Gigi Simko
Senior Manager of Practice Operations at Connecticut Children’sGigi A. Simko is a Senior Manager of Practice Operations at Connecticut Children’s, where she
manages the Division of Digestive Diseases, Hepatology and Nutrition and the Division of
Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, encompassing 25 physicians, 5 advanced practice
providers, 2 psychologists and a dedicated team of over 40 support staff. She served on active
duty for 24 years in the United States Air Force as a Medical Service Corps officer. Her personal
awards include the Legion of Merit, six Meritorious Service Medals and two Military
Outstanding Volunteer Service Medals. Her military assignments spanned Texas, California,
Delaware, Ohio, Washington, D.C., England and Florida. She also deployed to Southwest Asia
in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Her last duty was
Commander, 45th Medical Group, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. In 2020, she retired at the
rank of Colonel, and that same year, joined Connecticut Children’s, the only health system in the
state 100% dedicated to kids.
Gigi served on the Board of Governors of the American College of Healthcare Executives from
2018-2021, and presently sits on the Board of Directors of Holy Apostles College and Seminary.
In addition, she served a number of years as a board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of
America in California, Delaware and Ohio. In 2021, she was elected to the Board of Finance for
the Town of Haddam.
She earned a Master of Business Administration from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri,
and a Bachelor of Science in biology from the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado
Springs, Colorado. She is board certified in healthcare management.
She and her husband Stephen have been married for 28 years and are raising two sons, Lukas and
Jaycek. Over the years, they belonged to the parishes of the United States Air Force Academy
Cadet Chapel, Colorado Springs, Colorado; St. Anthony de Padua, San Antonio, Texas; St.
Patrick, Grass Valley, California; Holy Cross, Dover, Delaware; St. Luke, Beavercreek, Ohio;
Blessed Sacrament, Alexandria, Virginia; Our Lady of the Skies, Royal Air Force Lakenheath,
England; St. Joseph, Vacaville, California; and Ascension, Melbourne, Florida. Today they are
active members of St. Peter Church, Higganum, Connecticut.