Paola Ballester, MD

Dr. Ballester serves as the medical director for Utilization Management and physician adviser supporting the Utilization Management, Case Management and Health Information Management teams at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. In her role, she collaborates with many teams across the institution to ensure our facility is complying with health regulations and policies while providing high quality, evidence-based, comprehensive and family-centered care. She became chief of the medical staff in January 2026.

Dr. Ballester practices as a pediatric hospitalist at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.  She cares for patients with common pediatric conditions, as well as children with medical complexity, who require hospitalization. Her clinical interests include improving discharge planning and evaluating processes that may help reduce or prevent readmissions.

Dr. Ballester joined Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in 2011. She is a graduate of the Florida State University College of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency at the University of South Florida College of Medicine and All Children's Hospital. Dr. Dees is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical and Gold Humanism Honor Societies. She has received the Teaching Award from the University of South Florida Pediatric Residency program and the Outstanding Faculty Award from the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellowship Program.