Northwest Health – La Porte and Starke Appoints New Chief Nursing Officer

Northwest Health – La Porte and Starke Appoints New Chief Nursing Officer

Simon Ratliff, the Chief Executive Officer for Northwest Health – La Porte and Starke, has named Jenica Sutherland, MHA, MBA, BSN, RN, as the hospital’s Chief Nursing Officer (CNO). In this role, Sutherland will oversee all nursing operations, ensuring the highest standards of care are maintained and that Northwest Health patients receive the utmost attention and support during their healthcare journey.

"We are pleased to welcome Jenica to this role. Throughout her nursing career, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities, spearheading initiatives that enhance patient outcomes and improve operational efficiency,” said Ratliff. “With her proven track record of engaging nurse leaders and staff through process improvement initiatives to improve patient safety and quality outcomes, she will be a valuable asset to our hospitals as we continue to strive for excellence in healthcare delivery.”

With an extensive background in nursing and a passion for patient care, Sutherland brings a wealth of experience to Northwest Health – La Porte and Starke. She has been a nurse for 23 years and has served in leadership roles at Northwest Health for the last 10 years. She came to La Porte and Starke in 2018 and has continuously taken on more responsibility serving as Director of Physician Practice Management, Director of Emergency Department/Critical Care, and Director of Nursing. Last year, she stepped into the interim Chief Nursing Officer role for both hospitals and demonstrated a drive for excellence and a passion for Northwest Health’s culture of compassionate care.

Sutherland has an associate degree in nursing from Purdue University Northwest, a bachelor of science in nursing and MBA from IU Northwest and went on to obtain a masters in health administration from Valparaiso University.

About Northwest Health

Northwest Health is a comprehensive healthcare system committed to helping people get well and live healthier. Serving communities in Northwest Indiana, it offers quality, accessible healthcare—from highly specialized care and surgical services to more routine primary care. The system of more than 60 access points includes three hospitals, five emergency departments, urgent care centers, outpatient surgery centers, an ambulance service, and physician offices. A team of more than 3,000 employees work together with the more than 700 physicians on its medical staffs. For more information, visit NWHealthIN.com.