05/08/2026
Meet Dr. Elaine Cox: A non-traditional mom and a non-traditional leader —
When Elaine Cox was a child, she wanted to do one of two things: to be a writer or a doctor.
When it came time for college, Cox knew she wanted to help others and enrolled in medical school. She tried out several specialties and she found the right fit in pediatrics.
“I love kids and I love development,” she says. “When you go into pediatrics, it’s not just taking care of the sick—you're developing a person in every aspect.”
In April 2026, Cox was named interim chief operating officer of IU Health Fishers and North hospitals.
Throughout her extensive career, she’s also raised three children, which has positively impacted the way she interacts with her patients.
“I learned that parenthood is hard. I think that made me a better doctor. You may tell patients, ‘This is how you should do things, because that's what the books taught me to do,’” Cox explains. “Then you become a parent and realize we're all just doing the best we can. I think it’s an important trait, not only in a mom, but in a doctor and a leader.”
Pediatrics, infection prevention and more
Cox joined the IU Health team in 1993, following her pediatric residency with the IU School of Medicine.
She was recruited by her mentor, Robert Kleiman, MD, a world-renowned infectious disease specialist. At the time, Cox and her husband, who is also a physician, had one child, and another on the way.
Later, Cox served as chief physician executive at Riley Children’s Health, overseeing strategic initiatives, including the development of an international business plan and growth of pediatric destination services in the Middle East and China. In addition, she has also served as the chief medical officer for Riley Children’s Health, medical director for infection prevention and control and pediatric antimicrobial stewardship, and has worked as a senior advisor with U.S. News and World Report to set national standards in pediatric quality.
“I thought, ‘I'm going do this, have my kids and figure out where I want to be,’” Cox says. “I ended up with three kids, and suddenly, it had been five years, then 10 years.”
Being a parent and a practitioner
Cox always knew she wanted to be a mom. But being a practitioner and a parent hasn’t always been easy.
“When I first moved back to Indianapolis, I worked part time, and that was hard. It's like I had two jobs and didn’t feel like I was doing either one very well,” Cox says.
Two things helped her through—flexibility and community.
“My kids will tell you they spent a lot of weekends in the hospital, sitting in the training room, drawing when my husband and I were rounding,” she says.
Cox also leaned on the support of the women around her, whether it be the family’s nanny or other moms at her children’s school.
“At that time, there were a lot more moms who didn't work, and they surrounded me and said, ‘We have you,’” Cox recalls.
While it wasn’t always easy, Cox says her children become resilient and problem solvers early on.
Cox’s three children are grown now. Her eldest daughter lives in Boston with a doctorate in physical therapy. Her middle child, a son, lives in Chicago and works in human resources at the Northwestern University School of Medicine. Her youngest daughter is a medical malpractice defense lawyer.
“They're all thriving, they're all doing well—except for still being on our phone bill,” Cox jokes. “We feel really, really lucky.”
A message to mothers
As a mom herself, Cox knows there’s a ton of pressure to be a parent.
For many, parenthood or careers can easily become a large part of someone’s identity, but Cox stresses it’s important for women to hold onto the piece of themselves that sparks joy.
“The information superhighway is out there, and people see things and they think, ‘Oh, I should be doing this,’ and that’s hard,” she says. “But I think acknowledging it's hard and making sure that you do something that feeds your individual passion is important.”
Self-care is also crucial. For Cox, it’s about making sure she, as an individual, is maintained.
“When you're in the middle of it, you’re just doing it, and you don't think about, ‘How am I? Am I taking care of myself? What is my identity?’ because it will come back to you,” she says. “Keep the faith, but also, it's ok to feed your soul.”
Moving forward in the Metro Region
As Cox continues to get more comfortable with her COO role at IU Health Fishers and North, she’s excited to meet more team members and learn about the environment.
Transitioning her leadership scope to two suburban community hospitals has been a big change for Cox.
Reflecting upon her leadership within the IU Health Metro Region executive team, Cox says, “It’s helping me understand what ‘the Metro’ actually means—the different parts of it, the different challenges, the different assets that we have,” Cox says. “I think when my interim role is over, it will afford me the ability to go back and be a better advocate for the entire region.”
As a leader, Cox knows long-term success takes engagement, and it’s all about asking the right questions to inspire teams. She considers herself a non-traditional mom and a non-traditional leader, approaching both with a little controlled chaos and charisma.
“Longterm success takes people wanting to be a part of the vision you're casting,” she says. “In healthcare, the mission is often so strong that when people can see the vision, they will go all in and they will achieve beyond what you even thought.”
As always, she’s considered herself a lifelong learner.
“I thought I knew our system so well, but again I’ve learned there's a lot of layers and perspectives,” Cox says. “I found myself going home and thinking about work again. I never want to be bored, and IU Health never allows me to be bored.”
This Mother’s Day, we celebrate Cox and all mothers. Happy Mother’s Day from IU Health Fishers!
