ATLANTA — Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has a new leader, and he is laying out his goals for Georgia’s only pediatric healthcare system.

Dr. Patrick Frias is taking over as CEO and says one of his priorities is making sure more children and families have access to care.

“Ensuring that we have access points for every child in metro Atlanta within 30 minutes from where they live,” Frias said.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has opened a primary care practice in Adamsville, with additional expansion planned in Union City and along I-75 South.

Frias also wants to expand the healthcare system’s mental health programs.

“To make sure we continue to invest in, is how do we further develop and advance the support and care that we provide from a mental health perspective for the kids in our community, there’s no health without mental health,” Frias said.

Research, innovation and technology are also among Frias’ priorities, including work toward advancing cures for illnesses affecting children.

“Advancing cures from everything from cancer, to cardiac, to infectious diseases,” Frias said.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta sees about 3,000 children each day and serves children from every county in Georgia.

“We see kids from all 159 counties in the state of Georgia, so while we might be called Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, we are Children’s for all the kids in Georgia and beyond,” Frias said.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is one of 30 hospitals nationwide that focuses solely on children.

WSB Radio’s Ashley Simmons & Keith Cromwell contributed to this story.