More About Susan Hayes Gordon

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Susan's work has shaped consequential outcomes: securing millions in government appropriations, navigating landmark regulatory shifts, and building coalitions that delivered policy change at the state and federal levels. She developed a reputation built on trust, integrity, and the ability to move stakeholders toward shared goals and meaningful policy and urban planning changes.

Susan retired from Lurie Children’s Hospital on December 31, 2025 and is pursuing board and advisory roles where her expertise in government affairs, healthcare strategy, behavioral health and external relations can help organizations navigate an increasingly complex policy and regulatory environment. She brings not just functional expertise, but the judgment that comes from decades of high-stakes decision-making on behalf of an institution that serves more children insured by Medicaid than any other hospital in Illinois.

Her secret sauce is listening, developing trust with and collaborating with colleagues, teammates, advisors, associations, advocates, stakeholders, elected and appointed officials and community leaders; doing the homework to develop compelling cases for support; developing and executing comprehensive campaigns and consistently driving measurable outcomes.

A proud Chicagoan, Susan is active in the civic and philanthropic life of her city, having been selected to be a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow, having served on the Civic Federation Board and currently serving on The Magnificent Mile Association Board, where she founded and leads its Emerging Leaders Program.  Susan brings the same commitment to community that has defined her professional career.