Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), the nation’s top-ranked hospital for orthopedics for the past nine consecutive years according to U.S.News & World Report, today announced Jennifer A. O’Neill, DNP, APN, NEA-BC will succeed Stephanie J. Goldberg, RN, MSN, NEA-BC as senior vice president, Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer.  In addition to orthopedics, HSS is a leader also in research, innovation, education, and other medical specialties related to musculoskeletal health, including rheumatology in which it currently ranks third in the nation.  Patients come to HSS for care from all 50 states and more than 100 countries.

The appointment follows an expansive five-month search process.  A recipient of multiple national honors for nursing administration, and most recently serving as Chief Nursing Officer at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in New Jersey, Ms. O’Neill will start in March.  At HSS she will be responsible for over 30 patient care departments, and related policy and program development.

Ms. Goldberg has led nursing at HSS since 2005, during which time it became the first hospital in New York awarded Magnet Recognition for nursing excellence four consecutive times, expanded to multiple new inter-state locations, and was recognized internationally as a teaching center of excellence.  Ms. Goldberg now serves also as a Magnet Surveyor for the American Nurses Credentialing Center.  She will support Ms. O’Neill’s transition before leaving HSS to pursue other interests within the next few months.

"HSS is on a continuous journey to achieve unprecedented excellence in all aspects of musculoskeletal health, and nursing is at the core of advancing patient care and achieving better outcomes," said Louis A. Shapiro, president and chief executive at HSS.  "Stephanie and the rest of the HSS nursing team set a very high bar in every way, and Jennifer is well suited to lead us to realizing even greater potential."

Todd J. Albert, MD, surgeon-in-chief and medical director at HSS described Ms. O’Neill as "a standout in an outstanding group of candidates, which is a great testimony to the nursing profession and to the earned reputation of nursing excellence at HSS."