Kathy Howell, M.B.A., B.S.N., R.N, NEA-BC, is the chief nursing executive for UCHealth, a nationally recognized, nonprofit health care system with operating revenue of $6 billion and a workforce of more than 28,000 people. UCHealth includes 12 Colorado hospitals with over 2,000 inpatient beds and more than 150 clinic locations in Colorado, southern Wyoming and western Nebraska.
Ms. Howell joined UCHealth in January of 2018 and is responsible for the continued clinical integration and advancement of nursing practice across the system.
Ms. Howell also serves as chief nursing officer for University of Colorado Hospital (UCH), a nationally recognized academic medical center with almost 700 inpatient beds and 6,000 employees. UCH is the only academic medical center in Colorado and is the academic hub of the UCHealth system.
Prior to joining UCHealth, Kathy was the senior vice president and chief nurse executive for Saint Luke’s Health System in Kansas City, MO. As an accomplished health care executive, Kathy led the clinical integration strategy and continued advancement of nursing practice and allied health disciplines across the 10-hospital Saint Luke’s Health System.
Kathy also served as chief executive officer of Saint Luke’s South Hospital in Overland Park, Kan. She joined Saint Luke’s South Hospital as chief nursing officer in 2001, and was also the vice president of Saint Luke’s Health System Women’s and Children’s Services from 2005 to 2009.
Kathy is a member of several professional organizations including the American College of Healthcare Executives and the American Organization of Nurse Executives. She has served the boards of numerous community, state, and civic organizations.
Kathy received a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Marymount College in Salina, Kan., and a Master in Business Administration from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill. She is board certified as a Nurse Executive Advanced through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.