systems nationwide. Prior to joining Memorial Regional, he served as regional president for Sentara Health in Virginia, overseeing four hospitals, five freestanding centers, and systemwide post-acute services and pharmacy operations.
Gaden was not immediately available for comment on Wednesday afternoon.
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Raybin Miller referred additional questions regarding Joe DiMaggio and Stella to Shane Strum, CEO of the Broward Health System and interim CEO of Memorial Healthcare System. Strum was not immediately available for comment on Wednesday afternoon.
Memorial Healthcare System spokeswoman Tania Ordaz Pla said Memorial had no response to questions about Stella’s departure.
Stella had just been named one of Becker’s Hospital Review’s “Women Hospital and Health System Presidents and CEOs to Know” for 2026. She came to Joe DiMaggio with a background and experience in children’s healthcare. Stella began her healthcare career as a volunteer at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and later worked in the healthcare advisory practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Before joining Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Stella was the Chief Administrative Officer for UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital and Women’s Health.
Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital is the largest pediatric hospital serving Broward County. Part of the Memorial Healthcare System, the taxpayer-funded children’s hospital combines advanced technology, the expertise of board-certified specialists, and a patient and family-centered focus. Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital also has a foundation that raises money for the hospital.
The other major pediatric service provider in Broward County is Miami-based Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, which has partnered with Broward Health to operate out of two hospitals within that health system.
South Florida Sun Sentinel health reporter Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@sunsentinel.com or 954-304-5908.
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