Pam Thompson, MS, RN, CENP, FAAN, is chief executive officer emeritus of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL). Prior to her appointment, she served 16 years as AONL CEO and senior vice president nursing/chief nursing officer of the American Hospital Association. She was responsible for the management and administrative leadership of AONL, as well as the AHA Workforce Initiative and addressing issues specific to strengthening the health care workforce and the redesign of patient care delivery.
Before joining AONL, Thompson was vice president of Children's Hospital, Obstetrics, Psychiatric Services, and Strategic Planning at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
Thompson served as the chair of the National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) Board of Directors, was a member of the Lucien Leape Institute of NPSF and the NPSF Board of Advisors. Thompson was also chair of the New Hampshire Hospital Association board of trustees and the New Hampshire Foundation for Health Communities, as well as past president of the New Hampshire Organization of Nurse Executives. Thompson was a founding member of the Behavioral Health Network in New Hampshire and served as chairman of the board.
Thompson is the recipient of numerous awards including the American College of Healthcare Executives 2009 Edgar C. Hayhow Award for an article she co-wrote about the results of a national survey on chief nursing officer retention and turnover. She also received the California Association of Nurse Leaders Lifetime Achievement Award and National League for Nursing’s President’s Award.
She earned her Master of Science degree from the University of Rochester, New York and her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Connecticut. Thompson is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.
She resides in Manassas, Virginia with her husband, Bob.
