Launette Woolforde is executive vice president and chief nurse executive at Northwell Health, where she also serves as vice dean for the Hofstra-Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies and as assistant professor at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.
Over her 33-year career, she has advanced nursing practice, education, and research across the health system and the profession. Dr. Woolforde built the infrastructure behind significant Northwell achievements, including its growth from three Magnet hospitals to 14, the most of any health system in the Northeast, and she co-developed the system-wide nurse residency program, which is accredited with distinction by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Her earlier contributions include spearheading Northwell’s systemwide interprofessional orientation program and helping develop the SkyHealth air medical transport program.
An internationally recognized leader, she co-authored the national Scope and Standards of Practice for Nursing Professional Development and has served on the boards of the National League for Nursing and the Association for Nursing Professional Development. Dr. Woolforde currently serves on the board of the DAISY Foundation and contributes to national workgroups with the American Organization for Nursing Leadership. Her honors include being named the ANCC’s National Certified Nurse of the Year, induction into the Columbia University Teachers College Alumni Hall of Fame, the Sigma Theta Tau International Founders Award, and an honorary doctorate.
She earned a BSN from Pace University, an MSN from Hunter College, a post-master’s certificate from the College of New Rochelle, a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Case Western Reserve University, and a Doctor of Education from Columbia University, Teachers College.