Dr Loressa Cole, the new executive director and executive vice president of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), is an accomplished healthcare leader who has more than 30 years of nursing and management experience. Most recently, Dr Cole served as the chief nursing executive for Lewis Gale Regional Health System located in Salem, Virginia, where she directed system-wide clinical operations, partnering with other C-suite leaders on strategic and tactical planning and execution. Previously, she served as chief nursing officer at Lewis Gale Montgomery Hospital in Blacksburg, Virginia, where she led the hospital to achieve its initial Magnet(R) designation in 2009 and its redesignation in 2013. Loressa began her career as a staff nurse in medical/surgical and critical care settings. In her new role at ANCC, she leads ANCC's full portfolio of credentialing programs and provides guidance to the organization to fulfill its strategic vision of nursing excellence, quality care, and improved patient outcomes.
Active in many professional organizations, Loressa served as president of the Virginia Nurses Association from 2012 until 2014. She is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives, the Virginia Organization of Nurse Executives, and the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). She has presented at a wide range of conferences, including the 2011 and 2012 ANCC National Magnet Conference. She earned her doctorate in nursing practice (DNP) at Case Western Reserve University, her master's in business administration at Averett University, and her BSN at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is ANCC board-certified as a nurse executive, advanced, and is a fellow of the ACHE.
Dr Doucette serves as the new vice president of the Magnet Recognition(R) and Pathway to Excellence(R) Programs. A seasoned nurse executive, Jeff has 25 years of nursing and leadership experience, most recently as the regional vice president of clinical services and chief nursing officer at Bon Secours Hampton Roads Health System in Suffolk, Virginia. Before that, he served as vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital where he led the organization to Pathway to Excellence designation in 2012 and redesignation in 2015. His organization was awarded The Pathway Award(R), sponsored by Cerner in 2013, and Magnet designation just after his departure in March 2017. He brings extensive experience in executive nursing practice, academia, and professional nursing organizations to the role. He was an executive nurse fellow in the international program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Jeff currently serves as the vice president of the Virginia Nurses Association and is actively involved in several professional nursing organizations. He has published in many professional journals and has presented at numerous conferences, including the Pathway to Excellence Conference and ANCC National Magnet Conference(TM). He holds a DNP from Old Dominion University, a master of science in healthcare administration, and a BSN from Marymount University. He is ANCC board-certified as a nurse executive, advanced, and is a fellow in ACHE as well. In addition, he is a licensed nursing home administrator.
Dr Cole expressed excitement for the new role, "My 1st 9 months at ANCC have allowed me the opportunity to learn about the amazing work that happens here every day, as well as the time to assess and plan for a stronger future. I am excited about our new work in the interprofessional space, continued domestic and international growth, as well as the development of new products and services. By the end of 2017, ANCC will have completed a significant update to its strategic plan. I hope you, the readers, and nurses around the world, will work with us to achieve our goals."
Dr Doucette further commented, "We both feel this is an exciting time for the ANCC as we move forward with a focus on greater collaboration and synergy among our key stakeholders. Working together with you, we will be better able to serve nurses and have a greater impact on healthcare through ANCC's existing credentialing programs as well as position the organization for long term success."