Johns Hopkins Hospital Names 1st Female President

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- She is a doctor, a mother and an administrator. Now Dr. Redonda Miller is about to become the first female president at Johns Hopkins Hospital in its 127-year history.

WJZ's Mary Bubala caught up with Dr. Miller at Hopkins Friday afternoon, as people were lining up to congratulate her.

Dr. Redonda Miller is still absorbing just how groundbreaking it is that she has been named the first female head of Johns Hopkins Hospital since its inception in 1889.

"If we can have an example for our young women leaders in medicine, that's terrific. Day to day, I don't think gender will play a role," said Dr. Miller "But certainly, being a role model is something I embrace."

The 49-year-old first came to Hopkins as a medical student almost 30 years ago. Since that time, she has served in many leadership roles and earned her MBA in 2004.

In his announcement, current hospital president Ronald Peterson said:

"Redonda's extraordinary combination of exceptional medical prowess, years of progressive administrative experience, and the well-earned respect of senior clinical and administrative leadership will serve us all well," Peterson wrote. "Her deep understanding and appreciation of The Johns Hopkins Hospital's culture and her working knowledge of the Maryland financial rate-setting system make her extremely well suited to lead at this time in our history."

Dr. Miller tells WJZ her priorities will be hospital employees, patient care and the community.

"We feel a strong responsibility to care for our local community -- that was one of the principles on which we were founded -- so I think providing jobs and focusing on wellness, but also taking care of the health of our local population is really important," she said.

Dr. Miller plans to continue seeing patients -- something she knows will keep her grounded. That, and her two young daughters.

Bubala: "Are they grasping the significance of it?"

Miller: "Slowly. When you are seven, it's a little hard to separate being president of the hospital from your American Girl doll, but we're working on it."

Bubala: "And you still drove carpool this morning?"

Miller: "You know it."

Dr. Miller will take over as president on July 1. She will be the hospital's 11th president.