DALLAS, Feb 16, 2026 — Children’s Health, the leading pediatric health care system in North Texas, announced that Valbona Schwab has joined the organization today as Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (CIO). Schwab brings more than two decades of experience overseeing multibillion-dollar endowment and pension portfolios across higher education and health care.
In her role, Schwab will lead the planning and management of the health care system’s long-term investment activities, including investment strategy, governance, portfolio construction, manager sourcing and due diligence, and investment operations. She will report to Chief Financial Officer Robert Fries and work closely with the Children’s Health Investment Committee to ensure the organization’s assets support its mission to make life better for children.
“Strong financial stewardship supports everything we do – from expanding access to care to investing in research and innovation,” said Robert Fries, Chief Financial Officer of Children’s Health. “Valbona is a proven leader with deep experience strengthening governance, building high-performing teams, and managing complex pools of capital. Her leadership will ensure our resources are positioned to serve children and families across North Texas well into the future.”
Most recently, Schwab served as Deputy Chief Investment Officer at Grinnell College, where she restructured the institution’s $2.8 billion endowment. Prior to Grinnell, she was Managing Director at Beth Israel Lahey Health, advising the organization’s Chief Investment Officer on a $4 billion endowment and pension portfolio and leading day-to-day investment management during an interim period from April 2017 to July 2018. Earlier in her career, Schwab was Portfolio Manager and Head of Research at Mass General Brigham, where endowment and pension assets grew from $4 billion to $13 billion during her tenure.
“Children’s Health has an extraordinary mission and a bold vision for the future,” said Schwab. “I’m honored to lead the Children’s Health Investment Committee to grow and manage the portfolio in support of exceptional pediatric care – today and for generations to come.”
Schwab earned a Master of Finance and a Master of Business Administration from Boston College. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in finance from the University of Maine and studied economics at the American University in Bulgaria.
About Children’s Health
Children’s Health is the leading pediatric health care system in North Texas and has long been recognized as a leader in pediatric health. Its campuses include Children’s Medical Center Dallas, Children’s Medical Center Plano and multiple Children’s Health Specialty Centers, caring for more than 370,000 patients each year.
In partnership with UT Southwestern Medical Center, it is consistently recognized among the nation’s best pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. This commitment to excellence and outstanding care has resulted in recognition across all pediatric specialties for eight consecutive years, including Cancer, Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Behavioral Health, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Neonatology, Nephrology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Pulmonology, and Urology.
Since 2009, Children’s Health has maintained Magnet® designation – the highest honor for nursing excellence – and continues to earn employer-of-choice recognition locally, nationally and globally. These honors include the Great Place to Work® Certification™, the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award and Top Workplaces recognition from USA TODAY and The Dallas Morning News. Children’s Health has also been named one of the 150 Best Places to Work in Healthcare by Becker’s Hospital Review for 14 consecutive years.
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