Nursing
Susan Hernandez, D.N.P., M.B.A., RN
Vice President and Health System Chief Nurse Executive
Susan Hernandez, D.N.P., M.B.A., RN, is a nationally respected nursing leader who serves as Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive at UT Southwestern. She has held progressive leadership roles since joining the Health System in 2014. Dr. Hernandez oversees more than 4,200 nurses and nurse practitioners; her staff contributes to patient care for more than 143,000 inpatient visits; 470,000 emergency room visits; and more than 5.3 million outpatient visits yearly at William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital and UT Southestern’s primary and specialty care clinics.
Under Dr. Hernandez’s direction, UT Southwestern earned the Magnet® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in 2016 and was redesignated in 2021and 2026. The designation is the ANCC’s highest recognition for nursing excellence and serves as a benchmark for quality of patient care. Additionally, in 2026, the nursing practice also earned Magnet Recognition with Distinction, an honor reserved for hospitals that exceed Magnet performance benchmarks that include patient care, patient satisfaction, and nurse training and education.
Prior to joining UT Southwestern, Dr. Hernandez spent nearly 20 years in nursing and leadership positions at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and an M.B.A. with a focus on health care administration.
Associate Vice President and Chief Nursing Informatics Officer
Emily Flahaven, M.S.N., RN, is Associate Vice President and Chief Nursing Informatics Officer at UT Southwestern Medical Center. In this role, she provides executive leadership for nursing informatics strategy and digital innovation, collaborating across the Health System to ensure technology effectively supports nursing practice, interprofessional care, patient safety, clinical quality, and operational excellence.
Ms. Flahaven joined UT Southwestern in 2014 and has held progressive leadership roles in nursing informatics, including Director of Nursing Informatics. Prior to entering informatics leadership, she practiced as a registered nurse, providing direct patient care for more than 11 years. She holds a Master of Science in nursing from Duke University and is board certified in nursing informatics by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Sean Gilmore, M.H.A.
Associate Vice President, Nursing Business and Program Operations
Sean Gilmore, M.H.A., FACHE, has served as the Associate Vice President for Nursing Business and Program Operations since February 2025. In this role, he provides executive oversight for nursing business operations and a broad portfolio of clinical and operational programs across the University Hospital and regional clinics, including UT Southwestern’s Care at Home enterprise. His responsibilities span operational performance, financial stewardship, strategic planning, and program execution in support of high-quality, patient-centered care delivery.
Mr. Gilmore works in close partnership with nursing and Health System leadership to advance clinical operations, support growth initiatives, and ensure alignment with organizational priorities. His portfolio includes oversight of complex, multidisciplinary programs operating across inpatient, outpatient, and home-based care settings.
Mr. Gilmore joined UT Southwestern in 2016 and has held progressive leadership roles of increasing responsibility, leading strategic initiatives in clinical operations, program development, and enterprise transformation.
Mr. Gilmore holds a Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Memphis and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).