Mary Tomlinson

Mary Tomlinson is Vice President of Research and Sponsored Projects Administration for the Children’s Mercy Research Institute. She is responsible for daily operations of the Institute, ensuring that research facilities, administration and scientific operations efficiently support investigators and their research activities so they can focus on the science, allowing the team to find answers and cures faster for children and their families.

Tomlinson began her career in research administration at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) as a staff accountant and held progressively responsible positions leading to Senior Vice President for Research Administration. In this role, she served as the Chief Administrative and Financial Officer for the Children’s Research Institute at CHOP.

During her 30-year tenure at CHOP, Tomlinson managed the growth of the Research Institute from $10 million to more than $350 million. She established internal controls for research operations, maintained accreditation for CHOP’s animal care and use program, and established the clinical trials financial management office to provide budgeting and billing services to internal and external customers.

She launched a multi-year project to implement institute-wide electronic work flow for all key business processes that manage research, sponsored programs and conflict of interest, and created the Research Institute operations manual, which documented the leadership structure of the Research Institute and defined key areas of authority and services.

Tomlinson earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Stockton University and a master’s degree in business administration from Drexel University.