ANA Enterprise Appoints Dr. Loressa Cole as New Chief Executive Officer

CONTACT:
Shannon McClendon, 301-628-5391
shannon.mcclendon@ana.org

Joan Hurwitz, 301-628-5020
joan.hurwitz@ana.org

SILVER SPRING, MD – The ANA Enterprise today announced the appointment of Dr. Loressa Cole as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). She will assume this role on May 7, 2018. 

In this role, Cole, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, will provide strategic leadership and have responsibility for the operating activities of the Enterprise including management of staff and implementation of programs for the American Nurses Association (ANA), American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and American Nurses Foundation.

Dr. Cole is an accomplished senior executive who brings more than 30 years of progressively higher leadership and management experience, most recently as Chief Officer and Executive Vice President of ANCC. ANCC promotes excellence in nursing and health care globally through credentialing programs, recognizes healthcare organizations that promote quality patient outcomes, and accredits healthcare organizations that provide and approve continuing nursing education. She has been with ANCC since 2016.
Previously, Dr. Cole held Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Operating Officer positions within the Hospital Corporation of America’s (HCA) Capital Division. While Chief Nursing Officer at LewisGale Montgomery Hospital, she led the hospital to attain ANCC Magnet® recognition. Among her many accomplishments, she championed year-over-year improvement in employee engagement and reduction in nursing turnover, as well as implemented several specialty and Service Excellence programs that helped establish the regional health system as a Joint Commission Top Performer and earned Leapfrog “A” rating for hospital safety.

“Dr. Cole is well prepared to lead and strengthen the evolving ANA Enterprise. She was selected from a field of outstanding candidates to fulfill this top leadership role for nursing,” said ANA President Pamela F. Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. “She brings proven leadership as a seasoned healthcare executive and as the current Executive Vice President of ANCC. She demonstrates the vision, creativity, passion for nursing, and strong business acumen to leverage the strengths of ANA’s entities to enhance and grow the Enterprise.”

“I am very honored and excited to assume this prestigious position. The American Nurses Association is the professional association for all registered nurses, and a recognized leader in ensuring quality care for all Americans,” said Dr. Cole. “At 4 million and growing, America’s nurses outnumber all other health-care professionals and serve an essential role to protect, promote, and improve health for all ages. I am humbled to lead the organization that for more than a century has nobly represented and served our nation’s nurses. I look forward to working with the dedicated staff and volunteers who contribute tirelessly to maintain and grow the exceptional programs and credentialing products offered by the ANA Enterprise.”

Dr. Cole earned an associate degree in nursing from Bluefield State College in Bluefield, WV, a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA, a master’s of business administration from Averett University in Danville, VA, and a doctorate in nursing practice from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH. She is a member of ANA, Virginia Nurses Association, American Organization of Nurses Executives, and the American College of Healthcare Executives, where she holds Fellow status. Additionally, she currently serves on the Journal of Nursing Administration’s Editorial Board and the Joint Commission’s Nursing Advisory Council. A past President of the Virginia Nurses Association and the Virginia Partnership for Nursing, Dr. Cole has also served on multiple boards, including The Bradley Free Clinic of Roanoke (VA), The Free Clinic of the New River Valley, and the Daily Planet (Richmond, VA).