Cincinnati Children's Elevates Nursing Leadership with New Chief Nurse Executive
Event summary
- Carrie Romano, with 36 years of experience at Cincinnati Children's, appointed chief nurse executive effective September 6, 2026.
- Role renamed from chief nursing officer to chief nurse executive, reflecting expanded strategic responsibilities in enterprise leadership and innovation.
- Romano succeeds Barb Tofani, who retires November 2, 2026 after advancing nursing excellence and earning four consecutive Magnet® designations.
The big picture
Cincinnati Children's move to rename the top nursing role underscores a broader industry trend of elevating nursing leadership in healthcare strategy. As pediatric hospitals face increasing pressure to balance quality outcomes with workforce development, Romano's appointment signals a commitment to nursing-driven innovation and enterprise-wide impact.
What we're watching
- Strategic Impact
- How the elevation of nursing leadership will influence Cincinnati Children's enterprise strategy and innovation initiatives.
- Workforce Development
- Whether Romano can sustain the high-performing teams and future leaders developed under Tofani's tenure.
- Operational Execution
- The pace at which Romano integrates her vision for digital health, telehealth, and care delivery across multiple sites.