Get to know Craig McGhee, Chief of Non-Hospital Ambulatory Based Services

Craig McGhee enjoys spending time with his family boating and waterskiing on Iowa’s Great Lakes in Okoboji, Iowa.

Craig McGhee, chief of non-hospital ambulatory based services, has a favorite mantra he likes to live by: ‘hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard’. Whether he’s using it when coaching youth sports or the employees he manages, he models hard work through his oversight of the operations of Akron Children’s medical and surgical subspecialty practices, rehabilitation services, regional health centers, behavioral health services and primary care practices.

Craig holds a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Kansas State University, a master’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Saint Augustine for Health Sciences, and a master’s degree in health administration from the University of South Florida. He is board certified in health care management and a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

He is active in the American College of Healthcare Executives of Northern Ohio as a board member and past president and was recently elected as Ohio Regent of ACHE in 2020 for a three-year term. Craig also represents Akron Children’s on the Medical Advisory Board for the Upside of Downs.

 Tell us about your background, schooling and role on ELT.

Prior to joining Akron Children’s in 2009, I practiced as a physical therapist at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Tampa, Fla and Erie, Pa.

I joined Akron Children’s as an administrative director over orthopedics and added responsibility as we employed surgical practices. In 2012, I was promoted to vice president of surgical subspecialties and then to chief of non-hospital ambulatory based services in 2019. I see my role on the executive leadership team (ELT) as responsible for bringing the outpatient services perspective to the team representing our regional locations, subspecialty practices and rehabilitation.

Craig with his wife, Annie, daughters, Makenna and Macey, and son, Casey.

Tell us a little about your role as Chief of Non-Hospital (Ambulatory) Based Services.

I get to work with a great group of people overseeing operations of subspecialties, primary care, urgent care, behavioral health, rehabilitation, the appointment center and the regional health centers. My role includes strategic/business planning, provider recruitment and development, practice operations and resource deployment, human resource management, positive financial performance, quality/performance improvement and compliance oversight.

What do you like about working at Akron Children’s? 

The people and the freestanding hospital community feel. I knew I wanted to work in the pediatric setting from the beginning of my clinical career and have been fortunate to continue in this setting as I moved into administration.

 Why is employee engagement important to you? 

I want others to feel connected to the hospital like I do. I am proud to tell others that I work at Akron Children’s.

Throughout his childrens’ youth, Craig has coached baseball, basketball and soccer. He currently coaches a high-level baseball team.

If you didn’t work in health care leadership, what would your dream job be? 

I would be a high school basketball or baseball coach. I have filled this dream by coaching youth baseball, basketball and soccer. As my kids have gotten older, I have moved to the stands but still coach high-level baseball.

Tell us about your family.  

I live in Independence with my wife, Annie, and three children ages 17, 16 and 13. Annie and I will celebrate our 20-year anniversary December 2020. She is the athletic director at Independence High School and prior to that was a high school principal in Cleveland. My daughter, Makenna, age 17, plays soccer and runs cross country and track. Casey, age 16, plays soccer, basketball, baseball and kicks for the football team. Macey, age 13, plays softball, golf and basketball. We are an active, athletic family and like to snow and water ski and look forward to the week we spend every summer at our family lake house in Okoboji, Iowa, although COVID prevented it this year!

How do you relax?  

I enjoy exercising and look forward to my early-morning weekend runs.

Most interesting place you’ve been and why?  

Cinque Terre Italy. We enjoyed hiking and taking trains through five villages along the Ligurian Coast.

What was your first paying job?  

Construction site cleanup crew. As the builder finished the project, we would perform site cleanup.  I was driving a dump truck at age 15, which I am pretty sure would not be allowed in 2020.

A fan of Mustangs, Craig owns a 1966 convertible as well the restored 1964 1/2 Mustang that he drove while in high school.

What would you change about yourself if you could?   

I would be more patient and learn to stop and enjoy the moment.

Do you have a favorite quote or mantra you live by?   

I have two: Everything will be OK in the end. If it’s not OK, it’s not the end.

Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.

Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know.   

We own a 1966 Mustang convertible and restored (with my dad) a 1964 ½ Mustang that I drove in high school. I grew up in Kansas, so I am a Kansas City Royals and Chiefs fan.