by Matt Batcheldor
Avni Cirpili, DNP, RN, has returned as Chief Nursing Officer for Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital (VPH) and Vanderbilt Behavioral Health (VBH) after nearly three years as senior vice president and chief nursing officer at the Menninger Clinic in Houston.
Cirpili, who previously served at VUMC from 2010 to 2016, said the exceptional staff and high-quality care provided here were key factors that persuaded him to return.
“I truly have not worked in a system with as good a nursing staff as we have here, and I wanted to return to that environment,” he said.
“I think there are a lot of opportunities here to bring us to the cutting edge of mental health care and mental health nursing care.”
Cirpili added that Nashville is an exceptional community with strong mental health organizations. He said the demand for services is growing as awareness of mental health problems grows and more people with them are recognized. He stressed that Vanderbilt is uniquely positioned to serve them by achieving the best outcomes at the best value.
“The number of individuals who need our services is ever-growing,” he said. “The amount of resources available is becoming scarcer, while the expectation of outcomes is becoming greater.
“The network Vanderbilt is building, through the reach that we have, can really make an impact, and I want to be part of that.”
Cirpili originally 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 Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in 2013, having previously received a master’s degree in Nursing from the University of Michigan.
“It is a pleasure to welcome Avni back to Vanderbilt,” said Marilyn Dubree, MSN, RN, Executive Chief Nursing Officer. “He is a proven leader who has contributed to many positive changes in our behavioral health enterprise.”
Jameson Norton, MBA, CEO of VPH and VBH, also welcomed Cirpili back to Vanderbilt. “Avni is a dedicated leader with a heart for our patients and team,” he said. “As a national leader in his field, he will play a vital role in our mission to deliver exceptional personalized care and shape the future of behavioral health for this region on behalf of those we serve.”
