Arkansas Children’s Names Pediatric Health Leader Mark Ranatza as Chief Nursing Officer at Arkansas Children’s Northwest

February 13, 2025

Photo of Mark Ranatza SPRINGDALE, AR. (Feb. 13, 2025) – Longtime pediatric health leader Mark Ranatza, M.H.A., B.S.N., R.N., will join Arkansas Children’s Northwest (ACNW) as Chief Nursing Officer in March, concluding a national search.

Before accepting the position with Arkansas Children's, Ranatza served as assistant vice president of hospital operations at Manning Family Children's (formerly Children's Hospital New Orleans), where he played a key role in expanding behavioral health services, including leading the development of a 70,000-square-foot behavioral health canter.

“Mark brings a wealth of experience in pediatric healthcare operations and a strong track record of driving innovation and improving patient care,” said Rustin Morse, M.D., senior vice president and chief administrator of ACNW. “His leadership has been instrumental in improving patient experience and strengthening operations. We look forward to seeing his expertise and passion benefit ACNW.”

Ranatza has a diverse background spanning hematology-oncology, critical care, emergency services and behavioral health. He earned his nursing degree at Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Sciences Center in Baton Rouge and his master of health care administration at LSU Shreveport.

Ranatza succeeds ACNW CNO Michael Howard, who is pursuing another leadership role at ACNW.

ABOUT ARKANSAS CHILDREN’S

Arkansas Children's is the only health care system in the state solely dedicated to caring for Arkansas' 850,000 children. The private, non-profit organization includes two pediatric hospitals, a pediatric research institute and USDA nutrition center, a philanthropic foundation, a nursery alliance, statewide clinics, and many education and outreach programs — all focused on fulfilling a promise to define and deliver unprecedented child health. Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) is a 336-bed, Magnet-recognized facility in Little Rock operating the state’s only Level I pediatric trauma center; the state's only burn center; the state's only Level IV neonatal intensive care unit; the state's only pediatric intensive care unit; the state’s only pediatric surgery program with Level 1 verification from the American College of Surgeons (ACS); and the state's only nationally recognized pediatric transport program. Arkansas Children’s is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report in seven pediatric subspecialties (2024-2025): Cancer, Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Neonatal Care, Nephrology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Orthopedics and Pulmonology & Lung Surgery. Arkansas Children’s Northwest (ACNW), the first and only pediatric hospital in the northwest Arkansas region, is a Level IV pediatric trauma center. ACNW operates a 25-bed inpatient unit; a surgical unit with five operating rooms; outpatient clinics offering over 20 subspecialties; diagnostic services; imaging capabilities; occupational therapy services; and northwest Arkansas' only pediatric emergency department, equipped with 30 exam rooms. Generous philanthropic and volunteer engagement has sustained Arkansas Children's since it began as an orphanage in 1912, and today ensures the system can deliver on its promise of unprecedented child health. To learn more, visit archildrens.org.