Several hospitals and health systems across the U.S. have seen chief medical officer and chief nursing officer exits in 2026, including retirements and transitions to new roles.
Here are the latest CNO and CMO departures in 2026:
- Barb Tofani, MSN, RN, will retire as chief nursing officer of Cincinnati Children’s on Nov. 2.
- Christopher Lewis, MD, shared plans to depart as chief medical officer of Fredericksburg, Va.-based Mary Washington Healthcare to pursue leadership development and coaching opportunities.
- Carole Billington, MSN, RN, will depart as president and chief nursing officer of St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River, Mass., following a leadership restructuring at Brown University Health.
- Becky Wagner, DNP, RN, plans to retire as vice president of nursing and patient care service at Statesville, N.C.-based Iredell Health System.
- Mary Jo Kohout, RN, chief nursing officer and COO of Brookfield, Wis.-based Ascension Elmbrook Hospital, retired after four decades in the field.
- Robert Mayo, MD, chief medical officer at Rochester (N.Y.) Regional Health stepped down from his role March 31.
- Russell Adams, MD, chief medical officer of UnityPoint Health-Waterloo (Iowa), shared plans to retire. Pradeep Ramesh, MD, was selected as the Waterloo market’s interim CMO.
- Jane McCurley, DNP, RN, retired as CNO of San Antonio-based Methodist Healthcare in February.
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