Dr. Laura Wood

Dr. Laura J. Wood, DNP, MS, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN serves as Boston Children’s Hospital’s Executive Vice President, Patient Care Operations, System Chief Nurse Executive, and Sporing Carpenter Chair for Nursing. Laura sets strategic direction within the world’s foremost pediatric academic health system and research organization, guiding quality, safety and professional practice standards in support of over 7,000 registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, and interprofessional team members. Her leadership has contributed to outcomes supporting Boston Children’s recognition by U.S. News & World Report and Newsweek as a leading children’s hospital throughout her 12-year tenure 2013 to present. She brings a direct understanding of the largest segment of the healthcare workforce and its essential core to her leadership – registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses.

Laura previously held leadership roles within three leading academic health systems including The Johns Hopkins Hospital Children’s Center, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and The University of Pennsylvania Health System. She also led clinical business development for the U.S. as Vice President, Clinical Solutions, Siemens Healthcare (later Cerner, Oracle) spanning > 1,000 health systems nationally. Laura holds a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing, magna cum laude from West Virginia University, and was recognized with the School of Nursing’s Faculty Award, Alumni Leadership Award, and the University’s Distinguished Leadership Award. She received a Master of Science degree in maternal-child nursing, and pediatric oncology clinical specialization from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Laura also earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Johns Hopkins University, where she received Johns Hopkins School of Nursing’s and the University’s Distinguished Alumna awards. She is a Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation Executive Nurse Fellow Alumna and an elected Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

Laura currently serves as President and Board Chair of the American Nurses Association’s key arm, the American Nurse’s Credentialing Center – governing the Magnet Recognition and Pathway to Excellence Programs and leading credentialing programs with an aim to promote healthy and safe work environments for nurses throughout the U.S. and around the world. In addition to her ANCC board service, she is also a member of the following boards: Boston Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital Coalition/PHLOW Corporation, CRICO Risk Management Foundation – Harvard Medical Institutions, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Women’s Advisory Board, Pediatric Physician Organization of Children’s, Simmons University, and The Joint Commission’s Chief Nurse Executive Board.