Humanizing Healthcare Leadership with Dan Wright

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Episode Overview: 

Joining us on this episode is Dan Wright, Chief Nursing Officer at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital, a passionate executive pioneering authentic connections between leaders and frontline staff to improve care culture. 

With over 19 years of nursing leadership experience aimed at elevating care quality, patient outcomes, and colleague engagement, Dan believes deeply in people-centered leadership. 

While together, Dan shares how regular rounding on units, hosting open forums for team member feedback, and inviting caregivers to shadow him helps humanize executive roles while building trust. 

We also discuss the challenging reality of current nursing shortages and burnout. Dan explains that re-inspiring and motivating staff through relationship building and helping them feel valued and invested is key to overcoming these crises. 

By putting people first, Dan sees a path forward for healthcare that enables both compassionate, quality care and a positive work environment. Join us for this important, timely, and invigorating conversation. Let’s go! 

Episode Highlights:

• Leading with authenticity- being your true self breaks down barriers between leaders and staff
• Rounding and shadowing- increased informal interactions strengthen connections
• Nursing shortages and burnout- COVID aftermath has challenged workforce mental health
• Inspiring caregivers- helping staff feel valued and invested fosters engagement
• It’s about people first- focusing on culture and environment enables quality care

About our Guest: 

Dan has more than 19 years of combined leadership experience with positive patient outcomes and colleague engagement. Early in his nursing career, Dan worked his way from staff nurse to charge nurse, nurse manager, nursing director and beyond. He has taken on leadership roles overseeing perioperative services, clinical operations and patient care services, and also served as Corporate Director of Nursing Practice Standards for HCA Healthcare. He served in various nurse executive roles including Chief Nursing Officer in MetroWest Boston and as a system Chief Nursing Officer in New York. He currently is the Chief Nursing Officer at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital. 

Dan received his Associate Degree in Nursing from Hondros College School of Nursing, and both his Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master in Health Administration from Ohio University. He has also completed the HCA Executive Development Program where he received the EDP CNO Award in 2020.

He believes in people-centered leadership and making connections with all those he serves from caregivers, patients, and the community. His focus and passion is investing in caregivers to improve both the culture and environment for people to prosper and provide the best quality and compassionate care for the community.

Links Supporting This Episode:

• Ascension Website: CLICK HERE
• Daniel Wright LinkedIn page: CLICK HERE
• Ascension Twitter page: CLICK HERE 
• Mike Biselli LinkedIn page: CLICK HERE
• Mike Biselli Twitter page: CLICK HERE
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