Marilyn Dubree, M.S.N., R.N.
Dubree’s role in guiding VUMC nursing expands
Marilyn Dubree, M.S.N., R.N., has been named to the newly created position of Chief Nursing Officer for all Vanderbilt University Medical Center operations.
“Marilyn's new responsibilities are a reflection of our enormous growth in patient volumes, programs and physical space across the Medical Center,” said Harry Jacobson, M.D., vice chancellor for Health Affairs. “Nursing is crucial to all we do and Marilyn has shown her tremendous leadership skills, most recently through the Magnet process, and she is a vital part of shaping our future.”
For more than 12 years, Dubree has served in the official role of Chief Nursing Officer for Vanderbilt University Hospital and the Monroe Carell Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt and has handled additional operational leadership duties.
In her new position, she will be responsible for all nursing at VUMC. She will set the strategic mission and vision for nursing, evidence-based practice, innovation, an added emphasis on nursing research and institutional development while continuing to raise standards for quality. She will continue to oversee nurse leaders and the 3,000 nurses throughout the Medical Center.
Dubree is searching for a new nurse leader for VUH, who will report conjointly to her and to Larry Goldberg, CEO of VUH.
“You don't need to work closely with Marilyn long to realize what a wonderful asset she is to our Medical Center,” said Martin Sandler, M.B., Ch.B., associate vice chancellor for Hospital Affairs. “This new position allows her to take what she's done so well for years and further build on it.”
“Nursing is such a vital function of what we do every day, and Marilyn is a tremendous nurse and patient advocate on so many issues,” said David Posch, CEO of The Vanderbilt Clinic and executive director of Vanderbilt Medical Group. “Her new position will allow her to turn more of her visions for the future into realities.”
Dubree joined VUMC as a clinical nurse specialist in 1976 and has held a variety of positions throughout her career.
“This will allow Marilyn to look at strategies that impact nurses and nursing as Vanderbilt grows and becomes even more complex,” said Colleen Conway-Welch, Ph.D., R.N., dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. “I look forward to working with her in her new capacity.”
Only a few of the largest health systems in the country have a dedicated, executive-level nurse leader position like the one Dubree is taking on here.
“This is an incredible personal and professional honor,” said Dubree. “We have an extraordinary community of faculty and staff who are dedicated to providing the best quality care to our patients. I am committed to working with them in advancing those efforts and believe that we have an incredible future ahead of us.”
Dubree will relocate her office to Medical Center North near the Vice Chancellor's office in the next several months.