Dana Bledsoe
CEO
Ochsner Children's
Dana Bledsoe, DHA, MBA, MS, RN, FACHE is the Chief Executive Officer of Ochsner Children’s. A visionary and strategic leader in pediatric healthcare, Dr. Bledsoe brings decades of clinical and executive experience to her role. Her career spans leadership positions at some of the nation’s most respected healthcare institutions, where she has consistently driven innovation, excellence, and compassionate care.
Dr. Bledsoe began her career as a pediatric nurse at The Children’s Hospital in Denver, later transitioning into healthcare administration to bring her clinical insights to the systems level. She has held pivotal roles including President of Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando’s Lake Nona Medical City, while also serving as Enterprise Vice President for Nemours Children’s Health.
Prior to Nemours, she served as President of the Children’s and Women’s Hospital within Ascension Sacred Heart Health System in Pensacola, Florida. Her leadership journey also includes serving as Vice President of Patient Care Services, Chief Nursing Officer and ambulatory executive at CHOC Children’s in California, as well as key roles at Texas Children’s Hospital and the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.
Through her healthcare consulting firm, DBledsoe Consulting, she has partnered with organizations such as Kaiser Permanente, Oklahoma Children's Hospital, and Arkansas Children's Hospital, serving in interim executive roles and offering strategic guidance and leadership development.
Dr. Bledsoe earned her Doctorate in Executive Health Administration (DHA) with first honors from the Medical University of South Carolina, where she was named the 2018 DHA Outstanding Student and received the Dean’s Award. She holds an MBA from the University of Colorado at Denver, a Master’s in Nursing Administration from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Loretto Heights School of Nursing at Regis University. She became a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives in 2014.
Currently, Dr. Bledsoe serves on the Ignite Health Steering Committee and remains deeply committed to mentoring and developing future healthcare leaders.
Dr. Bledsoe began her career as a pediatric nurse at The Children’s Hospital in Denver, later transitioning into healthcare administration to bring her clinical insights to the systems level. She has held pivotal roles including President of Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando’s Lake Nona Medical City, while also serving as Enterprise Vice President for Nemours Children’s Health.
Prior to Nemours, she served as President of the Children’s and Women’s Hospital within Ascension Sacred Heart Health System in Pensacola, Florida. Her leadership journey also includes serving as Vice President of Patient Care Services, Chief Nursing Officer and ambulatory executive at CHOC Children’s in California, as well as key roles at Texas Children’s Hospital and the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.
Through her healthcare consulting firm, DBledsoe Consulting, she has partnered with organizations such as Kaiser Permanente, Oklahoma Children's Hospital, and Arkansas Children's Hospital, serving in interim executive roles and offering strategic guidance and leadership development.
Dr. Bledsoe earned her Doctorate in Executive Health Administration (DHA) with first honors from the Medical University of South Carolina, where she was named the 2018 DHA Outstanding Student and received the Dean’s Award. She holds an MBA from the University of Colorado at Denver, a Master’s in Nursing Administration from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Loretto Heights School of Nursing at Regis University. She became a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives in 2014.
Currently, Dr. Bledsoe serves on the Ignite Health Steering Committee and remains deeply committed to mentoring and developing future healthcare leaders.
