Dr. Kenneth R. White was Dean and Professor of the MGH Institute of Health Professions School of Nursing in Boston, from 2021 to 2024. In 2013, Ken served as Associate Dean for Strategic Partnerships and Innovation at the University of Virginia School of Nursing and held the UVA Health Endowed Professorship in Nursing along with joint appointments in the McIntire School of Commerce, the Darden School of Business, and the UVA School of Medicine.
With more than 47 years’ experience working in healthcare organizations in clinical, administrative, governance, and consulting capacities, Dr. White spent 13 years with Mercy Health Services as senior executive in marketing, operations, and international healthcare consulting before pivoting into academia. Between 1995 and 2001, he served as the associate director of the MHA and MSHA programs at Virginia Commonwealth University, and from 2001 to 2008, as the director of VCU's MHA program, while holding the inaugural Charles P. Cardwell, Jr., Professor of Health Administration. He was named the inaugural Sentara Healthcare Professor in 2012, before arriving at the University of Virginia in mid-2013.
In addition to his clinical practice as a palliative care nurse practitioner at UVA Health, Ken served on the UVA Health Quality Board. He is the founding Chair of the LGBTQ Forum of the American College of Healthcare Executives. In Chicago on March 4, 2019, Ken received the American College of Healthcare Executive’s Gold Medal Award, the highest award given by ACHE for service to healthcare leadership. In April of this year, Ken received the VCU School of Nursing’s Outstanding Nurse Alumnus Award for 2021. Also, in October 2021, Ken began a 2-year term as President of the American Academy of Nursing.
A registered nurse, adult/gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, and Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, Dr. White is also a Fellow, former Regent and member of the Board of Governors of the American College of Healthcare Executives and holds a visiting professorship at the LUISS Business School in Rome, Italy. He is the author of the award-winning Well-Managed Healthcare Organization, 9th edition (2019), Take Charge of Your Healthcare Management Career: 50 Lessons that Drive Success (2015), and Boost Your Nursing Leadership Career (2017). Dr. White received the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.
- BSN, Virginia Commonwealth University
- MSN, Virginia Commonwealth University
- MPH, Health Administration, University of Oklahoma
- PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
- Post-MS Certificate, Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. In his work as a certified nurse practitioner, he also holds specialty certification in hospice and palliative care.
Dr. White has published numerous papers - some titles are highlighted below. You can view a complete listing of Dr. White's publications on ResearchGate or in his CV.
A Stakeholder Evaluation of an RN-to-BSN Academic Progression Program.
Complexity Theory, Nursing, and COVID-19.
The Changing Landscape of Catholic Hospitals and Health Systems, 2008-2017.
Perceptions of Interdisciplinary Rounding Practices.
In addition, Dr. White regularly presents at conferences and industry events. Please see his CV for a complete list of presentations.
Best Practices in LGBTQ+ Inclusion at the ACHE Congress on Healthcare Leadership.
Advanced Disease Life Support (ADLS): An Interprofessional Primary Palliative Care Curriculum at the Collaborating Across Borders VII.
Begin with the End in Mind: Interprofessional Primary Palliative Care at the Assembly for Hospice and Palliative Care.
The Journey to Inclusive Excellence for the LGBTQ Patient Population and the Healthcare Workforce at the ACHE Congress on Healthcare Leadership.
Interprofessional Innovation: Advanced Disease Life Support at the 2018 Medical Education Week of the Academy of Distinguished Educators.
