After a national search, Deborah Browning, MSN, RN, CENP has been named the new chief executive officer for USA Health Children's & Women's Hospital. She previously served as chief nursing officer beginning in 2021 and then interim administrator.

"We have been so impressed with what Debbie has accomplished in the relatively short amount of time she has been in leadership positions at Children's & Women's Hospital," said Owen Bailey, M.S.H.A., FACHE, USA Health CEO and senior associate vice president for medical affairs. "It was clear she is who we need leading our efforts to continuously provide high-quality and compassionate health care to the children and women on the Gulf Coast."

Prior to joining Children's & Women's Hospital, Browning served as chief nursing officer at Oklahoma Children's Hospital in Oklahoma City. She has been responsible for women's and/or children's service lines at Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina.

"With her extensive experience working within academic health systems, Debbie understands that evidence-based practices produce the best patient outcomes," said John V. Marymont, M.D., M.B.A., vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama.

Since stepping in as interim administrator, she has overseen renovation and expansion efforts of the only pediatric emergency center on the Alabama Gulf Coast, among other initiatives. Plans call for the state-of-the-art space to open this winter. "I believe this is a time of unprecedented growth for our hospital," Browning said, "and I look forward to leading the teams responsible for best meeting the health care needs of our community."

With a focus on family-centered care, Browning said her vision for the region's only children's and women's hospital is to "create a space where our families have the best experience possible, and our staff feel valued and fulfilled in their roles."

Shannon Scaturro, M.S.H.A., M.S.N., CRNA, FACHE, chief operating officer for USA Health and assistant vice president for medical affairs, said he is looking forward to what the future holds for Children's & Women's Hospital with Browning at the helm. "It's been exciting to see the work she's done daily to enhance our quality and safety measures, something that is paramount in health care settings."

Among her accomplishments, Browning completed the American Organization of Nurse Executives Nursing Director Fellowship and serves on several AONL committees at the national level. She earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky, and a master's degree in nursing administration from the University of Phoenix.