Michele Szkolnicki named ACHE Regent
Michele Szkolnicki, senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, has been honored with the Senior-Level Healthcare Executive Regent designation by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).
The prestigious honor celebrates Szkolnicki’s exceptional leadership and her commitment to advancing health care through innovation, workforce development and operational excellence. Throughout her career, she has led transformative initiatives that strengthen care delivery, restore staffing levels and prioritize the well-being of clinical teams. Her visionary approach has helped reshape workforce roles to meet post-pandemic challenges and build a more resilient health care system.
“Michele Szkolnicki cares deeply about nursing and is constantly searching for new, innovative and deeply personal ways to support nurses as they care for our patients,” said Don McKenna, president of Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. “Her passion for shaping the future of health care through nursing leadership continues to inspire colleagues across Penn State Health and beyond.”
Szkolnicki holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Neumann University and a master’s degree in education from St. Joseph’s University. She is board-certified as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and is a Fellow of the American College of Medical Practice Executives (FACMPE).
ACHE’s Fellow designation is reserved for health care leaders who demonstrate sustained achievement in the field, uphold the highest standards of integrity and actively contribute to the advancement of health care management. Szkolnicki’s career exemplifies these values through her visionary leadership, dedication to nursing excellence and advocacy for workforce development.
With more than 25 years of C-suite leadership experience, Szkolnicki has held executive roles in both adult and pediatric medicine. As chief nursing officer at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Szkolnicki has championed innovation in nursing practice, fostered a culture of support and professional growth and played a key role in the hospital earning its fourth consecutive Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center – the highest national recognition for nursing excellence.
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