Vanderbilt Nursing

Nursing Administrators: Vanderbilt Clinic/Vanderbilt Medical Groups

Margaret Head, MBA, MSN, RN, NE-BC
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer
Vanderbilt Medical Group

Margaret joined Vanderbilt University Medical Center in July ‘07 as Chief Operating Officer/Chief Nursing Officer of Vanderbilt Medical Group (VMG). She has experience in complex systems and environments, as well as physician practice management. As VMG chief operating officer, Margaret takes the lead on working with VUMC clinics in achieving growth and development through initiatives that include increasing patient, staff, and faculty satisfaction; appropriate operating system design; and overall improvement. Prior to VUMC, Margaret had spent six years as VP of Operations at the Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, a private, 300-doctor multi-specialty group practice with 18 locations in Houston. Margaret received her RN from the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Memphis, her MSN in nursing administration from the University of Texas Health Science Center, and her MBA with a focus in health care administration from the University of Houston at Clear Lake. “I am thrilled to be a member of the Vanderbilt leadership team,” Margaret says. “Vanderbilt has a very prestigious reputation, and I am excited about the growth the organization is experiencing and the range of opportunities it presents.”

Katie Brennan, MSN, RN, CDE
Assistant Administrator
Medicine Patient Care Center and Vanderbilt Eskind Diabetes Clinics - Adult and Pediatric

Katie is responsible for the management of the Eskind Diabetes Clinics and MPCC initiatives at the direction of the MPCC Administrative Director. She has a membership in AADE (American Association of Diabetes Educators), ANA/TNA, and stays involved in school and church activities (she keeps busy at home with her kids and their fundraising and service projects!) Katie earned her BSN and MSN from Vanderbilt University. She loves working in an environment like Vanderbilt where there is always so much to learn and so many opportunities for professional growth. She feels fortunate to work with such a knowledgeable and diverse group of colleagues, and believes that Vanderbilt is the best place to receive care because of the commitment to excellence.

Ann Cross, MS, MBA, RN, NE-BC
Administrative Director of Nursing
Vanderbilt Health Williamson

As Administrative Director of Nursing for VMG clinics in Williamson County, Ann directs the delivery of nursing care in urgent care, primary care, and specialty clinics throughout the county. Ann joined Vanderbilt 16 years ago in large part for the academic environment and the opportunity to be on the cutting edge of new discoveries in the clinical arena as well as at the forefront of navigating the ever changing healthcare environment. Prior to joining Vanderbilt, she worked in other health systems in Tennessee and Colorado. She earned a Master of Science with emphasis in psychiatric/mental health nursing from The University of Colorado and a Master of Business Administration from Belmont University. She is a member of the Tennessee Nurses’ Association and serves on the board of the Cervical Cancer Coalition of Tennessee. Ann makes an annual trip to Guatemala to give care post-operatively to women and children.

Mary Duvanich, MSN, RN, MMHC
Administrative Director
Digestive Disease
Urology and Oral Health

Mary impacts VUMC nursing in several different ways. She is a strong advocate for ambulatory nursing in the Vanderbilt Medical Group and The Vanderbilt Clinic. She ensures that issues unique to the outpatient setting are addressed. She is also a vital member of many committees within VUMC that will help guide the long term plan for nursing. Mary has served in a variety of capacities include staff nurse, nurse manager and in administration. She came to Vanderbilt to work in an environment where nurses were encouraged to grow and their contributions are valued. Her favorite part of her job is the people she works with.

Carol Eck, BSN, RN, MBA
Administrative Director Officer
Vanderbilt Cancer Center

Carol is responsible for oversight of all adult in and out patient cancer services both on and off campus. As a leader of a growing patient care center, she works with managers to assure that they have the staffing necessary to provide safe, efficient and cost effective care to all of our patients and with nurses in patient care centers and all areas. Carol began as a manager in the outpatient area 31 years ago and assumed her current position in 1996. She was drawn to Vanderbilt for its reputation. Carol believes VUMC nurses have an opportunity not only to provide excellent patient care on a daily basis – but to be involved in education and research. She points out that in cancer nursing, the treatments and technology are rapidly changing, and nurses have the opportunity to be on the cutting edge of these changes.

Susan Gent, DNP, RN, NE-BC
Administrative Director
VMG Nursing & the Center for Advanced Practice Nursing and Allied Health

Suz Kaprich, BSN, RN, MHA
Administrative Director, Nursing
Vanderbilt Medical Group

Suz is responsible for the overall quality pillar goals, nursing practice and clinical care for the Monroe Carroll Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt Outpatient Care. She is involved with Tennessee Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, Tennessee Organization of Nurse Executives, and American College of Healthcare Executives. Suz received her BSN from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1993 and her MHA from the University of Phoenix in 2008. She enjoys the people she works with and has a great respect for the dedication and commitment that is demonstrated across the organization, from senior leadership to the direct care givers. She values the attention to credo and culture that is present in Vanderbilt and enjoys the beautiful facility.

Robin Mutz, MPPM, RNC, NEA-BC
Administrative Director
Center for Women's Health/Nursing Support Services

Robin feels her role is to help nurses better care for patients. She strives to assist managers in creating a safe, friendly environment to help nurses learn and grow. She is constantly amazed at the dedication and personal commitment of Vanderbilt nurses. Robin has more than 34 years of experience in nursing in various positions related to women’s health, including staff nursing, unit and clinic management, case manager, and serving as an educator. She is certified in ambulatory women’s health care and is especially interested in understanding staffing as it relates to nursing fatigue and patient outcomes and recently became board certified as Nurse Executive, Advanced. She was drawn to VUMC because of the way nurses are regarded as an equal member of the health care team.

Vicki Richard, BSN, RN, MBA, NEA-BC
Assistant Administrator
Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center (VICC)

Vicki is an Assistant Administrator at the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center. Her current areas of responsibility include: on board and ongoing support for managers; Co Chair of VICC Quality Committee, and Co Chair Medication Use and Safety Improvement Committee. She is a member of the American Nurses Association, Tennessee Nurses Association, and Oncology Nurses Association (national and middle Tennessee chapter). Vicki received her BSN from the University of Michigan and her MBA from Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management. Vicki enjoys working at Vanderbilt because our triple mission of education, patient care, and research assures that patients receive excellent care, often having treatment options that would not be available with other providers. Vicki believes nursing is very strong at Vanderbilt and is proud of our Excellent Nursing Leadership as evidenced by our Magnet status, national recognition of our nursing leaders, and senior nursing leader participation in nursing management .

Janice Smith, RN, M.Ed, F.A.C.H.E.
Chief Administrative Officer
Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks and Vanderbilt Network Services

Janice serves as the Chief Administrative Officer for Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks and Vanderbilt Network Services (VNS). One Hundred Oaks is an ambulatory medical campus six miles from Vanderbilt University Hospital where Smith is responsible for operations and strategic initiatives. Vanderbilt Network Services provides operational infrastructure and services to Vanderbilt clinics throughout Middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky as well as operational support to affiliated organizations. As CAO for Vanderbilt Network Services, she is responsible for continued development of the MSO-like division and standardizing the Vanderbilt brand through common infrastructure and services. Janice began her nursing career in critical care and emergency medicine, then moved to ambulatory care where she has enjoyed numerous nursing and administrative positions in hospitals, academia, physician practice management, and consulting. Building on her interest in organizations and the business of healthcare, she received her Masters from Vanderbilt in Adult Education and Organizational Development, and returned to VUMC because of its collaborative environment, sense of community, and constant opportunity to explore new approaches to the delivery of health care. She is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Robin Steaban, MSN, RN
Chief Administrative Officer
Associate Chief Nursing Officer
Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute

Robin has over 15 years of nursing practice experience and an equal number of years of experience supporting those in practice while serving in various leadership roles. She thrives on the complexity and challenges of supporting the three pronged mission of an academic medical center and considers herself extremely fortunate to have an opportunity to lead patient care efforts at Vanderbilt. Robin has demonstrated an ability to lead teams and manage operations to deliver exceptional service, financial, and quality outcomes. Robin is committed to patients and thus, has a great appreciation and profound respect for staff and faculty that commit their lives to the care and service of others. She loves to study and apply the science of leadership and sees leadership as an opportunity and an obligation to create an environment that supports and encourages staff and faculty to use their full potential of intellect, skills, and compassion to optimize the health and well being of others.