Alison Tothy, MD

As the Chief Experience and Engagement Officer for the University of Chicago Medicine,  Alison Tothy, MD is responsible for leading efforts to optimize patient experience and engagement across the enterprise.  She provides leadership oversight in development, implementation, and execution of the vision and strategy of the Patient Experience and Engagement Program.  Dr. Tothy provides content expertise regarding the patient experience to clinical and administrative leaders as well as help to identify and implement national best practice service level standards, patient-centered care strategies and innovative approaches to enhance the patient experience.  Prior to her current role, Dr. Tothy served as the Associate Chief Medical Officer for Patient Experience at University of Chicago Medicine, as well as the Medical Director and Section Chief of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at the University of Chicago. 

Dr. Tothy is a Certified Patient Experience Professional and has extensive leadership training including certificates in Lean Healthcare, Team STEPPS, the Chicago Management Insititute at the Booth School of Business, and Patient Experience Leadership from the Beryl Institute. She is a recognized national physician leader in both Pediatric Emergency Medicine and patient experience.  Recent speaking engagements have included: The Leapfrog Group, Brand Health for Google, Press Ganey, Beryl Institute, the World Congress, and UHC.   Additionally, as a Media Spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Dr. Tothy has spoken in various media settings on many pediatric topics. 

Dr. Tothy received her B.A. from Brandeis University and obtained her M.D. from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.  She completed a residency in Pedatrics and a fellowship in Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Children’s Memorial Hospital through the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University.  She is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Chicago and is a physician in the Pediatric Emergency at the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital.