The ANA Enterprise CEO Named One of Modern Healthcare’s “Top 25 Women in Healthcare”

Silver Spring, MD—The ANA Enterprise is pleased to announce that Modern Healthcare has selected ANA Enterprise CEO Marla J. Weston, PhD, RN, FAAN, as one of its 2017 "Top 25 Women in Healthcare." The prestigious biennial program honors highly accomplished health care executives who are making a positive difference in the field.

Weston was selected by Modern Healthcare due to her leadership skills and accomplishments in health care, mentorship of female health care executives, and her contributions to health care at the local, state and national levels. Modern Healthcare also honored Weston with placement on the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare list in 2014.

Since becoming CEO in 2009, Weston has transformed ANA into one of the fastest-growing national associations in terms of membership. Her stature continues to expand and enhance ANA's success in advocating for the nation's registered nurses. In December 2016, Forbes described ANA as "an increasingly politically powerful lobbying force in Washington and state capitals across the country."

"It is an honor to receive this recognition from Modern Healthcare," said Weston. "I am proud to be among such an impressive group of visionaries and leaders—especially at this pivotal moment in health care. I will continue to advocate for nurses to have a seat at key decision-making tables and to speak up, because no one is better equipped to advocate for consumers than registered nurses."

Weston promotes a strong national voice for nursing in her role as CEO of the American Nurses Association (ANA); the American Nurses Foundation, ANA's charitable arm, and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), an ANA subsidiary that promotes excellence in nursing and health care globally through credentialing programs.

She accomplishes this by forging partnerships among nursing groups working on national initiatives central to nursing, including care coordination, performance measurement, and consumer-centered care. Weston leverages this influence to advocate for adding nurses on prominent and high-impact national workgroups across the National Quality Enterprise.

In addition to her ANA role, Weston is co-chair of the Nurses on Boards Coalition, which is working to transform health care by placing at least 10,000 registered nurses on health care-related boards and governing bodies by 2020.

Weston has dedicated her career to improving the work and public policy environment for nurses and quality of care for patients. She has been a leader in a broad range of roles, including direct patient care in intensive care and medical-surgical units, nurse educator, clinical nurse specialist, director of patient care support, and nurse executive.

The "Top 25 Women in Healthcare" honorees come from all sectors, including hospitals, health systems, physician organizations, insurance, government, vendors and suppliers, trade and professional organizations, and patients' rights groups. Weston and fellow honorees will be featured in the February 27 print edition of Modern Healthcare and online at www.ModernHealthcare.com/Top25Women.