Valbona Schwab
Valbona Schwab, formerly the deputy CIO of Grinnell College’s $2.8 billion endowment, has joined Dallas-based pediatric health care system Children’s Health as CIO, according to a memo seen by CIO. Schwab’s appointment was effective February 11, according to a spokesperson for Children’s Health.
Ken Lee served as CIO of Children’s Health between 2020 and April 2025 before he became CIO of the endowment of the California Institute of Technology, where he succeeded the retiring Scott Richland.
At Children’s Health, Valbona will oversee the investment activities of the health care system. She will report to Children’s Health Chief Financial Officer Robert Fries.
The investment office of Children’s Health, which managed $2.1 billion in assets as of the end of fiscal 2023, supports the operations of the hospital including research, clinical programs, uncompensated care and other areas of support.
The portfolio of the health care system has a 51% allocation to global equities, 25% to diversifying strategies, 15% to cash and fixed income, and 9% to real assets.
“Children’s Health has an extraordinary mission and a bold vision for the future,” Schwab said in a statement. “I’m honored to lead the Children’s Health Investment Committee to grow and manage the portfolio in support of exceptional pediatric care—today and for generations to come.”
Schwab had joined the Boston-based investment office of Iowa-based Grinnell College in 2021 and previously was a managing director at the then-$4 billion Beth Israel Lahey Health system. She was also a portfolio manager in the Mass General Brigham health system.
In fiscal 2025, the Grinnell College endowment reported annualized one-, three-, five- and 10-year returns of 11.7%, 9%, 10.3% and 8.8%, respectively.
Schwab earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Maine and a master of finance degree and an MBA from Boston College.
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Tags: Children’s Health, Foundations