Penn State Health appoints new regional chief nursing officer for West Shore hospitals

Leslyn Williamson has joined Penn State Health as the regional chief nursing officer for Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center and Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center. She is responsible for nursing and patient experience at both hospitals. She joined the health system on June 13.

Previously, Williamson was the chief operating officer and chief nursing officer for Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, N.Y., which is part of Ellis Medicine, a 438-bed community hospital and teaching system. In that role she provided strategic and operational leadership for clinical and nonclinical departments, physician relations and support services, with a focus on process improvement and patient satisfaction. She also oversaw the skilled nursing facility and its home care division.

“I am pleased that Leslyn has joined our executive team,” said Don McKenna, West Shore Region president, Penn State Health. “She is a proven leader with a strong track record of building top-performing teams that will help us deliver quality patient outcomes throughout the region.”

Prior to joining Ellis Medicine, Williamson served as vice president of Patient Care Services at New York City-based Mount Sinai Health System.

A board-certified, advanced nurse executive, Williamson is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. She has completed The Academy for Healthcare Leadership Advancement, a Cornell University certificate program, and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Executive Leadership Program.

In addition to earning a doctorate in nursing practice at Rutgers University, Rutgers, N.J., Williamson has completed a master’s degree in nursing administration at Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., and a master’s degree in public health, health policy and management, at New York Medical College, Valhalla, N.Y. In addition, she earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing at State University of New York at New Paltz.

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