Nursing Leadership Team

Brian Stahulak, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC | Senior Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer

Length of time as a leader: Nurse at Lurie Children's since 1997 functioning at various levels of leadership since 2001; Chief Nursing Officer since 2016

Education: BSN, University of Illinois at Chicago; MBA, National Louis University; DNP, Boise State University

Leadership motto: “True leaders understand that leadership is not about them but about those they serve. It is not about exalting themselves but about lifting others up.” ― Sheri L. Dew 

 

Karen Richey, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC | Associate Chief Nursing Officer

Length of time as a leader: 30 years at Lurie Children's

Education: BSN, Ball State University; MBA, National Louis University; DNP, American Sentinel University

 

 

Julie Creaden, APRN-NP | Senior Director, Advanced Practice Nursing and Physician Assistants

Length of time as a leader: Since 2010 at Lurie Children's

Education: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program, Rush University, 1996; Master of Science, Nursing, Loyola University, 1994: Bachelor of Science, Nursing, Hope College, 1988

Leadership motto: Authentic, transparent, collaborative. Support of professional growth and development of all advanced practice providers. 

 

 

Diane Halfer, MSN, RNc, NEA-BC | Senior Director, Clinical & Organizational Development

Length of time as a leader: Since 1989 at Lurie Children's, since 1980 in healthcare

Education: BSN, Bradley University; MSN, Loyola University

Leadership motto: Lead well today so every tomorrow can be a vision of hope.

 

 

Elizabeth Hood, MS, MBA, APRN/ CPNP | Advanced Practice Nurse/Senior Director, Pediatric Surgery

Length of time as a leader: Since 2016 at Lurie Children's

Education: MSN, Boston College; MBA, Loyola University Chicago

Leadership motto: Striving for excellence every day while serving our patients and teammates. 

 

 

Doug Niedzwiecki, MBA, MHA, FACHE | Vice President, Ambulatory Services

Length of time as a leader: Since 2007 at Lurie Children's, since 2006 in healthcare

Education: BS, University of Missouri; MBA, MHA, Saint Louis University

Leadership motto: Striving to be an authentic servant leader.

 

 

 

Laura Westley, BSN, MSM, RN | Senior Director, Interfacility Transport, Emergency Services, Patient Access Center and Almost Home Kids

Length of time as a leader: Since 2011 at Lurie Children's, since 2006 in healthcare

Education: BSN, UW-Eau Claire; MSM, Cardinal Stritch University

Leadership motto: Great leaders don’t set out to be a leader…they set out to make a difference. It’s never about the role, always about the goal. 

 

Lesly Whitlow, DNP, MBA, RN | Vice President for Access and Care Coordination

Length of time as a leader: Since 2013 at Lurie Children's, since 2003 in healthcare

Education: MBA, University of St. Francis; DNP, Rush University

Leadership motto: "The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant." ― Max DePree