At annual meeting, nurses look back and forward – and sneak in some surprises
Published February 20, 2025
The agenda for Yale New Haven Hospital’s Jan. 22 Nursing Leadership and Nursing Professional Governance Annual Meeting was packed, but there were some agenda items the chief nursing officer didn’t know about.
At their annual meeting, nursing leaders recognized Ena Williams, RN, PhD, YNHH chief nursing officer. She joined YNHH 32 years ago as an operating room staff nurse and has held a series of leadership positions since, becoming YNHH CNO in 2018. Williams is transitioning to a new role as YNHHS chief nurse executive.
Hundreds of nurses at the meeting joined senior leaders in making surprise tributes to Chief Nursing Officer Ena Williams, RN, PhD. She will fully transition to her new role as Yale New Haven Health System chief nurse executive Feb. 23. Courtney Vose, RN, DNP, will become YNHH chief nursing officer.
In another surprise, Christopher O’Connor, YNHHS CEO, stopped by to thank the nursing team for all they do for our patients and health care in general.
Much of the meeting focused on the future, with Pamela Sutton-Wallace, YNHHS president, and Katherine Heilpern, MD, YNHH president, discussing the hospital’s and health system’s strategic goals: delivering world-class care, elevating a culture of excellence, accelerating agile and intentional growth and advancing financial stewardship.
Corey Champeau, executive director of Safety and Quality, YNHHS, specified goals in these two areas, including achieving top-decile performance in the Vizient Quality and Accountability Study.
Williams tied these presentations together by examining nurses’ roles in regulatory readiness and accreditation, Magnet re-designation, Saint Raphael Campus expansion, destination programs, operational efficiency and employee engagement.
A highlight of the annual meeting was a look back at Nursing’s many awards and accomplishments, including YNHH’s winning the 2024 American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Prize for developing a psychiatric inpatient survey. Mark Sevilla, RN, DNP, former vice president, Behavioral Health and Emergency Services, received special recognition for his contributions to that project and the organization.
Hundreds of YNHH nursing leaders and members of Nursing Professional Governance gathered for their annual meeting Jan. 22 at the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale.
Other meeting speakers included Nursing Professional Governance (NPG) chairs Selina Nazzaro, RN, and Sara Alburquerque, RN, who discussed outcomes and successes and recognized outgoing NPG Chair Mariana Dombroski, RN. After the larger annual meeting, NPG members held their own annual meeting and set 2025 goals.
Magnet leads Danielle Huseman-Maratea, RN, and Danielle Burness, RN, provided an update on and examples of YNHH’s progress toward its June 2 Magnet re-designation document submission.
Care Associate Committee members spotlighted 2024 awards and accomplishments, including their first conference in September, poster presentations at this and other events, and professional and community activities.
Williams closed the meeting by presenting priorities for the coming year. She thanked the nurses she’s worked with throughout her career.
“I have had the privilege and pleasure of partnering with exceptional nurses who have made an enormous impact on our patients, our communities and fellow nurses at Yale New Haven Hospital and beyond,” she said. “I look forward to continuing that partnership and expanding it to nurses throughout our health system in my new role. Thank you!”
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