Hospitals and health systems have named dozens of nurses as CEO or president between January and early October, according to Becker’s reporting.
The appointments include critical access hospitals, rehabilitation and behavioral health facilities, academic medical centers and multi-hospital systems. Several of the leaders were promoted from chief nursing officer roles.
Here are 51 nurses named to top leadership roles in 2026, starting with the most recent:
1. Laureen Driscoll, MSN, RN, was named president and CEO of York, Pa.-based WellSpan Health, effective Jan. 4, 2027. She is chief executive of Providence’s South Division.
2. Heather Wall, MSN, RN, was named chief executive of PeaceHealth’s Oregon region after serving in the role on an interim basis for six months. She oversees PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend, Peace Harbor Medical Center and Cottage Grove Community Medical Center.
3. Kristy Alfano, MSN, RN, was named president and CEO of Flemington, N.J.-based Hunterdon Health. She had served in the role on an interim basis since July 1.
4. Claire Alminde, MSN, RN, was named president of St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia. She had been acting president since January and previously served as chief nursing officer.
5. Jill Graziano, BSN, RN, was named president of Portland, Maine-based MaineHealth’s Coastal Region.
6. Rick Metzger, BSN, RN, was named president and CEO of Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola (Fla.).
7. Kate Matousek, BSN, RN, was named president of Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital in Palos Heights, Ill.
8. Tami Johnson, MSN, RN, was named CEO and chief nursing officer of Unity Physicians Hospital in Mishawaka, Ind.
9. Bryce Cordle, BSN, RN, was named CEO of Boundary Community Hospital in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. He previously served as the hospital’s chief nursing officer.
10. T.J. Adams, BSN, was named president of North Mississippi Medical Center-Tupelo.
11. Jessica Miller, RN, was named CEO of HCA Florida JFK North Hospital in West Palm Beach.
12. Cortney Eisses, BSN, RN, was named regional president of Kaiser Permanente in Colorado.
13. Kristy Carrington, BSN, RN, was named chief executive of Providence’s North Division.
14. Daisy Rodriguez, MSN, RN, was named CEO and chief nursing officer of Waukegan, Ill.-based Vista Health System.
15. Ashley Biddy, MSN, was named CEO of Doctors’ Memorial Hospital in Perry, Fla.
16. Lee Montgomery, MSN, RN, was named CEO of El Camino Rehabilitation Hospital in Sunnyvale, Calif.
17. Laurie Fieber, MSN, RN, was named administrator and CEO of Sanford Health Watertown (S.D.).
18. Emily Chase, PhD, RN, was named president of UChicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital.
19. Mimi Coomler, BSN, was named president and CEO of Tucson, Ariz.-based TMC Health, succeeding Jennifer Mendrzycki. Ms. Coomler had been named the system’s executive vice president and COO in July.
20. Al Patin, RN, was named CEO of Ochsner South Shore Community Hospitals and the Bayou Region in Louisiana. He previously served as CEO of Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center.
21. Melisa Adkins, BSN, RN, was named CEO of The Brook Hospital KMI in Louisville, Ky.
22. Veronica Elders, MSN, RN, was named CEO of Nashville (Tenn.) General Hospital.
23. Wendi De Leon, RN, was promoted from COO to president of Northeast Baptist Hospital in San Antonio.
24. Sheldon Barr, MSN, was named president of Richmond, Va.-based VCU Health’s future hospital in Chesterfield, Va., effective July 1.
25. Crystal Manning-Mitchell, MSN, RN, was named CEO of River Oaks Hospital in Harahan, La.
26. Angie Longing, BSN, RN, was named president and CEO of Conway (Ark.) Regional Health System.
27. Brittani Coffey, MSN, RN, was named CEO of ClearSky Rehabilitation Hospital Lakeshore in Cleveland, Wis.
28. Sean McAfee, MSN, was named president and CEO of Ascension St. Vincent’s St. Johns County (Fla.).
29. Robin Luxon, BSN, RN, was named president of University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson.
30. Julie Abilheira, RN, was named president of St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River, Mass., and Morton Hospital in Taunton, Mass., both part of Brown University Health.
31. Danielle Gabele, DNP, RN, was named CEO of Ventura (Calif.) County Medical Center and Santa Paula (Calif.) Hospital.
32. Thomas “Tog” Goss, MSN, RN, was named CEO of Putnam General Hospital in Eatonton, Ga., effective June 1.
33. Marcia Patterson, DNP, RN, was named CEO of Valley View Medical Center in Fort Mohave, Ariz.
34. Romoanetia Lofton, DNP, was named senior vice president and president of NorthBay Medical Center in Fairfield, Calif., and VacaValley Hospital in Vacaville, Calif.
35. Monica Smith, MSN, RN, was named president of Saint Luke’s East Hospital in Lee’s Summit, Mo., and Saint Luke’s South Hospital in Overland Park, Kan.
36. Lacey Carter, MSN, was named CEO of Blytheville, Ark.-based Mississippi County Hospital System.
37. Alex Masmela, BSN, RN, was named CEO of HCA Florida Raulerson Hospital in Okeechobee.
38. Liz Sellers, MSN, was named CEO of Cibola General Hospital in Grants, N.M. She previously served as CEO of Pioneers Medical Center in Meeker, Colo.
39. Zach Yoder, BSN, RN, was named president of three OSF HealthCare hospitals in Illinois: Holy Family Medical Center in Monmouth, Saint Luke Medical Center in Kewanee and St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg.
40. Aubrey Harry, MSN, RN, was promoted from area chief nursing officer to CEO and chief nursing officer of Longview (Texas) ContinueCARE Hospital.
41. Nicole Dockery, MSN, RN, was named president of Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital in South Boston, Va., an expansion of her role as vice president and chief nursing officer.
42. Julie Powell, MSN, RN, was named CEO of McAlester (Okla.) Regional Health Center. She is the first woman to serve in the role.
43. Krista Curell, RN, was named president of the University of Chicago Medical Center.
44. Charlene Boyer, BSN, RN, was named CEO of Syringa Hospital & Clinics in Grangeville, Idaho, effective March 1.
45. Casey Fleckenstein, BSN, RN, was named CEO of Monroe County Hospital in Forsyth, Ga.
46. David Zambrana, PhD, DNP, RN, was selected to succeed Carlos Migoya as CEO of Miami-based Jackson Health System. He had been the system’s president and COO.
47. Lisa DeKezel, BSN, RN, was named CEO of Ray County Hospital and Healthcare in Richmond, Mo.
48. Adam Schreader, MSN, was named CEO of Erlanger East and Erlanger North hospitals in Chattanooga, Tenn.
49. Sister M. Mikela Meidl, BSN, was named president of Peoria, Ill.-based OSF HealthCare.
50. Allison Schuler, MSN, was named CEO and chief nursing officer of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Attala in Kosciusko, Miss.
51. Amanda Vick, BSN, was named CEO of Lander, Wyo.-based SageWest Health Care.
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