American Nurses Enterprise Announces Vice President of AI and Digital Health Programs
New enterprise leader will direct AI strategy and a $5 million national initiative to strengthen nurses’ AI skills, with a focus on rural and underserved communities
SILVER SPRING, MD – The American Nurses Enterprise (ANE) today announced the appointment of Rich G. Kenny, MMCi, RN, as its Vice President of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health Programs.
The pioneering role will lead ANE’s Nurse AI Training in Rural and Underserved Communities, a three-year, $5 million national initiative supported by a $2.5 million grant from the Johnson & Johnson Foundation and $2.5 million in funding from Google.org. The initiative will expand access to practical, nursing-centered AI education nationwide, with a priority focus on nurses serving rural, remote, and underserved communities.
Through education co-designed with nurses, the initiative will help build the knowledge, skills, and confidence nurses need to understand foundational AI concepts and apply emerging technologies safely and effectively in real-world clinical environments. The training will also prepare nurses to communicate about AI with patients, families, colleagues, and organizational leaders.
Kenny will also lead enterprise strategy for artificial intelligence and digital health, bringing together work across education, practice standards, ethics, research, advocacy, and innovation by operationalizing three priorities: equipping nurses to evaluate and use AI tools safely and effectively, strengthening nursing’s voice in the standards and governance surrounding clinical AI, and connecting technology developers with the nurses and other clinicians who will ultimately use their systems.
“Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping healthcare, and nurses must have a meaningful role in determining how these technologies are designed, governed, and used,” said Angela Beddoe, Chief Executive Officer of the American Nurses Enterprise. “Establishing this role strengthens our ability to bring the full reach and expertise of the American Nurses Enterprise to this work. As we are building an organization ready for 2040 and advance our bold strategic plan, this team will help ensure the future of AI in healthcare is informed by nurses, responsive to the realities of practice, and centered on better outcomes for patients and communities.”
“The practice environment is now digital as much as it is physical, and it is evolving at an extraordinary pace,” said Brad Goettl, DNP, DHA, RN, FNP-C, FAAN, Chief Nursing Officer of the American Nurses Enterprise. “This work extends ANE’s longstanding leadership in practice standards, ethics, education, and credentialing into AI and digital health. It will give nurses practical resources to navigate these technologies while creating stronger pathways for nursing expertise to inform how AI is developed and implemented.”
A critical care and flight nurse with formal informatics training from Duke University, Kenny has advised health systems, private practices, professional associations, and technology companies on AI adoption and governance. He most recently served as Chief Nursing Officer of an agentic AI company and as Executive Advisor for healthcare AI strategy at SAS Institute. Earlier in his career, he led digital health strategy and workforce transformation initiatives for several of the nation’s largest health systems at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
“Our team will work with nurses and partners across healthcare to make AI education practical, accessible, and grounded in the realities of care,” said Kenny. “The goal is to help ensure these technologies support nurses’ professional judgment, reduce burden, and improve outcomes.”
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About the American Nurses Enterprise
The American Nurses Enterprise champions nurses by harnessing The Power of Nurses® to drive transformation and innovation across the healthcare landscape. As the unifying force behind three foundational pillars—the American Nurses Association, the American Nurses Credentialing Center, and the American Nurses Foundation—the enterprise sets the professional standards that empower nurse-led innovation, advocacy, and research. By uniting these core organizations, the enterprise advances the nursing profession and shapes a healthier future for communities nationwide and around the globe.