Mercy Taps Nursing Education Veteran to Lead Southeast Missouri College
Event summary
- Pamela Slaven-Lee, DNP, APRN, FAANP, appointed president of Mercy's Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences, effective July 6, 2026.
- Slaven-Lee previously served as COO at C3 Cares and provost at Marymount University, where she expanded academic programs and achieved Research University classification.
- She succeeds Dr. Steven Langdon, who retired after seven years as president.
- Mercy operates 55 hospitals and over 1,000 physician practice locations across five states, with $500M in free care provided in FY 2025.
The big picture
Mercy's appointment of Slaven-Lee underscores the strategic importance of nursing education in addressing healthcare workforce shortages. Her background in academic leadership and online program development aligns with Mercy's goal of expanding its educational reach. The move comes as healthcare systems increasingly invest in training the next generation of providers to meet growing demand.
What we're watching
- Program Expansion
- How Slaven-Lee's experience in growing online and graduate offerings will translate to Mercy's nursing college.
- Financial Sustainability
- Whether her background in enhancing financial sustainability at C3 Cares can be applied to Mercy's academic programs.
- Regional Impact
- The pace at which Mercy can expand its nursing education footprint across Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma.