Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Medical Center Interim President, Dr Steve Leffler, today announced that Kate FitzPatrick, Chief Nursing Officer, DNP, RN, FAAN, will be leaving the organization on October 1. FitzPatrick, who also serves as Associate Dean for Academic and Practice Integration at the University of Vermont College of Nursing and Health Sciences, has accepted a position as the new System Senior Nursing Vice President for Practice and Clinical Development at Jefferson Health in Philadelphia, a 14-hospital health system in the greater Philadelphia region.
At Jefferson Health, FitzPatrick will oversee the alignment and standardization of approaches across the health system, in partnership with regional CNOs and the System Chief Nurse Executive. The role will allow FitzPatrick to continue pursuing her passion of supporting professional nursing practice and clinical development, and also bring her closer to family in the Philadelphia-Delaware region. This move is a homecoming for FitzPatrick, who started her nursing career at Jefferson.
UVMMC Kate FitzPatrick, Chief Nursing Officer, DNP, RN, FAAN
“As CNO of the UVM Medical Center, I have been privileged to work with the most caring, loyal, and committed people,” FitzPatrick said. “My deep admiration for this incredible team, and all we achieved together, will always be a source of pride and inspiration for me.”
Peg Gagne, MSN, RN, Nursing Director for Medicine, Psychiatry and Oncology, will serve as Interim CNO. Gagne has been with the UVM Medical Center for 18 years, and has worked closely with FitzPatrick to elevate the voice and advance the professional practice of nursing as an integral part of the care team.
“During her tenure here, Kate has created a strong foundation for nursing care and led efforts to enhance team based practice and leadership in patient care delivery,” said Dr. Leffler. “While it’s tough to see her leave, I’m so excited for her to take on this new professional opportunity and to return to her family in Pennsylvania and the place where she began her nursing career. We are so grateful for all she has accomplished at the UVM Medical Center. Kate has left an indelible mark on the advancement of quality healthcare in our community.”
As CNO, FitzPatrick established the strategic vision for the UVM Medical Center to pursue the evidence-based Magnet standards as an organizational priority. She implemented a new professional nurse Clinical Advancement and Recognition Program (CARP) structure in collaboration with nurse leadership, clinical nurses and the Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals. FitzPatrick was instrumental in leading the successful transition into the new Miller patient care building, working closely with Gagne, who was a leader for this project, to emphasize the importance of nurse leadership and input throughout the transition.
During FitzPatrick’s tenure at the UVM Medical Center, she has also been the executive sponsor for transformation efforts to enhance perioperative services and acute psychiatric care, including planning for the expansion of psychiatric capacity and increasing nursing expertise in the Emergency Department.
FitzPatrick is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and was a Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellow. Since 2015, she has also served as a Magnet Program Appraiser for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program.
Source: BURLINGTON (VT) – UVMMC 8.8.2019