Avni Cirpili, DNP, R.N., is leaving after five years as Chief Nursing Officer for Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital (VPH) to become senior vice president and Chief Nursing Officer at the Menninger Clinic in Houston.
Cirpili has contributed to many positive changes at VPH throughout the last half decade, from educational initiatives to improved visitation policies and community outreach.
“During the last five years, we have made substantial advances,” said Marilyn Dubree, MSN, R.N., Executive Chief Nursing Officer.
“The Patient and Family Advisory Council and open visiting for patients and families were implemented. Avni has also contributed to launching the nurse residency program, implementing the Clinical Staff Leader model for the hospital, increasing regional and national presence through publications and presentations by the nursing staff and leadership. As a result, staff engagement of the hospital has increased significantly.”
Mitch Edgeworth, MBA, Chief Executive Officer for Vanderbilt University Adult Hospitals and Clinics, added, “Avni has served our patients, families, staff and faculty extremely well over the past five years. We are all thankful for his leadership, and I am personally thankful for his friendship. We wish Avni nothing but success in his future.”
Cirpili gives credit for his success to his staff of nurses.
“The thing that I will remember the most in leaving Vanderbilt is the people,” he said. “From Marilyn and senior leadership all the way to the direct care staff. Everybody here has been truly impressive in how much they care about the patients, they care about one another and they really are making a difference.”
“She has held progressively larger roles in the Psychiatric Hospital and Behavioral Health and is positioned to be an excellent leader for us during this transition,” Dubree said.
Cirpili joined Vanderbilt in 2010, coming from The Ohio State University Harding Hospital in Columbus, where he was Chief Nursing Officer. He received his Doctorate in Nursing Practice from VUSN in 2013, having previously received a master’s degree in Nursing from the University of Michigan.
