Lisa Rowen, DNSc, RN, CENP, FAAN, is the chief nurse executive for the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS).‌

A 12-hospital health system, UMMS serves as the system’s leader for nursing practice, standards of care, and issues related and of importance to nurses. She also has served as the senior vice president for patient care services and chief nursing officer at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) since 2007, overseeing 5,000 nurses, advanced practice nurses, and other health professionals.

Before coming to UMMC, Rowen served as director of surgical nursing at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where she began her career as a surgical nurse, and vice president for patient care services at Mercy Medical Center.

Rowen is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. She has served as a journal editor and has published more than 70 articles on patient safety, teamwork and communication, health-related issues, and best practice standards. As the principal investigator for an American Organization of Nurse Executives-funded study, Rowen studies and presents frequently on leadership development and patient outcomes.

She is an associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing and also holds faculty appointments at the University of Virginia, Johns Hopkins University, and Northeastern University.

Rowen earned a bachelor of arts degree in art history and a bachelor of science degree in nursing at the University of Delaware, a master of science degree at the University of Maryland, and a doctor of nursing science degree at Johns Hopkins University.

She was inducted in the University of Delaware Wall of Fame and was selected as the Giving Excellence Meaning winner for “Advancing and Leading the Profession” for the Maryland-D.C.-Virginia region from Nurse.com. Rowen was inducted into the Circle of Excellence of Maryland’s Top 100 Women, after inclusion on the Maryland Top 100 Women lists in 2009, 2011, and 2013. The University of Maryland School of Nursing recently selected Rowen as a recipient of the Visionary Pioneer Award, given to outstanding alumni who have significantly impacted and contributed to the nursing profession based on entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership.