Hospital names VP of Nursing

Originally published in the Spring Hope Enterprise 

ROCKY MOUNT — Nash UNC Health Care has announced Mary Strickland as its new vice president of nursing.

Strickland previously held the position of executive director of women’s services and served as interim vice president of nursing for the last six months since the departure of Michelle Cosimeno.

A national search had been underway during the time Strickland served in interim role.

“We held numerous phone interviews with highly qualified candidates from across the region and country, and held on-site interviews with the top three candidates which included Mary,” said Crystal Hayden, chief operating officer and chief nursing officer of Nash UNC Health Care.

“Mary has demonstrated exceptional leadership capability these past six months as interim VP of nursing, and in her prior leadership roles at Nash UNC, and we are excited to move the organization forward with her leadership of nursing,” said Hayden.

Strickland has more than 33 years of experience in nursing, with 24 of those years at Nash UNC Health Care. She has been involved in nursing education since 1990, and is currently serving as a part-time faculty member at Waynesburg University in Pennsylvania in the master’s program. She received her doctoral degree in nursing practice from Waynesburg University in December.

“I am excited to continue in a permanent role as vice president of nursing at Nash UNC Health Care,” Strickland said. “I have spent many years at Nash, helping it grow into the health care system that it is now and witnessing the impact it has made in our community. I am looking forward to continue working with leadership and teams across the hospital to improve the care and experience our patients and community receive.”