St. Tammany Health System has named veteran nurse executive Lori Sumner, MSN, RN, as its new chief nursing officer. She brings more than three decades of leadership experience in nursing operations, quality, patient safety, and workforce development to the health system.
Sumner is scheduled to begin her new assignment in September.
She succeeds Kerry Milton, who retired in June.
Most recently, Sumner served as chief nursing officer at Baptist Health Princeton Hospital in Birmingham, Ala., where she oversaw Patient Care Services for the 505-bed teaching hospital. Throughout her career, she has led initiatives to improve patient safety, strengthen nurse recruitment and retention, enhance patient experience, and develop nursing leader.
Prior to her role at Princeton Hospital, Sumner served as chief nursing officer at Baptist Health Walker Hospital in Jasper, Ala.; associate chief nursing officer at HCA Capital Regional Medical Center in Tallahassee, Fla.; administrative director of Critical Care at HCA Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte, Fla.; and held a series of nursing leadership positions during more than two decades with Lee Health in Fort Myers, Fla.
A registered nurse since beginning her career in 1992, Sumner earned a Master of Science in Nursing from Walden University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Nova Southeastern University, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from Edison Community College.