One of the top executives who led the University of Michigan Health System's transition to a new $754 million facility for the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital is retiring.

Patricia Warner, executive director of the hospitals, plans to retire April 4 on her 67th birthday, UMHS announced today.

The university plans to conduct a national search to replace Warner, who graduated from the School of Public Health in 1977.

Warner, who held various roles at the university's hospitals during her 35 years of service, became associate director of the children's and women's hospitals in 1994. She was named executive director in 2009.

Warner played a key role in the planning for the hospitals' new 1.1 million-square-foot facility in the heart of U-M's medical campus. The new facility opened Dec. 4 after five years of construction.

"This is the dream you thought would never come," Warner told AnnArbor.com on the day of the transition, a massive logistical feat that involved more than 160 patients and 3,000 employees. "This is just a huge milestone. We are one of the largest children's hospitals in the state of Michigan. The fact that all of our services will now have space to grow, to do all of their high-technology services, but most importantly to see all our patients and families in their single rooms is just an incredible opportunity and privilege."

Doug Strong, CEO of U-M Hospitals and Health Centers, said in a statement that Warner led the "hospitals to prominence as national leaders in care."

Warner, in a statement, said: “I am grateful to have had such wonderful colleagues over the last 35 years. The staff, faculty, students and volunteers I’ve had the privilege to work with have proven that there really is a Michigan Difference. It has been my profound privilege, and great pleasure to have lived such important moments here.”

Contact AnnArbor.com's Nathan Bomey at (734) 623-2587 or nathanbomey@annarbor.com. You can also follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's newsletters.