Bridgeport Hospital promotes Mary Christoffersen to chief nursing officer

BRIDGEPORT, CT (June 27, 2023) – Bridgeport Hospital has named Mary Christoffersen, DNP, RN, senior vice president and chief nursing officer. Serving as interim CNO since December 2022, the Trumbull resident brings vast organizational knowledge, leadership experience and a drive towards ensuring excellence in patient care to her new role.

“Mary is the right choice for this critical role. She embodies all the best qualities of a nurse and nursing leader,” said Anne Diamond, JD, CNMT, hospital president, in announcing the new CNO. “She reflects the values and behaviors expected of all hospital staff – compassion, respect, patient-and family-centered care, integrity and accountability.”

“I am genuinely excited about the possibilities that lie ahead,” said Christoffersen. “Our team possesses a remarkable capacity for innovation and collaboration, consistently striving for excellence and delivering quality in everything we do. I look forward to embarking on this journey together.”

Christoffersen joined Bridgeport Hospital in 1998, beginning her career as a staff nurse in the Orthopedics, Neurosurgery and Urology unit. During her 25-year tenure with the organization, she has held numerous leadership positions having advanced from bedside care to OR manager, Director of Perioperative and Emergency Services and Executive Director of Operations and Patient Care Services. Since 2017, Christoffersen has served as vice president, Nursing and Patient Care Operations providing strategic direction in program development and performance improvement initiatives. She was also instrumental in navigating the complex challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, including resource and care management and staff education and support.

“There is no question Mary is the right nursing leader as we continue to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and the multitude of challenges it presented for our hospital and other healthcare organizations across the nation,” Diamond said. “She is a committed leader, mentor and role model, and shows it every day through her ever-present smile and positive attitude.”

As chief nursing officer, Christoffersen has oversight of all nursing clinical operations across the hospitals’ two campuses and multiple ambulatory sites. She will continue to focus on performance improvement, prioritizing education among nursing professionals and advancing care coordination and collaboration among nursing, physicians and clinical departments. In addition, she will use her vast experience and expertise to lead the process for the hospital’s pursuit of Magnet designation for nursing excellence.

Christoffersen earned her Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Quinnipiac University. After an early career as a tax examiner for the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, she pursued a career in nursing receiving her RN from St. Vincent’s College and later earning her BSN from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She also obtained an MBA from Southern Connecticut State University.

Bridgeport Hospital, part of Yale New Haven Health, is a non-profit 501-bed acute care hospital with two campuses (plus 42 beds licensed to Yale New Haven Children's Hospital). Its Bridgeport and Milford Campuses serve patients from across the region. The hospital admits more than 23,000 patients and provides nearly 350,000 outpatient treatments annually. The Connecticut Burn Center at Bridgeport Hospital is the only burn center in the state and one of only 64 verified burn centers in the United States. Bridgeport Hospital is committed to providing safe, compassionate and cost efficient care to its patients and the community. www.bridgeporthospital.org