Portland, Ore.

Jenny James, M.S., R.N., has been appointed chief nursing executive for OHSU Hospitals and Clinics, and associate dean for clinical affairs at OHSU School of Nursing. The appointment is effective April 21.

James comes to OHSU from the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where she served as vice president for patient care services and chief nursing officer. She held a similar position at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and served as vice president for nursing at Brigham and Women's Hospital, which is Harvard Medical School's primary teaching hospital. Her experience also includes nursing leadership positions and academic appointments at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, and the University of Michigan Hospitals. A captain in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, she received the Bronze Star for service in Vietnam.

Peter Rapp, vice president and executive director of OHSU Hospitals and Clinics, and Kathleen Potempa, R.N., D.N.Sc., F.A.A.N., vice president and dean of the OHSU School of Nursing, announced the appointment on March 18. They noted that the selection was made after an extensive process in which the search committee sought and received consultation and opinion from throughout OHSU's diverse and broad-based community

"Jenny James is joining OHSU at an especially challenging and demanding time," Rapp said. "She brings us interdisciplinary leadership skills developed through more than 20 years of clinical, academic and administrative experience in academic health and research centers. We are confident that her skills will strengthen our collaborative environment, our interdisciplinary team building, our patient care focus, and the alignment between nursing education and nursing practice."

"We look forward to having Jenny James be an active and vital presence in our hospitals, clinics and schools," Potempa said.

Bonnie Driggers, R.N., M.S., M.P.A has served as the interim associate hospital director for patient care services.

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