Linda M. Shepherd
DNP, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC
Principal Consultant
Background
- Linda Shepherd is an accomplished nurse and executive healthcare leader with over 37 years of experience in various settings across the healthcare spectrum. Linda has over 12 years of experience as a Chief Nursing Officer (CNO). During her role as CNO, Linda was responsible for nursing education, compliance, quality and patient safety, accreditation, and regulatory affairs while championing the quadruple aim and the infusion of evidence-based practices systemwide. Before joining Joint Commission Resources in 2023, Linda was a Healthcare Executive Consultant and Interim Chief Nursing Officer in the Cayman Islands, serving to prepare the organization for its initial Joint Commission International Accreditation. During this time, Linda had dual clinical and preparatory responsibility for all inpatient and outpatient areas, including specialty services, clinics, dentistry, and public health on the main island and the two sister islands.
- In addition to these roles, Linda served as the President of the Virginia Nurses Association (VNA) for four years. During this time, she continuously advocated for population health/health equity, quality care delivery, and the advancement of nursing at the state and national levels. She collaborated with legislators, senators, and the Virginia governor’s office during and post-pandemic, advocating for legislation to protect healthcare workers and expand health equity.
- Linda also has served as an International Medical Missions Coordinator for short-term missions since 2004, serving in over fifteen countries, most recently in South Sudan.
- She is mentor and adjunct faculty at James Madison University since 2022.
Professional Experience
- Bedside Registered Nurse
- RN III - Level 1 Neurotrauma Intensive Care - Centra Health
- RN III - Level 1 Neurotrauma Intensive Care - Carilion Clinic
- RN III - Emergency Department - Novant Presbyterian Hospital
- Educator
- Surgical Services Educator - Carilion Clinic New River Valley Hospital
- Manager
- Assistant Manager Quality - Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) Hospital
- Director
- Director Clinical Decision Unit - Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) Hospital
- Director Critical Care Services/ Dialysis - Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) Hospital
- Director Critical Care Services/ Dialysis - Hospital Corporation of America (HCA)
- Researcher
- Corporate Research Leader - Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) - Nashville, TN
- Executive Leader
- Chief Nursing Officer - Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) Hospital
- Chief Nursing Officer - Ballad Health Johnston Memorial Hospital - Abingdon, VA US
- Chief Nursing Officer - Ballad Health Smyth County Hospital - Smyth County, VA US
- Executive Healthcare Consultant - Cayman Islands Health Service Authority (CIHSA) - Georgetown, Grand Cayman - Cayman Islands
- Chief Nursing Officer (Interim) - Cayman Islands Health Service Authority (CIHSA) - Georgetown, Grand Cayman - Cayman Islands
- Faculty
- Adjunct Professor James Madison University Graduate Nursing Studies
Professional Affiliations and Certifications
- Nurse Executive Advanced - Board Certified
- Past President - Virginia Nurses Association
- Election Board Chair - Virginia Nurses Foundation
- Current Board Member of the Virginia Nurses Foundation
- Past Treasure - Virginia Nurses Association
- Past Secretary - Virginia Nurses Association
- Treasurer Dress for Success Board Member
- American Organization of Nurse Leaders
- STTI Omega Zeta
- American Nurses Association
- American College of Healthcare Executives
- Association for Leadership Science in Nursing
- “Caring for Virginia Caregivers Task Force” active member
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Lynchburg - Lynchburg, VA
- Master of Business Administration with focus on Leadership from Liberty University - Lynchburg, VA
- Doctor of Nursing Practice - Executive Healthcare Systems Leadership from James Madison University - Harrisonburg, VA