From Workforce Pressure to Workforce Strategy: The Executive Imperative for Nursing Leadership

Join ACHE of Alabama for a timely virtual panel discussion focused on one of healthcare’s most pressing executive challenges: the nursing workforce. From Workforce Pressure to Workforce Strategy: The Executive Imperative for Nursing Leadership will bring together senior nursing leaders from major health systems to explore how organizations can move beyond immediate staffing strain and toward sustainable, system-level workforce strategy.

Moderated by Wendy Smith, Partner at Mercer, this conversation will examine the evolving role of nursing leadership, the growing strategic importance of the Chief Nursing Officer, and the executive approaches needed to strengthen recruitment, retention, professional development, workforce resilience, and care delivery. Designed for healthcare executives, nurse leaders, and emerging leaders alike, this session will offer practical insight from leaders working at the highest levels of nursing and health system strategy.

Event Details
Date: Thursday, April 30
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Format: Virtual

Moderator
Wendy Smith, Partner, Mercer
Wendy Smith serves as Partner at Mercer and will moderate this important discussion. She brings a strong strategic perspective to workforce and leadership conversations and will help guide a thoughtful dialogue around the executive imperative for nursing leadership.

Panelists

Janice Walker, DHA, MBA-HCM, BSN, RN, NEA-BC
System Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, University of Florida Health Clinical Enterprises (UF Health)
Dr. Walker serves as the nursing expert for the UF Health Clinical Enterprise, with responsibility for advancing safe, high-quality, and efficient care while supporting workforce strategy, operational integration, and interprofessional collaboration. Her background includes senior nursing leadership roles across multiple health systems, and she is widely recognized for her work in recruitment and retention, quality, and transformational nursing leadership.

Rob Rose, DNP, MS, RN, NEA-BC
Senior Vice President of Nursing and Chief Nursing Officer, Ascension
Dr. Rose joined Ascension as Senior Vice President of Nursing and Chief Nursing Officer in 2025. In this role, he leads nearly 35,000 nurses and more than 10,000 nursing support associates, bringing a broad system-level view of nursing operations, leadership, and excellence in care delivery.

Terri Poe, DNP, MPA, BSN, NE-BC
Chief Nurse Executive, UAB Health System
Dr. Poe serves as Chief Nurse Executive for UAB Health System, where she helps guide the vision for nursing across UAB Medicine entities with a focus on practice alignment, professional development, and support for teams delivering exceptional patient care. Her leadership experience includes service as Chief Nursing Officer of UAB Hospital and key contributions to nursing practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and workforce development.

Registration Link Here

Event Registration Link

• In order to receive virtual interactive education credit, participants MUST register through the link below. If they are not ACHE members, there is an option to create a free account.