Ena Williams named YNHHS chief nurse executive

Ena Williams, RN, PhD, has been named chief nurse executive for Yale New Haven Health, effective January 2025.

Williams has been a nurse with YNHHS for 32 years, becoming chief nursing officer for Yale New Haven Hospital in 2018. During her tenure, she has helped YNHH earn the prestigious American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Recognition three times and helped the health system’s Nurse Residency Program earn ANCC accreditation. Williams is also the senior nurse sponsor for YNHHS’ nursing leadership development programs.

Nationally, she serves on The Joint Commission Board of Commissioners and American Nurses Foundation Board of Trustees, and she will become the American Organization for Nursing Leadership board president in 2026. Williams was inducted as a fellow in the American Nursing Academy last year and was recently named one of Modern Healthcare’s 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives for 2024.

As YNHHS chief nurse executive, Williams will steward three Magnet efforts in 2025. Bridgeport Hospital will apply for Magnet Recognition for the first time; and Yale New Haven and Greenwich hospitals will seek redesignation. Across YNHHS, Williams will lead the standardization and implementation of nursing best practices to improve quality, expand innovative training opportunities and leverage our talent to meet the needs of a changing healthcare environment. Williams will facilitate the design and implementation of several Strengthening Our C.O.R.E. tactics, including care model and nurse education redesigns.

Williams will succeed current Chief Nurse Executive Diane Kelly, DNP, who will retire in January. This summer, the organization will begin the search for a new YNHH chief nursing officer.