CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Advocate Health today announced that, after a nationwide search, Betty Jo Rocchio has been appointed as its new chief nursing officer, effective Nov. 11. Rocchio will lead more than 42,000 nurses across Advocate Health’s 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations.
Rocchio brings more than 30 years of experience in nursing, most recently as the chief nurse executive at Mercy, a multi-state health care system headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. She has a passion and drive for leveraging technology and data analytics to support nursing and clinical teams to enhance patient care outcomes.
“I am confident that Betty Jo will build upon the tradition of excellence established by our nursing teams and elevate us to new heights by helping to transform the way we deliver care to our patients in the years ahead,” said Eugene A. Woods, CEO of Advocate Health. “She has a track record of implementing cutting-edge solutions and leveraging data analytics to address the multigenerational needs of nurses and foster a positive workplace culture. I am really looking forward to Betty Jo's leadership in guiding us to be a national model in both patient care and teammate well-being.”
Rocchio was recently named to Modern Healthcare’s “50 Most Influential Clinical Executives” list in 2024 and has been recognized multiple years as being one of the most powerful women in health care IT from Health Data Management. She has spoken about and written numerous publications in support of nursing practice and operations, technology, supply chain and analytics.
“I am honored to be joining the amazing team of nurses across Advocate Health, an organization that is uniquely positioned to set the standard across our industry from patient care to workforce development,” Rocchio said. “I look forward to working with nursing leaders across our organization to realize the full potential of our nursing teammates to make a difference for our patients and communities."
Rocchio succeeds Mary Beth Kingston as Advocate Health’s chief nursing officer. Kingston announced earlier this year that she will retire in December after more than 45 years as a nurse. She will stay on to support Rocchio’s transition.
Prior to serving as the chief nurse executive at Mercy, Rocchio held several leadership positions in the Mount Carmel Health System in Columbus, Ohio, including chief nurse anesthetist, system director of surgical services and vice president of nursing and chief nursing officer. She started her career in direct patient care nursing as a registered nurse in the intensive care unit before becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist.
Rocchio holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing and an associate degree in business administration from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, in Steubenville, Ohio, a master’s degree in health sciences from LaRoche College, in Pittsburgh, and a doctor in nursing practice from The Ohio State University.
About Advocate Health
Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit integrated health system in the United States – created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois, Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama, and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health serves nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 team members across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.