President

AJ Stephens, DNP, MBA-HCA, RN, NEA-BC
St. David’s Healthcare – Austin, Texas

Dr. AJ Stephens began his nursing career at Lea Regional Medical Center in rural Hobbs, New Mexico practicing in Critical Care and Emergency services, and eventually took on leadership roles. He moved to UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas and served as the Health Services Administrator and Chief Administrator for Regional Correctional Health Care Services overseeing multiple health care programs. He currently serves as the Associate Chief Nursing Officer for St. David’s North Austin Medical Center as part of HCA Healthcare’s Central & West Texas Division.

Dr. Stephens has an Associate’s in Applied Science in Nursing from New Mexico Jr. College in Hobbs, New Mexico; a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico; a Master’s in Business Administration Specializing in Health Care Administration from Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice Specializing in Executive Leadership from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, Texas. He is a member of Phi Theta Kappa National, Golden Key International, and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Societies.

Dr. Stephens is a lifetime member of the Texas Jail Association; member of the American and Texas Nursing Associations; member, board member and President-Elect of The Texas Organization for Nursing Leadership and a member of the planning panel of Wolters Kluwer’s Nursing Management Congress Conference. He is board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Nurse Executive – Advanced and is the recipient of the DFW Great 100 Nurses Award and the D-Magazine Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award.