Excellence in Action: TONL Members Recognized as Hospital and Health System Chief Nursing Officers To Know in 2023

Dr. Jim Allard, Dr. Kit Bredimus, Dr. Stephen Brockman-Weber, Dr. Joyce Soule, and Dr. Janice Walker received national recognition as hospital and health system chief nursing officers to know in 2023. Becker's Hospital Review highlighted their achievements in an article published in September 2023, excerpted below.

Jim Allard, DNP, RN. CNO of Medical City Arlington (Texas). Dr. Allard serves as CNO for the 433-bed Medical City Arlington, leading over 630 nurses and partnering with other executives to provide outstanding clinical quality, patient outcomes and care experiences. As an LGBTQ executive leader, he champions DEI initiatives for the nursing team and the hospital's 1,600 employees and 900 physicians. In 2022, the Dallas Business Journal honored Dr. Allard with its Leaders in Diversity Award. He has been working within the broader HCA Healthcare system since 2013 and was promoted to CNO of Medical City Arlington in August 2022. 

Kit Bredimus, DNP, RN. CNO and Vice President at Midland (Texas) Memorial Hospital. Dr. Bredimus oversees the nursing practice at Midland Hospital. He is accountable for the effective provision of nursing services designed to meet patient, provider and community needs. He oversees the 293-bed acute care community hospital. He also shares accountability for the system's finance, knowledge management, workforce and cultural engagement, managing a $130 million budget. He maintains high visibility and is responsible for building relationships with constituents, medical providers, and more. He is also responsible for short-term operational planning.

Steven Brockman-Weber, DNP. CNO of Ascension Texas. Mr. Brockman-Webster leads nursing teams across Ascension Texas' care sites. In addition to his role at Ascension, he is serving a four-year term as a special government employee of the National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice within the Health Resources and Services Administration, providing advice and recommendations to the HHS secretary and Congress on a range of issues. He is also a faculty member at Chicago-based Rush University College of Nursing, where he teaches in the DNP program.

Joyce Soule, DNP, RN. CNO of Medical City Dallas. With 20 years of nursing experience, Dr. Soule has led the nursing team of Medical City Dallas since 2017. Prior to Medical City Dallas, she served as CNO at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kan., where she also oversaw Wesley Woodlawn, a community hospital, two off-campus emergency departments and hospital-based clinics.

Janice Walker, DHA, BSN, RN. CNO at Baylor Scott & White Health (Dallas). Dr. Walker is responsible for advancing clinical practice among nursing staff and improving safety and quality outcomes across the 51-hospital Baylor Scott & White Health system. In 2021, Dr. Walker launched the Baylor Scott & White Nursing Institute to promote clinical and professional excellence. Under her leadership, all wholly owned and managed Baylor Scott & White facilities are either Magnet or pathway to excellence designated by American Nurses Credentialing Center as of 2023. Prior to her current role, Dr. Walker was CNO of the system's Central Texas region and CNO and COO of Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center – Fort Worth (Texas).