Caryl Ryan, after serving for the last 9 months as UConn Health’s Interim Vice President, Quality and Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer, has been officially appointed to the permanent role.
“Caryl during her role as the interim Chief Nursing Officer demonstrated outstanding leadership as she led the nursing service through the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic,” shared Dr. Andy Agwunobi, CEO of UConn Health. “I can’t thank Caryl enough for her inspiring leadership and unwavering dedication to our hospital and health system during these extraordinary times, always ensuring the highest levels of patient safety, clinical care, outcomes and operational performance.”
Ryan first joined UConn Health in 1985 as a staff nurse in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). As an ICU staff nurse her commitment to excellence led to various nursing leadership roles at UConn John Dempsey Hospital since 2003, including past roles of assistant nurse manager of the ICU and Cardiac Step Down Unit, nurse manager for Medicine, Medical Telemetry, formation of a Medical Step Down Unit, internal consultant for nursing workforce initiatives with the Berkeley Research Group, nursing director, Inpatient and Oncology Ambulatory Services within the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, and her 2016-2019 leadership position as senior nursing director for Medical/Surgical/Critical Care/Emergency and Oncology Services.
“It is a privilege and an honor to serve UConn Health as Chief Nursing Officer,” says Ryan. “I am incredibly proud to lead this remarkably talented, compassionate team of professional nurses.”
Ryan has 35 years of service to UConn Health as an effective and proven leader of UConn John Dempsey Hospital, UConn Health’s Department of Nursing and Nursing Administration. Ryan is past recipient of two of UConn’s highest awards, including the Nightingale Award for Excellence in Nursing and the Peter J. Deckers Employee Appreciation Award. Prior to joining UConn Health, Ryan worked at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine, and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.
