Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center Names Chief Nursing Officer

HOUSTON (October 10, 2019) – Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center (Baylor St. Luke’s) has named Veronica Martin DNP, RN, NEA-BC, as the hospital’s new chief nursing officer. Martin will assume leadership from Acting Chief Nursing Officer Loretta Lee who joined the organization in early 2019.

As chief nursing officer, Martin will provide leadership in the delivery of nursing care and treatment as well as oversee all nursing operations, including patient care units. Additionally, she will work alongside clinical staff and physicians to establish optimal clinical patient care standards and key initiatives to improve nursing education and foster engagement.

“Veronica’s extensive industry experience and strong leadership expertise make her a valuable addition to our nursing operations as we continue to achieve the best possible quality level of patient care,” said Doug Lawson, Ph.D., president, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center and CEO, CHI Texas Division. “We look forward to solidifying our nursing culture under her leadership as we remain committed and dedicated to providing quality and compassionate patient care.”

“Veronica is a visionary leader with a proven track record of building strong, collaborative relationships with team members, peers, and medical staff, which is an essential attribute for anyone in this role,” said Lorie Shoemaker, senior vice president and chief nursing officer, CHI Texas Division.  “She embodies our core values and our commitment to excellence and compassion in everything we do to care for our communities.”

With over 25 years of executive nursing and clinical operations experience, Martin comes to Baylor St. Luke’s from the HCA Houston Healthcare-affiliated The Woman's Hospital of Texas where she was accountable for patient experience and clinical outcomes, in addition to personnel and financial performance for the nursing practice and other clinical services. In her first year as chief nursing officer, she improved patient experience scores, achieved a reduction in first-year RN turnover, and led the successful reorganization of nursing leadership to support standardization in practice and operations.

Prior to The Woman’s Hospital of Texas, Veronica served as vice president and chief nursing officer for Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, a freestanding children's hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. In that role, she was responsible for the implementation of a nursing retention task force and the development of foundational structures to improve nurse engagement and achieve Magnet designation. 

In addition to her extensive experience in nursing and operations, Veronica also has a wealth of experience in obstetrics, pediatrics, and adult services, including critical care, inpatient, ambulatory, and emergency center settings.

Veronica earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)/Health Systems Leadership from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing/Executive Level Administration and a Bachelor of Science from the University of South Alabama. She is Nurse Executive Advanced/Board Certified and a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives and the American College of Health Care Executives.

About Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center

Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center is an 881-bed quaternary care academic medical center that is a joint venture between Baylor College of Medicine and St. Luke’s Health. Located in the Texas Medical Center, the hospital is the home of the Texas Heart® Institute, a cardiovascular research and education institution founded in 1962 by Denton A. Cooley, MD. The hospital was the first facility in Texas and the Southwest designated a Magnet® hospital for Nursing Excellence by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, receiving the award five consecutive times. Baylor St. Luke’s also has three community emergency centers offering adult and pediatric care for the Greater Houston area.

About the CHI Texas Division

The CHI Texas Division, a member of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), is comprised of three markets―in Houston, St. Luke’s Health (St. Luke’s) is home to eight hospitals, eight emergency centers, Diagnostic & Treatment Center, Radiation & CyberKnife Center, and numerous Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Group locations throughout Greater Houston; St. Luke’s Health Memorial (three hospitals and a long-term acute care facility in East Texas); and St. Joseph Health (five hospitals and several St. Joseph Medical Group locations across Brazos Valley). In addition, St. Luke’s flagship hospital, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in the Texas Medical Center, is a joint venture with Baylor College of Medicine. Together, St. Luke’s and Baylor College of Medicine are transforming healthcare delivery with a mission to usher in a new era of healthcare to create healthier communities. For more information, visit CHITX.org.