PHILADELPHIA, PA –The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia (the Chamber) is pleased to announce that Madeline Bell, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), has been named Chair of the CEO Council for Growth.

The Chamber’s CEO Council for Growth is an advisory council of the most influential business and civic leaders. Together, they work to accelerate economic competitiveness and inclusive growth in the Greater Philadelphia region. Under Bell’s leadership, the CEO Council for Growth will focus on opportunities to advance the Chamber’s economic growth and mobility agenda to create more jobs and more opportunities for all residents.

“It’s an honor to serve as Chair of the CEO Council for Growth at such an important time for Greater Philadelphia. I’m excited to collaborate with this extraordinary group of leaders to create more economic opportunities, enhance our region’s competitiveness, and build a future where everyone in our community can succeed,” said Bell.

Bell is the CEO of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), which is one of the top-ranked children’s hospitals in the United States and was ranked No. 1 on Forbes’ 2022 list of America’s Best Large Employers. A bold and visionary leader, Bell champions change with empathy and integrity, inspiring the more than 31,000 employees and other workforce members in the hospital’s $5-billion-a-year health system and research institute to create breakthroughs that have worldwide impact.

“The CEO Council for Growth exemplifies the power of collaboration among our region’s most committed leaders. Under Madeline’s leadership, we’re not just responding to economic challenges—we’re shaping bold, inclusive solutions that position Greater Philadelphia for long-term success and opportunity,” said Christopher Franklin, Chairman and CEO of Essential Utilities and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia.

Bell began her career as a pediatric nurse at CHOP in 1983, later leaving the organization to move into hospital administration. She returned to CHOP in 1995, and has since held a number of leadership positions, advancing from Vice President to Senior Vice President to Executive Vice President to Chief Operating Officer to President. She became CEO in 2015.

“In her role at CHOP, Madeline has made a profound and lasting impact in the lives of families across our city, region, and around the world,” said Chellie Cameron, President and CEO of the Chamber. “She has been one of the Chamber’s most dedicated champions—advancing our mission, supporting our members, and strengthening the regional economy to create jobs and opportunities. I look forward to continuing our collaboration in her role as Chair of the CEO Council for Growth to make Greater Philadelphia a top global destination for business and a leader in inclusive growth.”

Bell has made numerous contributions to CHOP, including the development of one of the largest pediatric ambulatory care networks in the country; the expansion of the Philadelphia Campus; the creation of the Middleman Family Pavilion, an inpatient hospital on CHOP’s King of Prussia Campus; and the development of the Center for Advanced Behavioral Healthcare and the Behavioral Health & Crisis Center in West Philadelphia and Roberts Children’s Health, a new inpatient complex that will open in 2028. She has also led the development of many nationally recognized clinical care programs and has secured many philanthropic gifts to help further the organization’s mission.

Bell serves on the boards of Comcast-NBCUniversal and the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, as well as on the executive committee of the Chamber. She is the honorary consul of Spain, a fellow of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, and the former Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s Board of Directors. She is an adviser to numerous international hospitals and frequently lectures on the topics of children’s healthcare and women in leadership.

Bell has received many awards and accolades, including the Chamber’s William Penn Award, Press Ganey’s CEO of the Year Award, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Industry Icon Award, and the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO Award. She has been named one of Modern Healthcare’s 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare and one of its 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives and was included on Forbes’ 50 Over 50: Vision list, Philadelphia Business Journal’s Power 100 2025 list, Metro Philadelphia’s list of Power Players in Health Care, and Philadelphia Magazine’s list of 150 Most Influential Philadelphians.

Ms. Bell is the host of Breaking Through with Madeline Bell, a podcast that features interviews with CHOP patients, doctors and scientists, as well as with philanthropists and innovators who support CHOP’s mission. She holds a bachelor of science in Nursing from Villanova University and a master of science in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Learn more about the CEO Council for Growth here.

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About the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia 

The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia works together with members, investors, and stakeholders, to realize our bold vision: Greater Philadelphia is a top global destination for business and a leader in inclusive growth. As the metro-regional chamber of commerce serving the 11-county, tri-state Greater Philadelphia region, we are the premier organization to convene and connect business, government and civic leaders to drive economic growth and prosperity for all.

Media Contact: 

Shannon McLaughlin, smclaughlin@chamberphl.com, 
The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia